Colorado company Osmosis Skincare has developed a drinkable sunscreen that is said to provide 30 SPF-like protection. The product falls under Osmosis’ “Harmonized Waters” line, and comes in “tan enhancement” and “no tan enhancement” flavors.
According to Osmosis, Harmonized H20 UV Neutralizer works by “isolating the precise frequencies needed to neutralize UVA and UVB,” and will “vibrate on your skin in such a way as to cancel approximately 97 percent of the UVA and UVB rays.” The site goes onto explain that the revolutionary new Osmosis formula allows the drinker/wearer to “reverse engineer the frequencies of substances found in nature and/or the human body.”
To apply the UV Neutralizer, a user drinks 2ml of the product (preferably with 2+ oz of water), waits an hour before going out into sunlight, and repeats the process every 4 hours. Osmosis suggests that for extended, intense exercise outdoors, or if taking sun-sensitizing medications, use alternate protection after 30-40 minutes.
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Dermatologist James Pehoushek of Phoenix’s Allergy and Dermatology Specialists is skeptical of the effectiveness of the product – “It sounds like an easy way to get your sun protection without a lot of mess and trouble,” Pehoushek commented, adding, “But I think you might be getting lead down the Primrose path on this one.”
While Pehoushek goes on to point out that while staying hydrated is a good thing, it won’t protect one from sunburn. “It’s good not to get dehydrated when you’re out in the heat and the sun, but that in and of itself, being well hydrated is not going protect from (the) sun or sun damage,” he said. “So I would take this with a very big grain of salt.”
While the Osmosis site provides product testimonials, there is no mention of any formal testing or FDA approval.
The product was featured on The Late Show with David Letterman:
Osmosis intrigue via Twitter:
Drinkable suncreen sounds like some radioactive BS I want no parts of.
— Aprill C (@GlitteryGlossy) May 20, 2014
Drinkable sunscreen founder confirms it's 100% water. but with a pH of 9.5. CHEMISTRY MUTHAFLIPPING MAGIC
http://t.co/za6Ge6nlNc
— Dr. Adam Rutherford (@AdamRutherford) May 21, 2014
So far the news has had stories on drinkable sunscreen and a phone app that 'teaches you to dance'. Annnnnd now they're showing a goat.
— Jelinda Faye (@jelindafaye) May 22, 2014
Pehoushek added, “I would be very wary of this and wear your sunscreen; that would be my advice to patients.”
Image via YouTube