No greasy skin? No sunscreen smell? No tan lines! All made possible and found in the form of drinkable sunscreen?! It sounds too good to be true. And, spoiler alert: it probably is.
According to Osmosis Skincare, the manufacturer of the “world’s first drinkable sunscreen” Harmonized Water UV Neutralizer, contains “scalar waves” that are designed to help you ward off UV rays from the inside out. Just take 2 ml of the stuff every 4 hours while in the sun, preferably with 2 oz of water and digest. Hit the pool with 97% protection from UVA and UVB rays – all with one swallow.
Sounds, um, delicious?
A crash course in the science behind the product’s magic ingredient (read: the first line of Wikipedia) scalar waves are “a purported type of electromagnetic wave that works outside physics as we know it.”
An article in Details takes a look at the product and points out that scalar waves are the “stuff of alternative medicine and conspiracy theorists.” A deeper dive in hashes out the seemingly odd value proposition (it’s supposed to help you tan better, but also block out sun), and also notes that it’s not been tested or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
So, can we expect to see the evolution of this concept ever reach a place where it becomes mainstream? Is a drinkable form of sun protection for the skin even possible?
The concept of a sunscreen supplement has certainly been tossed around in the beauty industry for years – perhaps because it’s long been said that one of the many benefits of eating foods rich in antioxidants (leafy greens, cacao, tea), and omega 3s (fish, grass-fed beef) includes more damage-resistant skin. In general, antioxidants and omega 3’s help to boost the skin’s (and other organs) ability to fight for health. Capturing that power in a supplement means the possibility of protecting skin from the sun from the inside out.
However, when it comes to a blazing summer sun and our rather tender skin, we prefer to trust our logic on this one – no nutrition supplement or drink should take the place of tried and true sun-protection measures like wearing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and seeking shade at peak sun times.
Bottom line is, don’t bank on any drinkable sunscreen product protecting your skin from getting burnt. When it comes to tanning, we stand by the simple idea of if you play with fire, you’re bound to get burned.
