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Over the years we have had drilled into our consciousness that too much sun exposure is bad for our health and the way to avoid damaging our skin is to lather ourselves in sunscreen. A study by The American Cancer Society has stated that 80% of our total lifetime sun exposure occurs within the first 18 years of life so children in particular are at risk. Children are probably the most likely to be to be smothered in sunscreens by well meaning parents too. But is the sunscreen helpful or harmful?
Protection from the sun is important but the chemicals we put on our skin can be harmful, especially to our children and typical sunscreens have LOTS of chemicals.
Over the years the skin care industry has had to increase the level of chemical compounds in sunscreen in order to raise the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) level. Researchers from the University of Southern California have, however, recently found that sunscreen can actually cause more harm than good once it is soaked into the skin.
Upon absorption into the skin, sunscreen can actually form the very dangerous compounds it was meant to block. Researchers found that some commonly used ultraviolet (UV) filters actually soak into the skin’s layers and from there can generate harmful components called reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are substances that can cause skin cancer.
Other research has shown that the greatest increases in the cancer melanoma has been experienced in countries where chemical sunscreens are promoted and used widely. Mike Adams of Naturalnews.com often claims that sunscreen is a scam and that we have zero need for it.
In addition to the cancer risk is the effect of sunscreen on children’s development. Many sunscreen chemicals also have estrogen-like effects. Estrogen is a hormone that affects many aspects of the female body development and functions. Too much exposure to toxic estrogenic chemical sunscreens can increase cancers and cause birth defects in children.
Researchers have found estrogenic sunscreens in the breast milk of mothers at about the same levels as other known environmental contaminants such as PCBs. They further believe that exposure could be significantly increased in childhood by the large amount of sunscreen used by bathers, especially children. Children’s organs are more sensitive to estrogen exposure and can develop abnormalities at their early stages (including embryo, fetus and toddler stages) if exposed.
Limiting exposure to sun and seeking out more healthy skin products that do not contain dangerous ingredients (chemical free choices are available) are possible solutions for you to consider for your children. And we can’t forget hat sun exposure is a GOOD thing. We need sunlight exposure for good health so I will rarely apply sunblock to my own kids unless we are going to be in the sun for a prolonged length of time. Otherwise I just let them get some sun and/or use protective clothing to diminish risk. So for a few hours at the zoo…not likely to use it but I will have hats and sunglasses for them and we will be mindful to seek out some shade when we need it. But for an all day trip to the beach…yes I will bring some safe sunscreen.
So what exactly do you need to avoid when choosing a sunscreen? Here are some nasty ingredients you will want to stay away from if you can:
PABA: This is not widely used anymore, but just in case. Many people are very sensitive to this ingredient and can end up with red, itchy skin.
Benzophenone (benzophenone-3), homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate): These chemicals are bad news because they have shown estrogenic activity in lab tests. Oxybenzone is aderivative of benzophenone and it is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. According to the CDC 97% of Americans are contaminated with this widely-used sunscreen ingredient.
Parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-): Parabens are common in sunscreens so avoiding them may prove difficult. They are preservatives that have estrogenic qualities. They have produced abnormal hormonal effects following on laboratory rodents, particularly male, resulting in decreased testosterone levels and other abnormalities. They have also been found to accumulate in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer.
Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 (Avobenzone): While on the surface of the skin these chemicals appear to prevent UV damage but when absorbed into the skin they can actually damage DNA. There is evidence that the sun’s light may cause these chemicals to become reactive and cause free-radical damage when they’re absorbed. I find it alarming that pediatricians often recommend these very ingredients.
In general if you want to know which sunscreens are usually loaded with the bad stuff….oh just the easy to find ones like Coppertone, Banana Boat, Avon, Nivea, Neutrogena, The Body Shop, etc. Also even some of the ones that appear to be more natural like Kiss My Face or Aveeno have some pretty nasty sunscreens.
In general, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are good choices as they scatter or reflect the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them. And since traditional formulations are not absorbed into the skin (thus the white streaks on the skin), there is less risk of the substance building up in your body. Formulations with nano particles may be absorbed into the skin, although since these are natural minerals there is debate about this being an issue but I will point out the ones I know have them.
Here is a list of some of the safer sunscreens I have found:
TruKid’s SunnyDays sunscreen – Safe and affordable.
California Baby SPF 30 + Sunblock Stick – No Fragrance – My top pick for kids! This is a non chemical sunscreen. It uses non-penetrating titanium dioxide (no nano particles) to protect against the sun. It is also made with organic & sustainably grown ingredients.
California Baby SPF 30 – This is specially for children to be safe and it a favorite among many natural parents. I have used this on my own kids and I really like it. I usually opt for the fragrance free versions.
California Baby SPF 30 + Bug Repellent – This is a good sunblock/bug repellent combo that is DEET free.
Badger Face & Body Sunblock SPF 30 – There was huge run on this sunscreen not long ago and you could hardly get it. It is known to be one of the safest sunscreens out there.
