(This Post is from OMG Moments Blog. Please see original post here. My notes are in bold font)

Thanks to an increasing body of research on the UV-protective qualities of fruits, herbs and other plant-based ingredients, sunscreen manufacturers will soon tap more than minerals and chemicals for their formulations. (We already have! We just don't have the capital to do massive marketing campaigns)

Beyond resveratrol and lycopene, which have been gaining momentum as plant-based sun care for several years, new research highlights propolis, strawberries, turmeric and more.

Check out the leading contenders with this roster of ingredients showing promise both for topical and ingestible applications.

Green Tea

The same research from Alternative and Complementary Therapies showed that applying green tea extract topically and taking it internally helped to maintain skin elasticity, which sun exposure can negatively affect. Plus, drinking a 2 to 3 tea reduced UVB skin damage. (Got it! Our Body Serum and Body Treatment both boast 5% Green + White Tea Extract, highest of any product on the market. BedsideManner Lip+Hand Treatment boasts 2%. And well, our Beauty Tea Blends cover your tea drinking!)

Propolis

No longer taking a back seat to honey, beeswax and royal jelly, this resin-like material that honeybees collect from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees is gaining popularity in skin care and supplements. Next could be sunscreens. When applied to mice, a 16 percent concentration propolis cream provided an SPF 20, according to research. (We use high concentrations of Honey, organic honey, in all of our body products. Honey has been shown to have similar effects.)

Caffeine

When ingested, caffeinated beverages such as coffee may help fight UV-related skin cancer. But you don’t need to drink it to get the benefits: A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows caffeine has UV-fighting potential when applied topically as well.

According to the research, it may help guard against certain skin cancers by inhibiting ATR, a protein enzyme in the skin, leading to 72 percent fewer cases of a form of skin cancer called squamos cell carcinomas in mice. This adds to caffeine’s other topical benefits, including helping to reduce inflammation and cellulite. (Done and Done. The tea extract we use is minimally processed, meaning it retains it's natural caffeine)

Resveratrol

Found in the skins of grapes, some berries, raisins, peanuts and cocoa, this potent antioxidant has been gaining attention as a key antiaging ingredient for its ability to fight free-radical damage from the inside.

A more recent study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, showed that grape flavonoid antioxidants may also help prevent UVA and UVB damage when applied topically. (Way done. Found in our Anti-Aging Body Treatment. Prevents the damage when applied during the day, or after sun exposure)

Lycopene

The main antioxidant in tomatoes, lycopene decreases inflammation and inhibits a tumor-promoting enzyme when applied to skin.

U.K. research also has reported that consuming tomato paste may protect against sunburn and sun-induced skin aging. About 5 tablespoons tomato paste with 10 grams olive oil daily to 10 volunteers for 12 weeks increased their UV protection by 33 percent, compared to 10 control subjects (Lycopene is one of our primary ingredients in the Daily Body Serum!)

Turmeric

This Ayurvedic spice helps to fight skin-damaging free radicals and tame inflammation. Plus, new research further supports its ability to prevent sun-related skin aging.

According to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, turmeric has photo-protective qualities, plus helps increase sebum production for overall skin hydration and restoration. (Yup, got this. And the most effective version of it! Highly concentrated extract)

Blue-green algae

In addition to impressive antioxidant and nutrient values (chlorophyll, B vitamins, beta-carotene and fatty acids), this algae also has UV-fighting potential, reports Harvard Medical School.

The reason: Blue-green algae is photosynthetic, meaning it gets energy from sunlight. Because not all sun’s rays are beneficial to blue-green algae, it filters out harmful ones, producing small molecules that shield it from solar radiation. This action is much like UV-protective ingredients used in sunscreen. (Found in our BedsideManner Lip+Hand anti-aging treatment)

The deal is, a lot of companies will jump on this bandwagon. But, because most expect way higher margins than what we're happy with because we believe in good, fair business, concentrations and quality of these extracts will be significantly lower. We want you to have really great products. That's ultimately what we want to sell: the best beauty products we can possibly create. Enjoy! And yes, this article has me pretty excited. I've been touting it for a long time, and getting funny looks back.

xo, Melissa