Safer Sunscreen

If you know me, you probably know I'm not summer's biggest fan. I don't enjoy the heat once the days start reaching 80 degrees or higher. I'd rather by cool and throw on a sweater than be hot and not able to take anything off. Being chilly and warming yourself by the fireplace is relaxing and romantic, while being drenched in sweat and fanning yourself while hovering over the cold air vent paints a slightly different picture! :)

And one of my least favorite things about summer is wearing loads of sunscreen. I'm blue-eyed, fair skinned, and have red undertones in my hair. In other words, the sun loves to burn my delicate skin. I have had to wear sunscreen my whole life, which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. I just don't like how it feels on my face and skin sometimes. Capiche?

But I like skin cancer even less. So I slather it on like a good soldier pretty much every day of the year, but especially on hot, sunny summer days! You can imagine my anxiety level rising after reading up on the new studies about the potentially harmful ingredients in over half of all sun protection products; seeing as how I've probably used over 200 bottles in my lifetime. (Link to news report below)


http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/health/sunscreen-report/index.html


 There is still a lot of research to be done, but several ingredients are considered likely to be toxic to our systems. Think about it...our skin is the largest organ on our body. It has pores and soaks things in. Your sunscreen (and every other product you rub, spray, scrub or smear on your body) doesn't just sit on top of your skin like oil on top of water. It soaks in and absorbs into your body. 


I am not writing this to scare you and I am certainly not an expert on these ingredients. I just personally have taken notice and made the switch to sunscreens with what are considered "safe" (or more safe than the others) ingredients. I am aware that research may find that these ingredients are also unsafe in the next year or two! Thus is the nature of the world of science and research.

Ingredients to avoid:

*Oxybenzone- thought to cause hormone disruption and could lead to cell damage which causes skin cancer. (Yep, you read that right! You may be protecting yourself with sunscreen from skin cancer and GET skin cancer...from the "good guy"? That's what the big shots are saying.) Oxybenzone is present in over 50% of our sun protection products.

*Retinal palmitate- this form of Vitamin A is thought to potentially be able to increase your risk of skin cancer when being used on your skin. (Studies have not yet been done on humans.) This ingredient is only in around 25-30% of sun protection products in comparison to oxybenzone, which is in over 50% of sunscreen products on the market.

*Parabens- thought to mimic the effects of estrogen on your body. Found in many sunscreens and other personal care products. Look for words with "yl" at the end...they are probably parabens. Example: methyl, propyl, etc

*Titanium Dioxide- this is a toss up right now, as some studies are showing it's possibly carcinogenic while others claim it's safe.



The good news is that there are plenty of sun protection products on the market without these ingredients.

What to look for:

*Look for sun protection products with "Zinc Oxide" as the main ingredient. It's considered one of the safer ingredients.

*Don't choose a sunscreen with an SPF of over 50. A sunscreen with an SPF above 50 doesn't protect much better, and often gives people a false sense of increased protection.

*UVA and UVB protection levels


I've been using Banana Boat's Natural Reflect Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 on both Erik and myself. I really like it! It works well and hasn't caused my face to break out as of yet. (We've been using it for a couple of months.) Here are some bullet points for this product I found on the Banana Boat website to share with you:

NEW! Banana Boat® Natural Reflect Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+

Proven effective, natural sun protection! Banana Boat® Natural Reflect sunscreen lotion uses naturally sourced sunscreen actives that deflect UVA and UVB rays.

• 100% Naturally Sourced Mineral Sunscreen Actives, Zinc Oxide • Oxybenzone and Paraben-Free • Tear-Free, Sting-Free Lotion • Mild on Baby's Delicate, Sensitive Skin • Proven Effective Against Sunburn; Helps Prevent Long-Term Skin Damage • Broad Spectrum UVA and UVB Protection • Water Resistant (80 Minutes) • Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation • Fragrance-Free • Pediatrician Tested • Hypoallergenic

What sunscreen products do you use? Are you concerned about the potentially harmful ingredients?
Has anyone found a product with more natural ingredients that provides good sun protection?