Miessence Organics Reflect Outdoor Balm SPF 15 – I have some if this and I like it…very clean smelling and not sticky. It is also made by a great company with organic ingredients. It has added antioxidants and beta carotene to help nourish skin and protect it.
Lavera Baby and Children Sun Screen Lotion, SPF 30 – Contains organic peach seed, apricot seed oil and calendula and protects against UV A, B and C rays with waterproof protection.
Jason Natural – Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block SPF30+ – Chemical, Fragrance and Paraben Free Complete UVA & UVB Protection Ideal for Sensitive Skin.
Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Faceblock SPF 25 – Another chemical free sunblock using non-penetrating titanium dioxide. This has a hint of color…most likely to hide the streaky whiteness of the natural titanium dioxide.
Sunscreen SPF 30 by Soleo Organics – Made with Zinc Oxide, it provides 3 hours of water resistant protection without the use of chemical UV-absorbers or synthetic preservatives. This sunscreen is made with nano particles.
Also don’t forget your protective gear…so you won’t need sunscreen as much:
Legionnaire Hats – These hats for kids have flaps on either side that protect the face, head, and neck areas from getting burned. They are also made with UV protective fabric.
Sunday Afternoon’s Kid’s Play Hat UPF 45 - Made of lightweight water-resistant supplex fabric, blocks UVA and UVB rays, rated 45 UPF. Full veil covers back of neck, mesh panels for ventilation, down-sloped flexible brim shades face.
Baby Banz Sunglasses – 100% UV/UVA & UVB ray protection. You can also get a sunglasses/hat combo.
Also Frubi Shades. I have used both of these brands with my own kids and I like them.
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Wow, did this post just save me a lot of time! Thank you, thank you!
rachel’s last blog post..36/37 weeks
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I ordered some California Baby sunscreen for my little one and to give to my SIL for her shower.
Beth Ray’s last blog post..Avery’s Outfit for Today
I like the Badger brand SPF 15 sunscreen. I know and can pronounce ALL of the ingredients. It is safe for the face too. I have a child with extremely sensitive skin and this is the only one that doesn’t make him get red splotches. It also smells nice
I’m definitely going to be using this guide to buy mine. My hubs is PALE, and for some reason doesn’t like wearing the big floppy gardening hats… So this will help alot! Thanks!!
Oh yeah, running an eco-friendly contest on my blog check it out!
Dirkey’s last blog post..Joy in the small things-An Earth Day Contest
As my 6 year old had surgery last year to remove an atypical spitzoid melanoma, we are super conscientious of sunscreen here. I let the kids go out for 15 minutes w/o sunscreen but anything longer needs to have sunscreen. 20 minutes in the sun and my kiddos have a mild burn…LOVE the Badger sunscreen, ditto to Jennifer (#3) And yes, last year it was very tough to find after the Environmental Working Group gave it a great rating for safety.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=sunscreen&showmore=products&start=0&order=webscore+INC
Great info on sunscreens. I’ve often wondered about how “safe” and just what they truly “screen” if they’re loaded with chemicals you can’t pronounce. Dying to read that book!
Thanks for the info. I just checked the suncreen I bought last year and I won’t be using it on my son. I’ll definetly be getting one of the brands you mentioned in your post.
[...] ourselves in sunscreen. A study by The American Cancer Society has stated that 80% of our totalhttp://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/04/21/safe-sunscreens/Sunshine if we ever see it means time for sunscreen The OlympianThere is an 80 percent reduction in [...]
Thanks for the info. What do you think of Blue Lizard Australian suncream?
Great review of sunscreens – big time save – thanks!
[...] Safe Sunscreens for the Family [...]
What are your thoughts on Blue Lizard suntan lotion? Thanks!
I would like to add another safe sunscreen to the list: Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free sunscreen with hemp seed oil. Paraben-free and phthalate-free.
I use California Babies 30+ unscented with my 14 month daughter it works fantastic I highly recommend it. I also don’t apply sunscreen unless we are going to be outdoors for an extended period of time. Studies are showing that Vitamin D is essential to maintaining health and well being in our bodies. The NIH found that approximately 80% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D. There is new research to suggest that vitamin D guards against an array of diseases, including colon, breast, and prostate cancers. If you are interested in reading more about the role vitamin D plays in our overall health you can check out http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/vitamin-d-deficiency.html
Thank you, this is awesome! I had already gotten the California Baby sunblock stick, but hadn’t had the chance to really sort out what all those ingredients are.
Tamars last blog post..Spring vest
I am a consultant for Arbonne. They carry an infant line of body care products including sunscreen. Their products are botanically based and safe for babies (and adult).
Hi Tiffany and everyone,
I wanted to clear up a comment in Tiffany’s review about the Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, Miessence does not and never will use any nano sized particles in any of the Miessence products. The Zinc Oxide in Miessence Outdoor Balm is not nanosized, it is micronized.
Miessence has a sunscreen that does not contain Titanium Dioxide or oxybenzone, parabens, or any of the other harmful ingredients Tiffany has listed in her post.
