Science

Lets talk myths and facts

Myth: Chemical sunscreens, known more formally as organic sunscreens, are dangerous hormone disruptors.

Fact: This information comes from in-vitro (test tube) experiments where cells of various types are exposed to extremely high amounts of the sunscreens, 100’s of times higher than real-world levels.  At real-world use levels, sunscreens have been shown to not meaningfully impact our endocrine system. There is one exception to this and it's the benzophenones/oxybenzone which can cause measurable changes at only 10 times that of real world exposure.  For this reason, among others, burnd does not use oxybenzone and, in fact, no reputable sunscreen manufacturer does.

Myth: Only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens are truly safe.

Fact: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are excellent at blocking UV, but to get high SPF protection from zinc and/or titanium alone, you’d need a thick, white, usually greasy formula—hardly something you’d want to wear every day. The reality is, sunscreen only works if you actually use it, and most people won’t stick with a product that feels and looks unpleasant.  

The organic sunscreens like Homosalate and Octinoxate have been used for decades and extensively studied.  They are safe and incredibly effective.  And, for both the inorganic and organic sunscreens, the formulation has a big impact on safety.  burnd knows this and we formulate our products to keep the sunscreens where they belong, on top of your skin and out of the water.

Bottom line, the safest sunscreen is that both works and gets used!  burnd products are both elegant and effective so – you’re gonna love using them.

Here’s the challenge: Achieving high SPF’s like burnd SPF 41 with only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide would require 20–25% of them—think thick oily paste, not elegant  lotion. burnd’s answer is a strategic blend, a hybrid: 8.1% zinc oxide, plus smaller, carefully chosen amounts of octinoxate and homosalate. Why?

• Broad Spectrum UV Coverage: Different filters block different parts of the UV spectrum.

• Superior Feel: The combination in a technically advanced formulation delivers a truly elegant lightweight and pleasant texture.

• Slip-Free, Residue-Free: Our sunscreen glides on effortlessly, dries in seconds, and leaves no greasy residue—making it the perfect choice for sports like golf, tennis or anything where a secure grip is essential. 

• Durable protection: Extensive testing confirms reliable, broad-spectrum SPF 41 protection that has human testing confirming 80 minutes water resistance.  burnd SPF 41 is formulated to stay put.
  

The bottom line: The benefits of regular sunscreen use are clear and significant. The ingredients in burnd are used at safe, highly effective and well-studied levels, and the formula is designed for real-world use whether that’s just hanging around, skiing, surfing or you name it.

Why burnd Is Good for Your Skin

• High-Performance Protection: SPF 41 blocks 97.6% of UVB rays, which cause sunburn and skin cancer. It also shields against UVA rays protecting you from  wrinkles, skin thinning, age spots and yes, skin cancer.
  
• Protection Math: If you’d normally burn in 10 minutes, SPF 41 gives you 410 minutes of protection— But this only works if you apply it properly and it before sun exposure!  If you go out in the sun for 5 minutes without it, then apply it, you only have 5 minutes of your original 10 left so the time you are protected is cut in half, 41  ×  5 = 205.
  
• Antioxidant Boost: burnd includes ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C) and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) to help neutralize free radicals.

• Skin Conditioning: Moisturizing ingredients keep your skin barrier healthy.

• Eye-Friendly: Won’t sting your eyes during activity because it doesn’t run, it stays put.

• Clinically Proven: burnd’s SPF is proven in formal SPF testing and validated in the real world by professional athletes and regular folks.  Studies of sunscreens in general show that daily broad-spectrum sunscreen use prevents about 50% of melanomas and dramatically slows visible aging.  

• Innovative Technology: Our transparent zinc oxide technology—developed by one of our founders— combined with intelligent use of organic sunscreens delivers cutting-edge protection in a formula that feels so good, you’ll actually want to reapply.

