SeventyOne Percent deciphers this essential subject for you, so you can approach sun protection with full confidence.

Two categories of filters protect against UV rays and are authorized by regulations. Organic filters and mineral filters. Their mode of action is different:

• Organic filters are aromatic compounds (a flat cyclic structure; these substances are called aromatic because they have a strong odor) thatabsorb UV energy, which is then dissipated in the form of heat.
• Mineral filters are opaque particles that primarily absorb UV photons reaching the skin, then reflect and diffuse them.

The light white or covering effect is essential with mineral filters, as it is the very action of natural filters to act as UV barriers.

Beware of preconceived ideas: mineral filters are good for the skin and the environment, while organic filters are bad for health and the environment.

This preconceived idea is due to the belief that anything of natural origin is good for your health. Yet the greatest poisons come from nature (arsenic, cyanide, etc.). It's easy to understand this when you consider that you can't just pick and eat any mushroom you find in the woods, however natural and organic it may be! Sunscreens are no exception to the rule, and a thorough ecotoxicological analysis must be carried out on every sun filter.

Whether a substance is considered safe for use in the environment depends on two fundamental aspects: the intrinsic hazard profileof the substance, and theexposure of aquatic organisms to that hazard. An analysis has clearly revealed that there are members of both organic and inorganic UV filters that are hazardous to the environment and are classified and labelled as toxic to the aquatic environment in accordance with GHS regulations. Analysis of the ecotoxicity of mineral filters is all the more important as, historically, mineral agents were unacceptable from a cosmetic point of view, as they gave the skin a white appearance.

Since the early 1990s, titanium dioxide andzinc oxide have been micronized and nanomized to obtain a cosmetically acceptable appearance. Nanoparticles are currently part of a plan to improve knowledge of the health risks associated with their use in the fourth national environmental health plan (2021-2025) co-piloted by the Ministries of Ecological Transition and Health. There are no clear conclusions today, but very many brands like us are using the precautionary principle and formulating without NANO.

By revealing the subtleties of sunscreens, we can help you make the right choice. sun protection adapted. Beyond preconceived ideas, our commitment to your health and the environment is reflected in our rigorous analysis of the filters used in our products.