The Miessence sunscreen is a physical blocker, containing zinc oxide. The zinc oxide is micronized, not nanoized.
IT is micronized so that your skin is not totally white after you apply the sunscreen. Micronized sized particles do not pass through your skin.
Micronization is achieved through mechanical grinding not nano engineering.
One of the the other benefits of the Miessence sunscreen is there are no other coatings on any of the minerals.
Titanium must be coated with something to prevent clumping, For instance Dr. Hauschka uses aluminum hydroxide to coat their titanium dioxide. (you can read about this on their website)
Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm is labeled as SPF 15 but has been tested to SPF 30. I am recommending this if you are looking for a sunscreen free of harmful ingredients.
I am personally not a big fan of sunscreens and I tend to use hats and cover myself up and stay out of the direct sun as much as I can when I am outside, I try to keep out of the direct sun, that’s my strategy.
I know that this does not work all the time and there will be times when I cannot do this so my back up is the Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm. http://elyorganics.com/miessence-products/13430/
Miessence Outdoor Balm:
Complete ingredients list:
Organic olive, Zinc Oxide, capric triglyceride, Organic Shea Fruit Butter, Organic unrefined beeswax, oat kernel flour, polygonoum multiflorum root extract, natural vitamin e, organic carnauba wax, Organic olive fruit oil, Organic Rosemary Extract, dunaliella salina algae extract
Warm regards,
Erin Ely
Miessence Certified Organics
ONE Group Independent Representative
Hi,
Someone has asked about Blue Lizard Sunscreen
you can go to their site and read their ingredients list; that is the key to evaluating a product like this, any personal care product needs complete ingredients lists to be able to evaluate it.
There are many, many synthethic chemicals in this product
you can view an ingredients list here: http://www.crownlaboratories.com/bluelizard/documents/Regularsunscreenback.pdf
This is the key, to learn how to evaluate ingredients lists….any claim of safe, organic, natural, pure, beneficial, botanical must be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to products like this…the only true way to evaluate them is to see an ingredients list.
Here is a run down of the ingredients list for the Blue Lizard Regular sunscreen:
“Active Ingredeients”
Octinooxate
Octocrylene
Oxybenzone
Zinc Oxide
“Inactive ingredients”
Purified water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Sterate, Polyglycerl-4 Isoterate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Trimethylated Silica/Dimethecone, Octododecyl Neopentanoate, VP/hexadcene Copolymer, Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castoer Oil, Sorbitol Oleate and Hydrogenated Castor Oil and Beeswax and Stearic acid, Cetyl Dimethicone, Methylparaben and Propylparaben and Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Tocopheryl Acetate and FRAGRANCE
This is where I beg to differ from EWG, the ingredients list is full of petrochemical based ingredients, silicone derivatives, paraben preservatives, formaldehyde releasing chemical (diazolidinyl Urea).
I looked on EWG and these products do rate from 1 to 3.
Personally, this is not a product I would use due to the massive amount of chemical based ingredients, much of the ingredients except for the zinc oxide, water, beeswax, castor oil (that has been hydrogenated) are synthetic petroleum based chemicals.
If you have no problem slathering yourself with chemicals, then I guess there is no problems.
Really, I want to encourage you to read the ingredients list on the products, even if a product claims to be pure and natural, beneficial, organic, etc….the key is reading the ingredients list to really evaluate this for yourself.
Regards,
Erin
http://elyorganics.com/
I completely agree with Erin and I am SO VERY GLAD to see someone else understands that the EWG is FLAT OUT WRONG on so many issues.
I have a potential contact with the EWG and hope to discuss some of these issues with her. They are trying hard but getting it wrong so much of the time.
For a fairly complete list of ingredients to avoid, including glycerin unless specifically stated “vegetable” glycering, this is a great start:
http://www.sukipure.com/v2/pages/ingredients+to+avoid
I’m sure Suki won’t mind that I shared this with you.
There is a long list of companies that even educated parents are purchasing products from that are really lying about being safe products, including:
Jason Natural/Earth’s Best
Kiss my Face
Alba Organics
Nature’s Baby Organics
Erba Organics
Nature’s Gate
Hugo Naturals
Aubrey Organics
lots of Avalon Organics
Aura Cacia unless it’s the plain one ingredient organic oils, Avalon Organics are same deal as Aura Cacia: only get the massage oil
lots of the Cali Baby
anyway, glad to see Erin’s posting, good luck parents, it’s so hard out there to find totally pure stuff
We like Suki (the best!), Badger Balm, SOME California Baby, SOME Weleda, SOME Panagea, SOME Desert Essences, Some MyChelle
Also, I must disagree with Marla when she says that most products in places like Whole Food, Wild Oats don’t contain petrochemicals, etc. Whole Foods hardly carries any brands that DON’T! They carry most of the brands I listed above that should be avoided. Wild Oats used to have a better selection but now that they are owned by Whole Foods, I’m not sure, haven’t been in one in about a year. I am SO very disappointed with Whole Foods for carrying these deceptive brands. They do carry my Suki and Badger Balm but the WF price is ABOVE manufacturer’s retail!!!!!! THAT is TOTALLY ridiculous, I get my Suki at my local coop for 10-20% off retail, and when needed I order direct from Sukipure.com for LESS THAN I can get it at Whole Foods! That’s ridiculous.
