The sun’s secret weapon: natural skin protection with astaxanthin & co.

Protection from the sun is undoubtedly important, but we should not ignore the positive aspects of sunlight. It stimulates the production of vital vitamin D in our skin, which is unfortunately often blocked by conventional sunscreens. Even more worrying are the ingredients in many sunscreens, such as octocrylene, oxybenzone, ecamusul, octinoxate or avobenzone, which have a reputation for being carcinogenic. It is therefore important to research and use natural alternatives. In this article, we introduce you to these natural remedies and give you helpful tips for holistic sun protection – both externally and internally. So that you can enjoy the sunshine in a carefree and healthy way.

The importance of sun protection

Is the sun only harmful? Or is there another perspective?

Sun protection is extremely important – there’s no question about that. But sunlight itself has its benefits. It stimulates the production of vital vitamin D in our skin, but this is often blocked by sunscreens. So it is important to strike a healthy balance. Enjoy the sun in moderation, protect your skin from the inside and out, and boost your skin’s own defences.

Pale and sensitive skin needs special attention, especially if it is not used to the sun. Too much sun can not only cause sunburn, but also increase the risk of skin ageing and skin cancer. Conventional sunscreens usually focus only on external protection and often contain questionable ingredients such as octocrylene, oxybenzone, enzycamen, octinoxate or avobenzone. Substances suspected of being potentially carcinogenic and accelerating the growth of cancer cells. Although the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) officially denies a link between the rising incidence of skin cancer and the high use of sunscreens, numerous studies, including a 2009 clinical trial, paint a different picture. Avobenzone, okxbenzone, octocylene and ecamusul were found in the blood, urine and breast milk of volunteers.

No wonder Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing octinoxate and oxybenzone from the beginning of 2021 – although this is less about protecting people and more about the potential damage to coral reefs from UV filters.

So what is the best way to protect yourself? Not to use sunscreen at all, or to use sunscreen from the inside out? The answer is simple: a combination of both is best – but in a natural way!

Healthy external skin protection

Natural alternatives to conventional sunscreens

Natural and vegetable oils can be an interesting and natural alternative to conventional sunscreens, especially in the low SPF range and for skin care. An in-vitro analysis in 2021 showed the following sun protection values for women with relatively fair skin:

Shea butter: SPF 3.5 – 5.5
Argan oil: SPF 2.5 – 4.9
Avocado oil: SPF 2.3 – 3.1
Moringa seed oil: 2.3 – 3.5
Wheat germ oil: 2.2 – 3.4
Black cumin seed oil: SPF 2.1 – 3.3
Raspberry seed oil: SPF 2.1 – 3.1
Rosehip seed oil: 2 – 3.2
Carrot seed oil: SPF 1.9 – 3.1
Hazelnut oil: SPF 1.9 – 3.1
Hemp oil: SPF 1.9 – 3.1
Coconut oil: 1.1 – 1.3

In addition to the plant oils already mentioned, essential oils also have a certain sun protection factor. However, this is usually quite low as the essential oils have to be diluted with a base oil. However, due to their cell regenerating properties, plant and essential oils are an interesting alternative, especially for summer skin care and moderate sun exposure. If you want to make your own sun cream, you can use the following cell-regenerating essential oils: peppermint oil, patchouli oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, patchouli oil, rose oil, tea tree oil, chamomile oil, palmarosa oil, manuka oil and carrot oil.

However, be careful with bergamot, lime, lemon and angelica root oil as these can be ‘phototoxic’ in large quantities and increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV light!

What does SPF really tell us?

In Germany, the terms sun protection factor and sun protection factor are often used synonymously. The abbreviations SSF or SPF are often used. The English variant SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is also common and is used to evaluate sun protection products, i.e. sunscreens. The SPF indicates how many times longer you can be exposed to the sun with a sunscreen product without getting sunburned compared to your skin’s own protection time.

Do it yourself:
Your recipe for homemade sunscreen

To make your own natural summer sun cream, follow these steps:
Heat 20ml of avocado oil, 25ml of sesame oil and 30g of coconut oil in a bain-marie until liquid. Then add 20g of shea butter and stir until the mixture is liquid again. Add 2-3 tablespoons of zinc oxide powder and mix well with a milk frother. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before adding 10-20 drops of carrot seed oil and 10-20 drops of lavender oil. Stir well again to ensure all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Now you have your very own homemade sun cream!

