Click here to visit the Beauty Brains blog.
Welcome to the new Forum. Please feel free to start a new discussion.
Astaxanthin natural sunscreen- Anyone tried this?
  • Jasmine
    I actually saw that Eve Pearl uses astaxanthin in her make up which is meant to be a natural sunscreen. Apparently it doesn't make you look whitish like other sunscreens and being a super anti oxidant its great for the skin. 

    I want to try buying a few caps and mixing them in my make up but apparently its highly orange in colour. Do you have any knowledge about astaxanthin? I don't get a nice tan so I thought that this may be the answer to all my white-face woes during summer. 


  • alchemist
    given it's colour (very orange) and cost you wont be able to use enough of it to act as an effective sunscreen
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    I agree with alchemist. Also I'm very leery trusting any non-OTC monograph ingredients. The potential for sun damaged skin is too great to screw around with untested materials.
  • Jasmine
    Don't you think its worth looking into current studies? It could be the next big thing. 

    What are your comments on glutathione? 
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    @Jasmine: I certainly didn't mean to come off as close minded. If there are legitimate studies which indicates this stuff works then I'm all for looking at them. 

    Here's what we think about glutathione: Is Glutathione Good For Skin?
  • alchemist
    Being related to carotene it's UV/Vis absorbance will look somthing like this
    image (http://assign3.chem.usyd.edu.au/OrganicSpectroscopy/?type=Ultraviolet&page=The Spectrum)

    You can see from this it only weekly absorbs in the UV range with the strongest absorbtion in the visible range.  A traditional sunscreen will have it's strongest absorbtion in the UV range with little or no absorbance above 400nm
    image


    So Astaxanthin is a good natural colourant and anti-oxidant, but as a sunscreen it's fairly useless it just doesn't absorb enough, and the search for a natural sunscreen goes on. 

    And when someone finds one that works (and is cost effective) it will be big news.
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    Alchemist: You rock! I think this thread would make a good post for the blog. If you have any other thoughts let me know and I'll be sure to include them. (And of course I'll give you a shout out.) Thanks.  
  • lindygirl1960
    @ Right Brain and alchemist - I have been wondering if this has potential to be as good as it sounds. The sunscreen in a pill part,  first of the article.


    I have come to the conclusion that the subject of sunscreens is way more complicated that I had ever thought it could be. It seems simple enough until you start to think about it and ask questions....
  • Jasmine
    I agree! @ Alchemist. You Rock!

    @ Right Brain: Thanks for the info. Ive been following your blog for the last 6 years and trust your input. 
  • alchemist
    As a simple chemist, once you start swallowing something it's a bit out of my league.  I don't think it will be possible to reach the level of protections of topical products and 5 years sounds optimistic.
  • lindygirl1960
    Thanks for the input alchemist! I was thinking as I read that article it would be nice. Sunscreen in a pill. 

    Of course, if you listen to the list of side effects caused by current drugs on the market read aloud on the commercials advertising those particular drugs, you might just come to the conclusion a person might be better off keeping the problems she has rather than take the pill and get a bunch more possibles for problems that are caused by that little pill. Could be the same with the sunscreen pill mentioned in the article. So many side effects you wouldn't want to take it anyway.

    I am still trying to learn all I can about sunscreens. One thing I do know is I am guilty of not reapplying enough. For some reason reapplying makes my skin feel sticky. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Dunno. Reapplying sprays doesn't cause so much of a problem, but apparently there are some major questions about those.


Add a Comment