Also, check out http://www.mercola.com for pretty complete info on sunscreens and vitamin D. I have long been a proponent of not using very much sunscreen at all. We only use Badger Balm and MyChelle, sparingly, and did not use any when we lived in the pacific northwest. I still need to check out the ingredients in UV Naturals, Mercola, and Lavera.
Thanx for reading and good luck.
not much else, unfortunately…
what about aveeno products??
Hi Erica,
Aveeno Sunblock lotion SPF 45
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3.0%) (Sunscreen), Octisalate (5.0%) (Sunscreen), Octocrylene (2.4%) (Sunscreen), Oxybenzone (6.0%) (Sunscreen)
Inactive Ingredients: BHT, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract (Soybean), Hydroxethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer (Soybean), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, PEG 100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylparaben, Silica, Squalane, Synthetic Bees Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trimethyl Siloxysilicate, VP Eicosene Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum
What do you think?
essentially chemicals, basically all chemicals really, with some of the worst offending chemicals, scary stuff.
The Truth of the product is in the ingredients list, not what it says on the label, not what the company marketing tells you, if you can’t pronounce the names and they all sound like chemicals they are chemicals, where are the natural ingredients in this list?
Unbelievable stuff here….
take a look at the rating for this particular product on the Environmental Working Groups skin deep data base:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=100696
It rates an 8 (out of 10), which is in the high hazard category.
Regards,
Erin Ely
Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm; organic sunscreen
http://elyorganics.com/miessence-products/13430/
wow and i just bought 2 tubes of this stuff..
so i saw that cali baby was top pick. i’m assuming i have to order that online.
is their a cheaper safe one? also what about lotions and body washes then? i use johnson head to toe wash and aveeno lotion
Hi Erica,
If you can return them and get your money back you might want to do that.
In regards to the California Baby, that is Tiffany’s reccomendation.
I went to their website, California Baby and this was somewhat disappointing because they are not showing their ingredients lists, this is a red flag for me right from the beginning.
they do talk about all the ingredients that are not in the product:
http://www.californiababy.com/ingredients.html
But this does not help me much so I went to the EWG website and looked up the product, they have a good rating for the product, it rates a 1, that is low hazard.
This is where I differ from EWG, although I think it’s an awesome database and they are doing great things bringing these issues to the forefront.
I have been working with ONE Group (the manufactures of Miessence) in getting Miessence products into the EWG database.
ONE Group is also a signer of the campaign for safe cosmetics. For us, it’s a secondary issue, Cosmetic manufacturers who sign “The Pledge” agree to try to remove harmful ingredients from cosmetics within the next three years and to comply with the European Union’s regulations banning harmful, carcinogenic and untested cosmetic ingredients. The Campaign is a worthy effort to bring consumer, industry and legislative focus on this important issue, however, all Miessence Skin Care products already conform to European safety regulations plus many of them meet a third party independent certification standard for organic.
This is wildly beyond what California baby has. I’m not saying it’s a bad product there are levels of this.
On EWG, I found an ingredients list for California Baby’s Fragrance free sunscreen and their rating:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=91464&refurl=%2Fbrowse.php%3Fcomp_id%3D268%26
Ingredients from packaging: Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide Other Ingredients: aqua (purified water), lysine cocoate (coconut fatty acid), cyclomethicone (water repellant/ silicone), vegetable glycerin (coconut), dipolyhydroxystearate (coconut), candelilla cera (candelilla wax), tocopherol (vit.e), *cocos nucifera oil (coconut), *squalane (olive oil), * magnesium sulfate (epsom salts), panthenol and allatoin (vit b.complex factor), magnesium stearate, *phospholipid (emollient, coconut source), polyaminopropyl biguanide (extremely mild antimicrobial; no formaldehyde or formaldehyde donors, non-solvent and non-genotoxic). *organic or sustainable
This is where I diverge from EWG’s evaluation of ingredients.
They are focused on chemical based ingredeints, because they are using information coming from CIR, and most studies are centered on chemical’s not botanicals.
California Baby is much, much better than Aveeno there is no doubt about it.
I personally have two issues with their ingredients:
1) Titanium dioxide; generally this is an unstable ingredient and can create free radicals when exposed to sunlight, it clumps so it must be coated with something to keep this from happening, not sure what they are coating their titanium with…..I know Dr. Hauscka coats their titanium dioxide with aluminum hydroxide:
http://www.drhauschka.com/customer-service/faqs/Default.aspx?cid=3#
It’s possible that the dimethecone is the coating they are using on their Titanium dioxide, dimethecone is a silicone derivative and it is commonly used for coating minerals like titanium dioxide.
