Ingredient Matters | Sunscreen Basics

Summer has arrived and the girls have now been spending a lot of their time outdoors so we've been going through quite a bit of sunscreen.  Here are a few key things we look for when choosing our sun protection:

• Mineral based sunscreen - Mineral sunscreens are much safer than chemical based ones.  Most chemical sunscreens contain hormone-disrupting chemicals like oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate (which is a form of Vitamin A and are not safe when exposed to sunlight), parabens, and phthalates.

• Zinc Oxide -  In choosing mineral based sunscreen, we opt for zinc oxide.  It not only provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays, it is also a safer choice than titanium dioxide.  Recent research shows that titanium dioxide has the ability to cause DNA damage in human cells and is potentially a carcinogen.

• Micronized - We look for micronized zinc oxide and avoid nano-sized to prevent any from potentially penetrating the skin and entering the blood stream.  Mineral sunscreen always leave a tell-tale white, chalky look.  If it's a mineral sunscreen and not leaving a white haze, then it is most likely using nano-sized mineral.

• Lotions - There are quite a few new formulations out there and while slathering sunscreen on two energetic girls can be a laborious effort, I prefer lotions to sprays because it ensures better coverage.  Additionally, I know that they are not inhaling any of the tiny particles from the spray which can lead to lung damage.

• SPF -  We usually choose one with SPF 30, not for any particular reason.  While it may make sense to go for a higher SPF; it does not always mean better protection - increases in SPF only marginally improves the protection.  For example, SPF 30 blocks about 97% UVB rays whereas SPF 100 blocks 99%.   Instead, it is more prudent to be liberal with your application to ensure you're receiving the full SPF protection - it turns out if you only apply 1/2 the recommended amount, then you are only getting the square root of the SPF ( so instead of SPF 25, you are only getting SPF 5).  For best protection, regardless of SPF you choose, just apply liberally and frequently.

As to which brands are the safest and most effective sunscreen, EWG's latest 2012 Sunscreen report is a good place to start.  For more information about nano-particles in sunscreen, Healthy Child Healthy World also some good articles.

Ingredient Matters | Here comes the Sun(screen)

School is officially out for the summer and the sun is finally making a presence here in the Bay Area ... it's time to start slathering on the sunscreen for those long days spent in the sun.  But which one is safe to use? 

Best bet is to look for natural sunscreen products made with natural ingredients and avoid ingredients such as oxybenzone (potential hormone disruptor), retinyl palmitate (form of Vitamin A which may not be safe when exposed to sunlight), parabens, and phthalates.  You should also take into consideration whether you prefer titanium dioxide or zinc oxide ... my preference is zinc oxide since some studies have classified titanium dioxide as carcinogenic.  And whether you want micronization or nanoparticles - Healthy Child Healthy World has a good article on understanding micronization and nanoparticles.

You can keep the above in mind and do your own research or you can go to:  SafeMama's 2011 Sunscreen Cheat Sheet or EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Report. They do all the research for you and provide you a curated list for you to choose from.  Easy peasy ... now you're armed and ready for the sun.