Mingjun Zhang is a biomedical engineer at the University of Tennessee who has found that a nano particle in the Ivy plant that helps it cling to a fence, also absorbs uv radiation. In past posts I have shared the possibility of scientist using hippo sweat in sunscreen, but Ivy is the perfect non toxic and organic alternative to the metal particles in commercial sunscreens. It’s a great discovery if sunscreens could be made truly all natural. Zhang found that the nano particles in ivy block uv radiation four times more effectively than metal nano particles. The Ivy nano particles can even be broken down naturally over time by enzymes on the skin. It will probably be years before we will see actual plant nano particles in our sunscreens, but it is something to look forward to.
You can read more of the article here!
Jenn @ Beautiful Calling said
Wow. This is interesting. It’s so hard to find a natural sunscreen!! (Though I am currently loving Episencial)