They are using chemical, because they are using “derived” from ingredients. When you see this terminology on an ingredients list, it’s essentially a marketing approach to sway you into “submission” because when you see that you think “Oh this is from coconut” so it must be natural.
Derived from ingredients must be extracted and they do this using chemicals and at the end of the process they are no longer have any relationship to coconut, so I say that using that kind of listing on an ingredients list is somewhat misleading for consumers because if they just put the chemical name you would not have the same perception about these “derived from” ingredients.
In this instance you get what you pay for. the California baby sunscreen is $17.99 for 2.9 oz or $6.20 per oz.
yes it’s a bit more than your Aveeno but it’s definitely much, much safer.
Miessence Reflect Outdoor balm; which I listed the ingredients for already in an earlier post is $26.95 for 3.5 oz and that makes it $7.70 per oz, this is the next level up, I have not seen another sunscreen on the market as clean as this, yes I know I am biased but it’s true.
oh my in regards to Johnson head to toe wash,
all of them rate 4, 5, 6 on the EWG database which puts them in the moderate risk category:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=johnson%20head%20to%20toe%20wash
Erica, you should get on the EWG database and look at your products girl, you will want to change all of them. At least this will give you a basis to start from.
You can be a price shopper but that could get you in to trouble….
read the ingredients list before you buy something…use your common knowledge and intuition, if there are long list of chemical names on the product, it is not natural and it’s not organic and most of us know that, we just get sucked in by the marketing.
I am sorry but the Miessence products are not showing up in EWG right now because we just updated a bunch of formulations and they have not put them back up yet….we had over 70 products listed at one time….hopefully they will be back up soon.
Gotta run.
All the best,
Erin Ely
ONE Group Independent Representative
Miessence Certified Organics
http://elyorganics.com/
I even use sunblock in the winter, though I switch to a lower SPF. I like Weleda’s Edelweiss Suncream SPF20 for the face.
Juless last blog post..Moisturisers
Erica,
I also wanted to point out something a little more in depth about the danger of using products like Johnson & Johnson that Erin didn’t. It’s also not limited to that company, but most regular store brands, even ones that are typically considered more expensive use peto-chemicals (like Erin mentioned).
I feel like it’s important to understand why these are dangerous. Petochemicals are any substance that is created as a byproduct to petroleum. Such common ingredients are Mineral Oil, Petrolatum (or any ingredient that starts with petro…), and Paraffin. There are about 60 different names for mineral oil that companies use.
Petroleum (mineral oil) is very cheap and there aren’t regulations regarding it’s use in the US. However, mineral oil is technically listed as a known carcinogen (cancer causing) with the EPA. Petroleum is created through a refining process after the oil is seperated from Crude oil to created gasoline. It’s refined further into a variety of substances and textures and given different names. But this can also be a good time to point out that everything that is natural isn’t always beneficial.
The reason these ingredients aren’t beneficial to us is that they cannot be absorbed into the skin because the size of their molecular structure is too large. This essentially coats the skin and prevents it from breathing or releasing toxins from the body. It would be like covering all of your skin with ceran wrap tightly. Nothing gets in and nothing gets out. The skin isn’t aborsing any potentially good ingredients the comany has put in your product and your skin isn’t able to regulate it’s body temperature. Because mineral oil and other petrol ingredients give a very slick feeling on the skin, it causes people to think they are being hydrated, but they are actually suffocating their skin. This is why when something like chapstick or a lotion wears off people feel an urgency to reapply. Their skin is actually very dehydrated.
Why then do companies use these ingredients? They are extremely cheap and don’t go bad. A gallon of mineral oil is about a dollar, compared to essential oils which are very beneficial to our skin and bodies which can range depending on it’s type, but can easily reach over $100 per gallon with an expiration date. Most companies are looking for the largest profit possible, and pretrol ingredients are good as keeping cost of production down.
If a bottle of lotion is $3.00 retail, is costs Target $1.50 to purchase it from their wholesale distributor. That distributor has be able to make a profit as well and they purchase it probably for around .75. This means that the original creator of the product has to create and package it’s product, pay for advertising, cost of business, etc. for still make profit for less than 75 cents each. The actual cost of the product itself is probably 10 or 15 cents. I ask myself, what quality of ingredients can a company use to make a lotion for 10 or 15 cents? Something to think about.
I realize that for any family, affordability is key. The cost of a family is substantial. There are many great companies who use high quality ingredients and strive for safety of product as well as effective results. Try looking for a company who doesn’t advertise or who isn’t distributed through a regular big box store or typical grocer. Products found through stores like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, co-ops, etc. usually don’t contain these ingredients or other harmful chemicals. Also, there are several reputable network marketing or direct sales companies that are able to offer a great product due to their cost of business being so low. If spending $10 or $15 on lotion 2 times a year (give or take) seems like to much, just put it into perspective to the rest of your life. I spend more than that a month on chai tea.
Erin is very knowledgeable on product safety and she loves her comany, which is why she is biased to them. I have not used their products, but am sure they are fantastic. But don’t be disuaded from using a brand like California Baby who does have a fantastic product as well.