Carotenoids – the natural way to internal sun protection

Just as we can increase our sun protection factor externally, we can also protect ourselves from the sun internally. By consuming certain substances such as carotenoids, which are yellow, orange or red organic pigments found in plants, we can increase our body’s own sun protection factor and reduce our skin’s sensitivity to UV radiation. This principle can also be found in nature – many plants use natural pigments to protect their sensitive leaves from sunburn. A good example is green algae, which produce astaxanthin, a particularly potent and bright red carotenoid that helps the algae to protect itself from dehydration during the hot season by forming its own internal and natural protective shield, thus ensuring the survival of the plant.

Astaxanthin: a powerful antioxidant and carotenoid

Green algae and their pigment astaxanthin are an impressive example of the value of this natural substance. Astaxanthin not only boosts the body’s own UV protection, it also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. No wonder many marine animals such as salmon, lobster, shrimp, crabs and even flamingos prefer algae with astaxanthin. They owe their pretty pink colour and muscle strength to this carotenoid, as the red pigment is mainly found in the animals’ muscles.

But back to us humans: We too can benefit from the many positive properties of astaxanthin! When it comes to sun protection, a recent a href=”https://www.cyanotech.com/pdfs/bioastin/batl33.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>double-blind study with a placebo control confirmed that subjects with sensitive to normal skin developed a higher UV tolerance after just two weeks of taking 4 mg of astaxanthin. After 10 weeks, there was also a further improvement in self-protection time and a significantly better complexion with less loss of skin moisture.

But that’s not all! In addition to its impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, astaxanthin is also thought to provide UV protection for the eyes. It can cross the blood-brain barrier, protecting the nerves of the central nervous system and brain from inflammation and free radicals. By crossing the blood-retina barrier, our retina can also benefit directly from the antioxidant, protecting the eye. However, astaxanthin does not only act in the eye and brain or as UV protection, it also effectively supplies the entire organism and its cells, allowing them to benefit from the power of the antioxidant.

Are you comfortable in your own skin?

At around 2 square metres, our skin is the largest organ in our body and reflects our health! Detoxification through the skin can also make many health problems visible on the outside. It is therefore not surprising that the skin of many people is very sensitive to sunlight. The skin’s ability to detoxify is compromised by the modern Western diet, nicotine and alcohol consumption, and harmful substances such as UV filters. As a result, the liver, kidneys, skin and intestines are overloaded and the skin reacts quickly with sunburn.

Discover our top 5 tips for natural sun protection!

As always in life, it’s all about the right dose and combination to enjoy carefree hours in the sun! Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from the sun, both inside and out.

Clothing for the sun

A stylish sun hat will not only protect your head but also your face from harmful UV rays and possible sunstroke. It is important that you wear long, loose clothing made of tightly woven materials to protect your skin from stress and give it a break.
When it comes to sunglasses, however, you should be careful. Wearing sunglasses can have some disadvantages. Our eyes are like our own solar system and play an important role in our mental and physical health, allowing light to penetrate deep into our bodies. However, if you wear sunglasses all the time, this mechanism is inhibited. This can lead to hormonal imbalances by disrupting the day/night cycle and affecting the production of serotonin (the ‘happy hormone’) and melatonin (the ‘sleep hormone’). Wearing sunglasses all the time can also interfere with the body’s natural UV protection.

It is therefore advisable to gradually acclimatise to sunlight and radiation, as this has many health benefits. However, in some extreme situations, such as extremely high levels of radiation on a glacier, for safety reasons when driving, or when the radiation becomes too strong in regions such as the equator or on a sandy beach, there is nothing wrong with occasionally wearing sunglasses for a short time. We believe it is important to strike a healthy balance between UV protection and the positive effects of sunlight.

Regular breaks from the sun

While it may be tempting to stay in the sun for long periods, you should plan regular breaks to protect your skin. In particular, the midday sun can be very stressful, so it is advisable to take a break between 11am and 3pm and seek shade or a cool room, as is common in southern countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece. During this time, not only should you eat, but you should also take a break to allow your body to rest and, above all, to avoid the intense midday heat and sunlight.

Things to know about vitamin D production

Did you know that your skin can produce around 250 micrograms of vitamin D on a sunny summer’s day? This happens after about 30 minutes, especially if you are wearing a bikini or swimming trunks and your whole body is exposed to the sun. What’s fascinating is that the amount of vitamin D doesn’t increase any further after that, because your body protects itself from overdosing. So if you’ve had an intense day in the sun, you don’t need to worry about making too little vitamin D and can take a short break from the sun.

