There are obvious immediate benefits of sunscreen, such as healthy, hydrated skin. Then there are long-term gains that you’ll notice years after you start using sunscreen regularly.
But, both short and long-term gains depend on the brand you choose. If it’s perfect for your skin, packed with ingredients that don’t irritate it, you can go on enjoying summer. If not, it’s time to change to one that blocks the sun but doesn’t harm your skin.
You must have seen reviews talking about Blue Lizard and how it’s suitable for the whole family.
Well, we want to find out, is Blue Lizard sunscreen safe, and is it a broad-spectrum product?
Let’s start with…
What’s in Blue Lizard Sunscreen?
Sunscreen either absorbs, reflects, or scatters UV rays to protect your skin from the sun. The active ingredients in it determine how it works.
Therefore, if your sunscreen has mineral ingredients, it’ll reflect or scatter UV light. You may also come across information that calls them physical ingredients. On the other hand, if your sunscreen absorbs this light, it has chemical ingredients.
Blue Lizard is a mineral-based formulation, meaning it creates a layer over your skin to block UV light. It uses two popular ingredients that are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
As a broad-spectrum formulation, it blocks UVA rays that cause wrinkles and skin cancer and UVB rays that cause sunburn.
Also, it’s FDA compliant, displaying on the packaging that it gives broad-spectrum protection, its SPF rating, and water resistance.
How Is Blue Lizard Sunscreen Different?
When the skincare world talks about a brand, it has good qualities or controversial ones.
So, what makes this brand stand out?
First:
Product Variety
Unlike other brands, Blue Lizard has a range of sunscreens for babies, the face, or sensitive skin. They offer a sun protection factor of 30 or 50. For example, the three Kids Mineral-Based sunscreens have differences in weight, bottle design, SPF, and ingredients.
If you want a large bottle of sunscreen for your baby with a 98% sun protection ability, there’s an 8.75 fluid ounce bottle with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, offering an SPF of 50. You’ll also get the same combination of ingredients in the 5-ounce tube if you don’t want a bottle.
But, if you’d prefer a sunscreen with zinc oxide only and up to 97% protection from the sun, there’s another 8.75-ounce bottle of the kid’s sunscreen with SPF 30.
You’ll get such diversity in sunscreens for adults, some offering lotion instead of a spray bottle.
The Packaging
If you struggle with reapplication, and you rarely remember to do so, you’ll love the color change feature of Blue Lizard bottles.
You get either a bottle or tube cap that changes color when subjected to UV light. It’s the best reminder when you’re having fun outdoors and might forget to reapply sunscreen after two hours. You don’t have to leave it in the sun to see its color change. As long you open your beach bag now and then, you’ll see the bottle turn from white to pink or blue.
Waterproof
It matches the Australian standards for water resistance, and a test proved that it’s waterproof for about 240 minutes, even in a whirlpool.
The FDA prohibits brands from claiming they’re waterproof or sweatproof, so you’ll only see the water resistance rating of between 40 and 80 minutes.
You’ll need to reapply after that duration to keep your skin safe from UV rays.
Combined Mineral and Chemical Ingredients
Combining these two categories of UV protectors boosts sun protection. All sunscreens from this brand have zinc oxide, one of the most popular mineral ingredients.
Others, such as the Sensitive Face sunscreen, have titanium dioxide. Its particles create a layer on the skin to deflect UV rays, but this ingredient is ground into small particles to avoid leaving a white cast. But, since this makes it less effective, it’s combined with zinc oxide.
Is Blue Lizard Sunscreen Safe?
The Blue Lizard regular made in the US has octinoxate and oxybenzone, two ingredients linked to reef bleaching. Further, oxybenzone is an eye irritant that also disrupts the production of estrogen and testosterone.
It also contains Ethylhexyl Palmitate, which is comedogenic. However, the brand based in Australia alleges none of its products have ingredients that cause reef death.
You’ll also note that these sunscreens have phenoxyethanol, an ingredient of concern because it irritates the skin, eyes, and lungs.
There’s nothing to worry about in low concentration, as they aren’t toxic in that state. Chlorphenesin, also in the Blue Lizard Sensitive sunscreen, is a moderate irritant.
FAQs
Does Blue Lizard sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it’s one of the newer formulations with zinc oxide that don’t leave a white cast. It leaves your skin clear and smooth after you rub it in thoroughly. That’s what you have to do with all sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
There’s also the choice of sheer sunscreen from Blue Lizard that contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and dries clear after rubbing it on your skin. This range has SPF 50 and hydrating ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.
Is Blue Lizard sunscreen good for the face?
Yes, but only if you’re using the Sensitive Face product as it’s unscented. It’s also lightweight; consequently, it won’t clog your pores, even when you reapply after staying in the sun for two hours.
It has nourishing, non-irritant properties. For example, hyaluronic acid hydrates your skin, while vitamin E and green tea protect your skin from free radicals. It’s SPF 30 to give you up to 97% protection from the sun through zinc oxide.
Related: Can I use sunscreen as a moisturizer?
Is Blue Lizard safe for babies?
For kids under six months, you’d need to talk to your pediatrician before thinking about a suitable sunscreen brand. However, if your child is over that age, you can use the products formulated for babies or sensitive skin.
Blue Lizard has a variety of sunscreens for kids formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They have SPF 30 or 50, about 97 to 98% protection. On top of that, these sunscreens are in color-changing bottles; thus, you’ll know when to reapply.
Can I use Blue Lizard when pregnant?
You require sunscreen when pregnant, or you’ll deal with sunburn, hyperpigmentation, and other problems. However, you have to consider the ingredients in the bottle. First, it has to be a physical instead of a chemical sunscreen to block all types of harmful UV rays.
Ask your doctor if it’s safe to use Blue Lizard depending on problems your skin is prone to due to sun exposure, such as melasma.
Also, compare different bottles and sprays as some have a range of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
Final Thoughts
Sunscreen is necessary when spending hours in the sun. The trick with UV rays is that they penetrate the sky even when it’s cloudy or in winter. You may not get sunburns every day, but your skin will be aging prematurely in the long term.
Blue Lizard has a variety of sunscreens for adults and kids. An SPF 30 sunscreen is as good as an SPF 50, and you can get both types from this brand. Some have zinc oxide only while others have a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. What’s your pick?
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