Good luck.
Thanks for this post. I got some california baby sunscreen as a gift – glad to see it on the list. The whole time I was pregnant, I avoided sunscreen, lotions, even regular shampoo and conditioner. I have very fair skin, so my only option was to stay out of the sun or cover up. I got used to wearing light weight shirts with long sleeves, and I wear a wide brimmed hat any time I’m outside. I’m doing the same thing with our son. lightweight sleepers with “footsies” are my favorite, as they cover all of him. And hats with tails that cover the neck are great too. When we do eventually take him in the water, he’ll be wearing long shorts and a rashguard, rather than half a cup of sunscreen – but I’m glad that we have good sunscreen for the parts of him that we can’t cover up.
I just got back from the Bahamas and used Aveeno for my sensitive skin and I have patchy burns all over my face. Now I know how harmful these chemicals can be and I will be be consulting this list next time!! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my face back to normal and what to use for regular moisturinzing? The areas are sensitive to the touch, red and slightly raised.
Hi Sarah,
Wow that sounds painful. I have a couple of suggestions for you.
1. moisturizing for sensitive skin would be the Miessence soothing line but before you consider only a moisturizer I would reccomend the Miessence soothing conditioner too, that’s really going to help.
Miessence soothing conditioner:
http://elyorganics.com/miessence-products/11404/
Miessence soothing moisturizer:
http://elyorganics.com/miessence-products/11604/
and for the spots right now, the soothing cuperose gel
very concentrated levels of chamomile
http://elyorganics.com/miessence-products/11501/
and if you want to get a special deal until the end of Feb you can order a soothing skin essentials pack and get a free rejuvenating facial serum.
you can read about this on my blog:
http://elyorganics.com/blog/
all the best with your healing.
Regards,
Erin
Are sunsreen really good or necessary for children skin ?
[...] kids get the experience and teaching they need to play safely around water. Don’t forget the non toxic sunscreen. My kids will NOT be bored in this regard. Their grandparents bought them a Vortex Spin Slide and [...]
While your at it think about being reef friendly. There are many sunscreens out there that arn’t harmful to the reef as well “reef friendly” Come in deifferent scenets such as watermelon etc. Blocking the sun may be good for us, but blocking the sea world from growing is another story!
Hello Tiffany,
Do you have any information about Vanicream sunscreen for sensitive cream. I am finding it is getting good reviews but is it safe? Thanks!
Connie
Hi Connie,
I looked up this Vanicream sunscreen and this is what I found:
on the description it sounds good but when you look at the ingredients, it’s very deceptive.
they can say what they want in regards to working for people with sensitive skin, there are no regulations on this, it’s not monitored basically they can say what ever they want.
You can read more about this in Ruth Winter’s book: Cosmetic Dictionary or something like that. basically, there truly is no way a company can promise anyone that they will not have a reaction to a product like this…unfortunately this is what you would call marketing hype.
when you read the ingredients list, it just does not hold water to how they are describing the actual product.
Vanicream Sunscreen Features
* Total broad spectrum protection – blocks UVA I, UVA II, and UVB rays.
* Free of PABA, preservatives, and common chemical irritants, including dyes, parabens, formaldehyde releasers, and fragrance, making it ideal for those with chemical sensitivities or sensitive skin.
* Light, transparent formula is easy to spread and moisturizing.
* Multipurpose use – use on both face and body.
* Non-comedogenic – won’t clog pores.
Active Ingredients
SPF 30: Titanium dioxide 5%, zinc oxide 5%
SPF 60: Titanium dioxide 7.5%, zinc oxide 7.5%
Inactive Ingredients
Alumina, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetearyl isononanoate, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl titanium triisostearate/triethoxycaprylylsilane crosspolymer, magnesium sulfate, methylpropanediol, PEG-12 dimethicone, PEG-30 dipolyhydroxystearate, phenyl trimethicone, polyethylene, polyhydroxystearic acid, purified water, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, stearyl dimethicone, tetrasodium EDTA, tocopheryl acetate, triethoxycaprylylsilane
I can tell you just from looking at the ingredients list, there are several different combinations of silicone derivitates, dimethicone, stearyl dimethicone, phenyl trimethecone….
here is just a glimpse of the problems with just this one ingredient.
#
Silicone derived emollients
Silicone emollients are occlusive – that is they coat the skin, trapping anything beneath it, and do not allow the skin to breathe (much like plastic wrap would do.)
Recent studies have indicated that prolonged exposure of the skin to sweat, by occlusion, causes skin irritation. Some synthetic emollients are known tumour promoters and accumulate in the liver and lymph nodes. They are also non-biodegradable, causing negative environmental impact.
* Dimethicone
* Dimethicone Copolyol
* Cyclomethicone
Personally I would not use it.
You can take a look on the EWG skin deep data base.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?brand_id=667&category=sunscreen+spf+15+and+above
regards,
erin
Thank you Erin,
I appreciate all the detailed information you were able to uncover. It looks like I will be looking for a different product for my kids who have very sensitive skin and have always broken out in a rash with sunscreens.
