Natural Sunscreen 101
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Green Living, News & Reviews |
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are concerned with sunburns, skin cancer, or pre-mature aging, then you’re probably no stranger to sunscreen. Surprisingly, even with all the slathering on of sunscreen in this country, incidents of skin cancer have tripled in the US in recent years. There are even some studies that say your conventional, chemical-based sunscreen may actually be partly to blame. Many of these chemicals have been found to generate free radicals that can cause cancer while they’re supposedly protecting you from it.
Another unexpected danger from sunscreen use is that it may be harming coral reefs and fish. Sunscreen from beachgoers and snorkelers washes off into the ocean and causes UV ray interference to the corals, leading to viral infections and coral bleaching. Scientists have found fish off the coast of California that have had ovarian tissue growing in their testes. They believe that oxybenzone (a main ingredient in many conventional sunscreens) is responsible. Other dangerous chemicals to look out for include octinoxate, diethanolamine (DEA), and parabens The best choice is a sunscreen containing naturally occurring zinc oxide. Naturally occurring titanium dioxide is a close second, although there has been some controversy around titanium dioxide as well.
The safest and most eco-friendly way to prevent burns is to limit your time in the sun, and to wear a hat and cover up when you’re exposed to it. If you must use sunscreen, be sure to read the label; many sunscreens that claim to be all natural or eco-friendly contain those nasty little sea-creature-killing chemicals. Here’s a bit of insight into some of the major brands of “natural” and “organic” sunscreens you may find at your grocer or drugstore.
Alba Botanica Organic Lavender Sunscreen
Alba Botanica Organic Lavender Sunscreen is one of those sunscreens where you really have to be careful and read the label. Although this sunscreen does contain a few ingredients that are organic (like the lavender, aloe vera, chamomile, ginkgo biloba, and green tea), the active ingredients include 7.5% octinoxate and 6.0% oxybenzone, making the sunscreen as a whole far from certified organic. This sunscreen is neither organic nor completely natural, and not high on the list of recommended sunscreens for the safety of you or the environment.
MSRP: $9.95 for 4 oz ($2.48/oz)
Burt’s Bees Chemical Free Sunscreen
Burt’s Bees Chemical Free Sunscreen is 99.11% natural. It applies smoothly and smells vaguely like a maraschino cherry.
The active ingredient is titanium dioxide. Available in SPF 15 and SPF 30, it’s a better choice than say, Alba, but it does contain the controversial titanium dioxide.
MSRP: $15.00 for 3.5 oz ($4.28/oz)
Badger Sunblock
Available in SPF 15 and SPF 30, Badger Sunblock is smooth, thick, and blends evenly. It has a pleasant, nutty scent and is not at all greasy. It feels like any other body lotion.
The active ingredient is zinc oxide and 60% of the ingredients it contains are certified organic. Badger Sunblock has been rated number one in safety by the Environmental Working Group.
MSRP: $16.00 for 2.9 oz ($5.51/oz)
Dr. Hauschka Skin Care
Dr. Hauschka Sunscreen uses certified organic, Fair Trade shea butter, as well as many other botanical extracts to nurture and moisturize your skin while protecting it from those harmful UVA/UVB rays. It’s available in SPF 15, SPF 20, and SPF 30, in a stick, spray, or cream.
The active ingredient is titanium dioxide.
MSRP: $20.95 for 3.4 oz ($6.16/oz)
Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen
Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 is thick and creamy. Your skin actually feels smooth and silky after you rub it on. A message on the tube advises that you “knead me before you use me,” and I would recommend heeding that advice. If you don’t shake it up beforehand, the sunscreen will squirt out half liquid, half lotion.
The active ingredient in Soleo Organics is zinc oxide. The sunscreen is biodegradable and won’t harm any of those cute little sea creatures, including the coral off the coast of its native Australia. It does have a tendency to settle into the creases of your skin if you get hot and sweaty and has a slightly chalky scent to it. Otherwise, it’s not bad.
MSRP: $24.99 for 2.6 oz ($9.61/oz)
Posted on July 8, 2008 |
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7 Responses to “Natural Sunscreen 101”
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Lavender Alba Botanical? I’m all over it. Hauschka also rules and thank you for the new reco on Soleo Organics.
Very good to know! Thanks for careing about all those sea critters!
[...] their green living section, so I thought I’d share it with you here. Read the article on sunscreens. Good info. I want to raise my girls to be eco-conscious. I think if we all just did little things [...]
Don’t forget the UV protective clothing! Surfers have used rash guard shirts for years but it’s just recently that the SPF 150+ protection these shirts provide while you’re in the water has been discovered by the rest of the beach going population.
You’ll use less sunscreens and their harmful chemicals, (dangerous to us as well as our environment), AND less of the plastic bottles they come in!
hi.
this is a really interesting article! i was wondering if any of the mentioned sunscreens were ok for use on kids (and how young)… or if you have a different rec for them???
i write a parenting column at the new national news website examiner.com. my column is at: http://www.examiner.com/x-608-Early-Childhood-Parenting-Examiner
i’d like to use this info in my column, linking to your site for the details.
thanks-angele
Sure you can use them on kids. They’re natural and organic, so they’re safer than some of the chemical-filled sunscreens out there that are marketed as being for kids.
The more I read about titanium dioxide the less I like it. So I plan to stay away from any product that uses it. I tried Badger but really don’t care for the smell. It also tends to be a little greasy. I’ll give the Soleo product a try the next time I buy and will let you know…