What Should You Avoid?
About 75% of sunscreens on the market in America contain harmful ingredients. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and readily absorbs chemicals into the body and bloodstream.
Oxybenzone, which is used to absorb UV light, has been linked to hormonal disruption and cell damage. Retinyl palmitate, a derivative of vitamin A, is known to speed up the growth of cancer and is potentially toxin to organs. It also does not make sunscreen any more effective.
(Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Guide)
What Do We Recommend?
Make sure the sunscreen has broad-spectrum protection (against both UVB and UVA). UVA radiation penetrates deep and causes free-radical damage so make sure your sunscreen protects against this!! Keep in mind that blocking UVB radiation means decreasing your vitamin D production. Safe sun exposure is great for vitamin D production, and great for your health… but a sun burn is never good. Short periods of sun exposure is fine without sunscreen, but if you know you burn easily or if you see your skin turning even the slightest shade of pink, don’t risk it!
Look for products with titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These both protect against UVA and UVB radiation and are non-toxic. You may just need to work a little harder to rub these in, as they are quite white!
Which Products Have We Found?
Badger
Kiss My Face
Goddess Garden
These products can be found at Nature’s Emporium and are rated high on the Environmental Working Group’s list of best sunscreen products.