Pharmacymix.com, Skin Care Pharmacy and Blog Specializing in Anthelios and Mexoryl Sunscreens

Where Can I Get A Nonwhitening Sunscreen?

Studies are showing that sun protection is vital for people of all skin tones. Yet the biggest barrier to effective UV protection for people with darker skin is the whitening effect of many sunscreens.

The whitening effect is largely due to the inclusion of physical sunscreens such as titanium dioxide, which increases the effectiveness as well as the photostability of a product. In recent years, cosmetics manufacturers have started to formulate with micronized titanium dioxide, which means the particles are ground small enough that they don’t reflect light to the same extent as the regular titanium dioxide, resulting in less whitening. 

Most of the best sunscreens continue to make titanium dioxide (micronized or not) part of their formulation. To make the most of your sun care products without looking like a ghost, follow these four tips:

1. Look for a product which contains a lower percentage of whitening ingredients, micronized if possible. Keys Solar Rx is a physical sunscreen with micronized particles of zinc oxide which works reasonably even on my medium dark skin.
2. Give the product time. Apply it early and wait 15 or 20 minutes to allow it to sink in. If any white cast remains, gently massage the product in further.
3. You may find a tinted product works for you. Start with something like Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Fluide Extreme Tinted and add a little foundation until the tone looks natural. Bear in mind that adding tint to your sunscreen may slightly decrease its effectiveness, so continue to exercise caution about your exposure.
4. Don’t count on your skin tone to prevent UV damage resulting in age spots, wrinkles or one of the many varieties of melanoma prominent in the darker skinned population. Be cautious, seeking shade where possible and wearing clothes which offer UV protection.

See all our sunscreen options here.

Zinc Sulfate and Zinc Oxide: What’s the difference?

Zinc is one of those ingredients which is everywhere in modern life; you might find it in your breakfast cereal, household paint, or sunscreen. Are these all the same zinc?

Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) is the compound most likely to be found as a nutritional supplement — either in fortified cereals or in lozenges.  Zinc is an essential nutrient for the maintenance of heathy tissues, including skin, eyes, lips, nails and hair. As zinc can interfere with nutrient absorption and with the effectiveness of antibiotics, zinc supplements should only be taken with the supervision of a doctor.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is occasionally found in foods and medicines, but you are more likely to encounter it in makeup, lotions (such as calamine), antiseptic ointments, anti-dandruff shampoos, sunscreens and other skin treatments (such as baby powder or athlete’s foot meds). An 11th century medical document lists zinc oxide as a treatment for skin ailments generally, including skin cancer. While zinc oxide is no longer used as a cancer treatment, it continues to function as a very effective sunscreen, reducing one’s exposure to cancer-causing UV.

When used as an ingredient in sunscreens, zinc oxide has the advantage of being completely photostable, meaning it doesn’t break down under exposure to UV light. It provides broad spectrum protection, protecting skin from both UVA (320–400 nm) and UVB (280-320 nm) rays. Like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide is not absorbed into the skin, making it non-irritating and non-allergenic. The FDA categorizes zinc oxide as GRAS -  “generally regarded as safe”.

Want to get some of the goodness of zinc oxide for your skin? Keys Solar Rx SPF 30 is a beautiful, micronized sunblock cream which has been given the highest rating by the Environmental Working Group. It protects without whitening the skin and calms irritated areas prone to eczema or rosacea. View all physical sunscreens here.

Daily Mineral Benefits Without the Spa

What if you could get the benefits of a geothermal mineral spa every day?

A friend was telling me the other day about a spa in Iceland like the one pictured, where you can wallow peacefully in geothermally-heated pools coated wearing a mud mask rich in silica. As slush currently features in my life more than geothermal mineral therapies, I must admit it sounds pretty tempting.

Silica is a mineral ingredient purported to have a wide range of benefits for the human body, including boosting collagen, giving vitality to hair, and slowing the aging process. There aren’t a ton of ton of clinical studies to support its benefits when taken internally, but it can help to preserve the integrity of our skin, hair and nails. When applied topically, silica is used for its oil absorbing properties, which makes it beneficial to acne sufferers. It also has the ability to scatter light making it useful in mineral makeup where it acts to seamlessly lighten or blur fine lines and wrinkles. In powders and foundations, silica allows makeup to luxuriously slip on the skin. It may also be used as a filler for mineral-based cosmetics. And lastly, due to its abrasive properties, it is effective in removing dead skin cells and other skin imperfections.

Find it in mineral sunscreens from Colorescience as well as in our popular tinted Neostrata Anti Wrinkle Lip Enhancers.

Until I get to Iceland, I’ll be getting my mineral benefits a little closer to home.

Teenager Proposes Unique Cure For Cancer

Angela Zhang, a 17 year old student in California, has won the 2011 national science prize from Siemens for her research on specific drug delivery to cancerous tumors.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Zhang developed an iron oxide and gold-based nanoparticle that is capable of killing cancer stem cells when selectively delivered to the tumor site with the drug salinomycin. The particle is also able to release treatment when activated by a laser and can be tracked with MRI.

The idea is still years away from being used in patients, however. Zhang says it could take 25 years between clinical trials and other steps before her research is helping patients.