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Safe Sunscreen

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Effective and Safe Suncreens

It's important to protect your skin year round. As long as you're outdoors, whether it's on the beach or on the ski slopes, you and your family will be exposed to the sun. Do you think your sunscreen is protecting you? Interestingly, a 'comprehensive scientific review indicates that 84% of 1,101 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.'

Below are some of the safest and most effective sunscreens and sunblocks available for the whole family, as well as related resources and sun protection tips.

Safe Sunscreen

These sunscreens and sunblocks offer the most effective and safest protection from the sun. They are also cruelty-free - no animal testing. TruKid and California Baby products are (obviously :) kid and baby safe.

Sunscreens to Use
Use a sunscreen should have SPF 30 or higher and contain at least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for broad spectrum protection.

Sunscreens to Avoid
In addition, their advice is that we should avoid sunscreens containing oxybenzone or benzophenone-3 which can cause hormone disruptions or allergies, as well as spray and powder sunscreens with nano-scale ingredients because the particles might absorb more easily through the lungs than the skin.

Micronized & Nano-scale Ingredients Are Safe
And interestingly, EWG is also now stating that both micronized and nano-scale zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in sunscreen provide strong UVA protection, and are considered safe because "repeated studies have found that these ingredients do not penetrate healthy skin, indicating that consumers' exposures would be minimal."

Sunscreen Summary

What Works and What's Safe

Image and following excerpt via CosmeticsDatabase.com

"May 24, 2010. EWG's fourth annual Sunscreen Guide gives low marks to the current crop of sunscreen products, with a few notable exceptions. EWG researchers recommend only 39 - 8 percent - of 500 beach and sport sunscreens for this season."

There's no consensus on whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer.
There's some evidence that sunscreens might increase the risk of the deadliest form of skin cancer for some people.
There are more high SPF products than ever before, but no proof that they're better.
Too little sun might be harmful, reducing the body's vitamin D levels.
The common sunscreen ingredient vitamin A may speed the development of cancer.
Free radicals and other skin-damaging byproducts of sunscreen.
Pick your sunscreen: nanomaterials or potential hormone disruptors.
Europe's better sunscreens.
The 33rd summer in a row without final U.S. sunscreen safety regulations.

· Recommended: 39 products
· Hall of Shame

Sunscreen News

Safe Sunscreen: The Top 3 Things To Look For: by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1 comment | Share a Tip Sunscreen used to seem simple; not anymore. Turns out that some of the very stuff you slather on to protect yourself could actually up your cancer risk; higher SPF doesn't necessarily mean more ...
Sun Protection For Your Pets: Cat lovers are left waiting in the wings while scientists work on a cat-safe sunscreen. Don't you love that image? I do. Whether you choose to apply sunscreen or not, use common sense in the summer. Always provide shade and water, never leave your dog ...
Safe Sunscreen: Just in time for the tanning season a list of the best and worst sunscreens, has just been released. The 2012 sunscreen guide by the environmental working group gives tips on what to look for and what to avoid. Sunscreens labeled broad spectrum are the ...
Check Out the 2012 Sunscreen Guide from Environmental Working Group: EWG said that a safe sunscreen is one that has no retinyl palmitate or oxybenzone, and that has an SPF that is 50 or lower, and that offers real protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Oxybenzone is in 56 percent of all sport and beach sunscreens.

Children Playing at the Seashore Art Print
Potthast, Edward

Sun Protection Tips

be A.W.A.R.E.

Most Americans are unaware that skin cancer is being diagnosed in epidemic numbers, that within ten years melanoma may be diagnosed more often than lung cancer within certain segments of the population, and that the cost to the American medical system could be in the tens of billions of dollars.

Understanding the problem, understanding how you are at risk and understanding what protection methods are available will lead you to the AWARE acronym. Using the methods described in AWARE will help slow the epidemic of skin cancer and may help save your life.

A - Avoid unprotected exposure during the peak UV hours between 10 AM and 4 PM.

W - Wear sun protective clothing including a shirt, a hat with a 3-inch brim and sunglasses. If possible, stay out of direct sunlight.

A - Apply broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to all unprotected skin 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours while in the sun.

R - Routinely check for and report suspicious changes to a physician.

E - Express the need for sun protection to your family and community.

[via SunProtection.net]

Have a Safe Sunny Season!

Check out Beat Winter Skin Damage with Sunscreen--And Less Soap.

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VisFeminea Feb 28, 2012 @ 5:40 pm | delete

We use Sun Protective Clothing ;)

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sukkran Sep 21, 2011 @ 2:17 am | delete

thank you for your useful and informative lens on safe and uva effective sunscreen.

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aquagreenpbc Jun 27, 2011 @ 11:41 am | delete

Great lens! Few people understand how toxic conventional sunscreens really are. I know I had not idea until I came across the Environmental Working Group database. I've just picked up a bottle of Caribbean Solutions natural sunscreen, and I really like it so far. Badger Balm also has really good natural sunscreens, but I find they are a bit pricey. Caribbean Solutions was the best deal and safest natural sunscreen I was able to find at my local Whole Foods.

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Yourshowman Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:29 pm | delete

Nice info.

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NaturalMindset May 20, 2010 @ 4:56 pm | delete

This is a great lens. I'll use the information and lensroll to Bubbling Over With Bubble Soap Recipes.

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hayleylou Nov 10, 2009 @ 2:42 am | delete

Great, thanks for the info, this is something that I have given a lot of thought to recently particularly just entering the summer season here in Australia, 5 stars

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Tanya Sep 16, 2009 @ 9:08 pm | delete

Very informative lens. Just to add on your very useful lens, with the technology today we have a choice not to get ourselves baked under the sun if ever we want to get a tan. Avoiding skin cancer while having a perfect tan is the way to go.

Sunless tanning products, self-tanners, or tanning extenders: These home products are generally available over the counter and can give your skin a tanned look without exposing it to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and are commonly sold as creams, gels, lotions and sprays you apply to your skin. The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). Sunless tanning products typically go on clear, and you might see results after about an hour. Full color appears within eight to 24 hours. Some products contain a tint, which darkens your skin right away.