Summer is around the corner! Woohoo! With this weekend marking the unofficial start to summer, I thought it might be a good idea to talk about sunscreen. If you’ve been here before, you know that I have a few rules (or at least questions I ask myself) for my beauty routine, including, can I eliminate it? Can it double up? Is it simple? And can I eat it? I do my best to stick within those categories and try to find edible beauty with 4 or fewer ingredients. For the most part, I am pretty successful. And for the most part, I have found that these guidelines that make for healthier, softer skin and a little more time in the morning.
However, sunscreen is a different story all together. I am a little more lenient with my guidelines. For a few reasons. The first (and most important) is that the results of not wearing sunscreen, no matter what kind it is, are both immediate and painful and long-term and dangerous. Studies have shown that the risks associated with wearing the chemical sunscreens are lower than the risks associated with not wearing any at all. It is for these reasons, that if I am spending a long time in the sun and have forgotten my chosen sunscreen, I will wear anyone’s or anything. I have had too many bad burns to risk it.
I also understand the value of some good old fashioned Vitamin D. So, we do spend some time, un-sunscreened in the yard. All of us. But when we are heading for a long day at the beach or park, there are a few
clean sunscreen recommendations to make sure you and your family are staying safe in the sun:
1. Cover Up!
Yes, it’s obvious. But the best thing you can do for your skin in the sun is to just avoid it. Well, except for small amounts to get your vitamin D. But on your face – avoid it as much as possible!
2. A Physical Sunscreen
We use only physical sunscreens (they sit on top of the skin and form a barrier, not allowing the sun to penetrate, rather than a chemical sunscreen, which actually absorb the UV rays. Yikes!). Physical sunscreens also block both the UVA and UVB rays, unlike their chemical counterparts. I look for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Yes, sometimes they leave a white goopy layer, and sometimes they are too thick and greasy. But they work. And I have a few recommendations below on ones that aren’t white and goopy. Also, for our little one, I’d rather have a goopy greaseball than a sunburned cranky pants.
My favorites:
3. Get a lower SFP and Reapply often
SPFs over a certain number just don’t work. We don’t use them as directed, don’t apply nearly enough, and usually sweat, swim, or rub them off before reapplying. And they have been shown to not be as effective as they advertise. Better to use a lower SPF that actually works, and reapply it. I stick to 15 for me and 30 for the boys.
4. Avoid the big offendors:
Avobenzne, oxybenzene (sometimes listed asbenzonephenone-3), and retinyl palmitate. Especially on your kids. We don’t know how risky these are, but again, I’d rather have a goopy greaseball than to risk the potential toxicity.
Also, regardless of the ingredients, I avoid sprays. There is a difference between what gets absorbed from the skin and what gets absorbed when you inhale.
There is also a DIY option, and maybe someday I’ll try it, I just am not comfortable being my own guinea pig on something this important.
Stay safe and clean this summer with eco-friendly, clean sunscreens. Do you have any favorites that aren’t here?