Why doesn’t burnd SPF 41, or any sunscreen for that matter, claim to be waterproof?  The FDA only allows very specific language on this point:  water resistant for 40 or 80 minutes depending on the test performed.  And, let's face it, the term waterproof could mean anything and nothing stays on forever.  At burnd we have used the most advanced formulation techniques to make sure burnd SPF 41 stays put, so use it properly and enjoy the great outdoors.

Zinc oxide isn’t naturally water-repellent so burnd uses:

• Zinc oxide that has a hydrophobic coating:  This technology allows the zinc oxide to be mixed into the oil phase of our formulation, the part that won’t wash off in the ocean.  This technology was actually first developed by one of burnd’s founders.  
  
• Film-forming polymers: Our film forming silicone technology creates an invisible, flexible barrier the is also the water-repelling shield that lets your skin breathe while keeping the UV filters in place.
  
• Advanced water-in-oil emulsion: Our reverse emulsion (water-in-oil) formula system goes on easily and resists breaking down when exposed to water.  When you apply burnd SPF 41 and gently rub it on, you “break” the emulsion and the water evaporates off leaving behind the film forming system.  This system repels water, keeps the sunscreens on your skin and prevents your skin from drying out.  
  
• Regulatory Testing: To make the 80 minute water resistant claim, the FDA requires that this be tested  on real people. burnd maintains full SPF 41 protection throughout this test and does not drop a single SPF point from start to finish.  Burnd is formulated to stay put

All companies, including burnd, need to make money to exist, otherwise you’re a charity, not a business.  But most companies have profits, not your wellbeing, as their number one goal. To get there, they will use cheap ingredients and maybe even not, dear we say, be completely transparent with you.  At burnd, we know we can have both a solid company and provide you with honest, high quality, sophisticated products that really work.  We do this by leveraging technology as much as possible and selling directly to you.  One perfect example of how many other companies try to trick you are the so-called SPF boosters and “all mineral” claims.

• SPF Boosters—A Nasty Trick: Many “100% mineral” sunscreens sneak in ingredients like ButylOctyl Salicylate, which act exactly the same as the organic  filters but don’t have to be listed as active ingredients. They make the “all mineral” claim but they’re not.  If you see “SPF 50” with only 11% zinc oxide for example,” that’s a clue. While burnd believes organic screens used correctly are extremely safe, you have the right to use what you want on your body and not be fooled by unscrupulous companies taking advantage of a legal loophole.  

Our Transparency Promise:
We list every ingredient and explain why it’s there. No hidden boosters, no fake SPF claims, just honest protection. Every UV filter in burnd is properly listed as an active ingredient, and our SPF 41 is earned through legitimate, FDA-tested UV protection. We use only we need to get the maximum performance, always choosing the safest, most well-studied options.

Water is a chemical (H2O), the air you breathe contains chemicals, and you are 100% made of chemicals. When companies say "chemical-free," they're being scientifically misleading - it's literally impossible. What matters is which chemicals are used, at what concentration, and whether they’re properly tested for safety.

Natural isn’t always safer: Poison ivy and arsenic are natural, but you wouldn’t want them as part of your skincare routine. The truth is that many synthetic ingredients are safer and undergo more rigorous testing than their natural counterparts.

Dose matters: Even water can be toxic in excess. Many synthetic chemicals are perfectly safe at the levels found in skincare.

Burnd’s approach: We aim for superior performance, that is our North Star.  If we can get there with natural ingredients, we will.  But that is often not possible, so we use a mix of natural and synthetic but either way, we use only ingredients we believe are safe and  at concentrations well within established safety limits. Every ingredient is there for a reason, and we’re transparent about all of them.

Our philosophy: We choose ingredients based on science, not trends. Whether natural or synthetic, we formulate based on safety and performance. For example, our zinc oxide provides excellent natural protection, while our synthetic silicones create the smooth application and water resistance that make you want to use the product daily. We never compromise on safety, no matter the ingredient’s origin.