Slow acclimatisation to solar radiation

If your skin is not yet tanned, it is especially important to get used to the sun slowly. Increase the amount of time you spend in the sun carefully and gradually, so that your body can build up its own protection.

Self-protection times for skin unaccustomed to light:

Skin type 1: 5–10 minutes
Very fair or pale skin, usually blue eyes, reddish hair
Skin type 2: 10–20 minutes
Light skin colour, blue or green or grey eyes, fair hair
Skin type 3: 15–25 minutes
Light brown skin, grey or brown eyes, dark blond hair
Skin type 4: 20–30 minutes
Brown skin colour, dark eye colour, dark hair colour
Children’s skin: max. 10 minutes
Very light skin, all eye colours, all hair colours

Natural skin care from the outside in

Homemade sun creams may not have a very high SPF, but they will still protect your skin from the sun and moisturise it at the same time. After sunbathing, your skin will be delighted with high-quality oils such as aloe vera or coconut oil. You can also make a simple homemade after-sun treatment by mixing 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, 10 drops of D-panthenol and 10 drops of vitamin E, and then applying it to your skin. We promise it will do you good and your skin will thank you. Protect yourself naturally from the sun’s rays and give your skin the best care after a day in the sun.

But what if your skin is already red, itchy and tight? We have a great tip for you too! You can make a cold sour cream compress. Put the cream on a cloth and wrap it loosely around the affected area. Alternatively, you can use cottage cheese or yoghurt, which contain lactic acid bacteria that can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is important to note that you should only use these home remedies if you are not allergic to milk proteins or if there are no open wounds in the area, as there is a risk of infection.

As soon as the pack starts to dry, remove it to allow the skin to breathe. Cream has the advantage that it works well, doesn’t dry out as much and doesn’t need to be washed off as much, but yoghurt and quark may need to be washed off carefully as they can irritate the skin. Whichever option you choose: With this simple home remedy and plenty of fluids, you can quickly give your skin some relief.

Natural skin protection from within

The above tips are most effective if you follow them immediately before, during and after sunbathing. However, in order to maximise your internal skin protection, it is important to allow some preparation time. This is because your skin needs time to strengthen and protect itself from within.

In order to strengthen your internal skin protection with carotenoids, we recommend that you support your body with astaxanthin. As mentioned above, astaxanthin helps to naturally extend the skin’s natural protection time, protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful effects. It is advisable to take 4mg of astaxanthin daily, for example in the form of our EyeCQ product, for at least 2 weeks – ideally 4 weeks – before regular sun exposure. This not only gradually builds up your body’s own protection against UV radiation, but also provides your body with high-quality antioxidants and protects your cells from free radicals and oxidative stress. Another benefit is that you do not absorb any of the harmful ingredients found in conventional sunscreens, and your natural sun protection cannot be washed away by water or sweat. So you can enjoy the sun without worrying, get the best protection for your skin and do something good for your health at the same time.

Finally, we would like to emphasise the importance of staying hydrated when sunbathing. It is vital for your health and wellbeing that you make sure you drink enough. So please remember to keep a bottle of good quality water or unsweetened herbal teas handy so you don’t get dehydrated. So enjoy the sun, but don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Your perfect astaxanthin companion: EyeCQ by dr reinwald vital

We offer you the ideal product to optimally support your natural inner skin protection: our absolute classic “EyeCQ”, which provides you with 4 mg of high-quality astaxanthin in just two capsules a day. But that’s not all: you also get water- and fat-soluble, high-dose vitamin C. What’s special is that the fat-soluble vitamin C from Camu Camu reaches the lipid-containing cell layers of your body, which are mainly located in organs and sensory organs such as the eyes and brain. Unlike conventional water-soluble vitamin C in ascorbic acid, which is poorly absorbed by these lipid layers. Your organs – especially your eyes – benefit from this extra boost.

But that’s not all: in EyeCQ we have added other co-factors for you, such as coenzyme Q10, reduced glutathione, Active H® with active hydrogen and zinc. This works to neutralise free radicals in your body, protecting and strengthening your cells, boosting your psyche and improving your immune system. So not only do you get natural UV protection, you also get comprehensive cell care and an effective way to say goodbye to stress.