You’ve heard the case we made – with the help of Kim Kardashian and her popular beauty line – for reviving the body glitter trend. One beauty brand, Sunshine Glitter, believes in the movement so much that they created a line of products, including a sunscreen, full of the sparkly stuff.
While in theory it sounds like everything we’ve dreamed of since the early 2000s, we are left to wonder if glitter sunscreen is the best idea when it comes to skin health.
The Miami-based beauty brand boasts products filled with antioxidants, natural preservatives, and, of course, lots and lots of glitter. But because beauty labels can be difficult to decipher, and it’s often hard to tell the facts from the fluff, we are turning to Mona Gohara, MD, a dermatologist and expert in sun protection.
“Ultraviolet light gives off free radicals that can cause sun damage, aging, and skin cancer,” says Dr. Gohara. “It is also a carcinogen. When looking for sunscreens, the important labels are broad-spectrum and SPF 30 or higher. ” When applied properly, sunscreens that meet these criteria will generally protect against both UVA and UVB rays. A formula with added antioxidants is even better, she adds, as they will help eat up those free radicals for extra protection.
The SeaStar Sparkle SPF 50+ Party Cake with Rainbow Glitter ($19) does provide broad-spectrum protection and is said to offer 80 minutes of water resistance, so it should be a solid protective agent for a day at the beach. And considering that the daily use of an SPF 15 or higher reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent, if glitter prompts you to wear more of it, we’re all for it – just don’t be shy on application.
However, there is one catch: “Glitter and fragrance are fun but can be irritating,” warns Dr. Gohara. “They can inflame the skin and stoke the fire if someone has acne, rosacea or eczema. ” Proceed with caution if your skin is sensitive or prone to breakouts. Otherwise, go ahead and add it to your summer skin care stash. This stuff seems pretty safe and effective. The line also includes Glitter Kissed, an SPF 50+ lip gloss, and we predict a crop of glittery SPFs is still to come.