Connie
Hi Connie,
Just because a sunscreen says it will work for sensitive skin does not necessarily make it so. Tiffany has an extensive list here on other options for sunscreens.
I use Miessence sunscreen which is one that Tiffany listed, and my qualifier, I sell Miessence just so you know.
If you look at Tiffany’s list there are several options. The only way to know if it will work for you is to try it.
I have 15 day money back on the Miessence sunscreen if you want to check it out on my site:
http://elyorganics.com/miessence-products/13430/
Personally, I am not a huge user of sunscreen, I say use it sparingly.
Regards,
Erin
Thank you for the extremely helpful info here – what do you think of MD Mom’s Baby Silk sunscreen towelettes?
Regards,
Maria
In Regards to the MD Mom’s Baby Silk Sunscreen towlettes…
WOW, that’s all I can say.
they say what the don’t have but when you read the ingredients list you will be blown away.
http://www.mdmoms.com/ProductDetails.php?PID=6
take a look at the “ingredients” list, there is no way to “lift” it from the site the way they have it set up. you can put your cursor over the tab that says “ingredients” and you’ll see the list
WOW, you can’t pronounce most of the names of chemicals they use, and it’s a lengthy list of chemicals just to list a few of them
cyclopentasiloxane, dimethiecone, Isononyl Isononamate, Disodium EDTA, fragrance,
Personally, I would not touch it.
This is the thing, forget what the company claims, forget what is on the label, READ the ingredients list, that’s where the truth of the product is, in the ingredients list.
They can say whatever they want, but the truth is in the ingredients list.
Regards,
Erin
The more I look at the site: MD Moms the madder I get,
honestly this is just so deceptive.
Their ingredients are off the chart.
The one product I could find listed on the EWG skin deep database was the diaper cream.
It rates in the high hazard level. This is the kind of stuff that really bothers me, the products are presented as designed by MD moms and there are no phthalates, but there are other chemicals that are just as harmful. For instance parabens that are endocrine disruptors and other problematic ingredients.
It’s really not fair to consumers, it’s all about the marketing.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=184910&refurl=%2Fbrowse.php%3Fcomp_id%3D2870%26
This is the type of misleading marketing that I am seriously upset by.
look at their claims:
* Contains no phthalates, lanolin, mineral oil, petroleum or waxes
* Clinically tested & hypoallergenic
* Made in the USA
* No animal testing
OK, if you look at the long list of chemicals that are in the products this is just so deceptive.
“no animal testing” means that they did not do the animal testing but the chemicals they are using HAVE been tested on animals, they were tested by the chemical manufacturer, not the MD moms formulator, so this is a trick.
the term “hypoallergenic” is also somewhat disingenuous.
this quote from the EWG.org
http://www.ewg.org/node/18820
“The best way to protect yourself is to read labels (use a magnifying glass if necessary) and be suspicious: Words like “natural” or “hypoallergenic” look reassuring, but they’re basically meaningless. The FDA has no control over these labels. Products called “natural,” for instance, may include synthetic dyes and fragrances. “Hypoallergenic” just means that the most common irritants are left out, but other problematic chemicals might still be in the mix.”
Regards,
Erin
Hi, I was wondering what you thought of Blue Lizard sunscreen. It is actually from Australia and supposed to be very good and natural. I just bought some but will return it if it is not as good as the others you listed. Thanks.
In regards to Blue Lizard:
here is link to the ingredients list:
http://www.crownlaboratories.com/bluelizard/documents/Regularsunscreenback.pdf
this is a PDF file so it takes a bit to load, they have all the traditional chemical preservatives, formaldehyde releasing chemicals, and also ingredients that would be contaminated with dioxane & loads of other NON natural ingredients. Very misrepresented from what I see from looking at the ingredients list.
On the skin deep database they rate anywhere from 2 (low hazard) to 7 (high hazard) it appears they are using nano ingredients also. They DID not sign the compact for safe cosmetics and it is unknown if they test on animals, well I can tell you that their ingredients have been tested on animals regardless of if they are doing it themselves or not.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=blue+lizard
Personally I would not touch it.
Regards,
Erin
Jason Natural Sunbrella Chemical Free Sunblock 46 contains Oxybenzone and Octinoxate.
Erin, I’d like to know your opinion of TruKid Sunny Days Sunblock. I’ve seen it on many natural websites (including this one) as a safe sunblock. I hope it is because I just ordered two bottles!
Hey Carrie,
EWG seems to like it and gives it a good rating…but when I looked it up on EWG, it’s not showing all the ingredients on the rated product that are actually listed on the company website on the product page, so this is somewhat confusing,
So from what I can tell the product rated in EWG is not showing the same ingredients list that I see listed on the TruKid website. The one on EWG actually have fewer ingredients and it’s not showing many of the chemical ingredients that I see on the company website ingredients list….not sure why this is.
In regards to my personal preference, it has a lot of ingredients that I do not know what they are, so just my own preference, I would most likely not use it, because I don’t know what some of the ingredients are.
I see the first ingredient as titanium dioxide, I think I wrote about that in an earlier post here.
The price seems reasonable, but there is a reason it’s priced the way it is, it has to do with the quality of the ingredients. chemicals are much, less expensive than certified organic plant extracts and certified organic essential oils, that’s just the way it is.
Generally, certified organic extracts and essential oils cost 3 to 300 times what chemical ingredients cost….there is a price to be paid for quality ingredients in this instance.
Here’s the ingredients list:
Sunny Days� SPF 30+ Natural Mineral Sunscreen
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Micronized Titanium Dioxide 10%, Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis*, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Tocopherol Acetate, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate Juice)*, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinyl Palmate (Vitamin A), Panthenol (Vitamin B), Allantion, Magnesium Aluminium Silicate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Disodium Oleamido Sulfosuccinate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Oil, Citrus Junos (Yuzu) Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Oil.
Regards,
Erin
I have also used California Baby sunblock and shampoo and really like the products. They might not be perfect but I do believe they are much safer than your typical store brands (Johnson & Johnson).
[...] Badger products for a couple years now. We have used their sunscreen often and it made my list of safe, natural sunscreens. I had never tried any of their balms beyond their baby balm and lip balm, so trying a few of their [...]
Have you tried Cactus Juice? I use their products all the time. Unfortunately I don’t have a bottle handy (have to order some more) and their website doesn’t list ingredients. But awhile back I emailed the company to inquire about their ingredients since my second son was practically born with ezcema. They didn’t get very specific – I assume they were protecting their trade secrets – but did say that all their ingredients are 100% natural.
Hi Crystal,
I did look at their site and you are right they do not show any ingredients lists. This is a red flag, they do not have to hide their ingredients lists to protect their “trade secret” this is downright deceptive on my thinking.
The term 100% natural actually does not mean anything on a product like this. Without an ingredients list to read there is no real way to know if they really are natural ingredients.
It’s just another way to lull product buyer into complacency.
They must label the product bottle with the ingredients so, the “trade secret” thing does not hold up to scrutiny.
Perhaps you’ll post the ingredients the next time you have a bottle.
Regards,
Erin
Erin,
What do you think about SOLEO ORGANICS SUNSCREEN SOLEO MARINE MIST? I found it on Skin Deeps website but am not sure where to buy it, or if it is really the “safest”. Also, if it is safe for a toddler.
Thanks!
Hey Cassie,
Sure it looks fine, no real bad ingredients from what I can tell.
There are links from EWG to shops where you can order the sunscreen you mention. The “mist” is actually an after sun product, that’s not the sunscreen it’s self.
The price is about double what Miessence sunscreen is.
You need to look at the quantity and the price, the store I saw said it retailed for $14.00 for 1.0 oz, that’s $14.00/ounce
Miessence sunscreen is $26.95 but that’s for 3.5 oz. which makes it about half the cost of the Soleo brand, which means Miessence is about $7.70/ounce
On EWG they give Miessence a rating of 2, it’s mis rated but they will not take into account that it has actually been tested to spf 29.5, even though it’s labeled 15. Also, the “unspecified essential oils” are not unspecified, but that has not been updated. And the “contamination” for the ingredient tocopherol, is just incorrect…but that’s the way it goes, you’re at the mercy of the rating system.
The only way to know is to buy it and try it. That would be true for any sunscreen. It seems like a clean product but you won’t know if it will work for you unless you buy it and try it.
I don’t think there is any such thing as “the safest”. I think there are several safe sunscreens on EWG.
Personally, I minimize my exposure, wear a hat, stay in the shade when I can and minimize my use of sunscreen.
all the best,
Erin
In my search for the best sunscreen I can feel good about slathering my children with, I found Kabana Skin Care’s Green Screen. http://www.kabanaskincare.com/proddetail.php?prod=GS04FF
Their posted ingredients are as follows:
Green Screen® Organic SPF 20 Sunscreen ONLY contains the following 8 organic and natural edible-grade ingredients:
1. 25% Zinc Oxide
2. Eldorado Springs Artesian Water
3. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4. Organic Jojoba Oil
5. Vegetable Glycerin
6. Organic Shea Butter
7. Vegetable Emulsifying Wax
8. Vegetable Vitamin E
Have you heard of this one? I’m thinking of ordering this for when we go on vacation. They’re offering free shipping until June 8th too!
I did research on toxicity of sunscreen and wrote an article at http://www.healthychild.com/sunscreen/. Kabana Skin Care does have really great ingredients and doesn’t use nanoparticles. It’s the purest sunscreen I’ve found so far.
Jane
I am new to this website & with skin cancer in my family, I have been covering my boys religiously w/ sunscreen. I need to go see where to buy the recommended brands.
Anyway, someone mentioned that they wear light weight long sleeve shirts….aren’t the UVA (or UVB..not sure which) rays still penetrating your clothing??….or do you have all spf clothing? Just curious
Karen