Aphrodite, Inc.
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Design
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Design
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Site Design Copyright 2008 Aphrodite, Inc.
Aphrodite, Inc.
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Design
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Design
Go Green With Your Sunscreen!
Originally written for the Your Life Organized Blog
Originally written for the Your Life Organized Blog
Before I started writing full-time, I worked as a Master Stylist in a Providence salon for a number of years. I’ve
been a ‘product junkie’ my whole life – but when I started researching what actually goes into our personal care
products, I got a real wake-up call.
As consumers, we are not protected by the FDA or anyone else when it comes to our cosmetics: according to the
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, only 13% of ingredients in commercial personal care
products are actually tested for toxicity. Look up your current products at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and get a
breakdown of ingredients. You may be surprised – and a little frightened – by what you discover.
So what does this have to do with sunscreen? Everything! If you’re like most people, you’re concerned about skin
cancer, sunburns, and the aging effects of UVA and UVB radiation. But since over 60% of what you put on your
skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, you don’t want to slather on just anything.
Conventional sunscreens, like most body lotions you’ll see in the drugstore, usually employ a lotion base of
petroleum waxes, mineral oil, or some combination thereof. This in itself is not good: petroleum waxes
(petrolatum, etc.) and mineral oil come from the same place as gasoline – crude oil. In fact, nearly as much
crude oil goes into our cosmetics, cleaning products, and plastic packaging as goes into our cars! They can also
contain ingredients like oxybenzone, an ultraviolet light absorber, which according to the EWG is a developmental
toxin, an endocrine disruptor (meaning it messes with hormones like estrogen), and a neurotoxin, and may
cause ‘biochemical or cellular changes’ in humans. And that’s just one ingredient!
So how can you protect yourself from the sun and from your sunscreen? Choose mineral sunscreen formulas
which use zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and other natural compounds to block harmful rays. I have extremely fair
skin (as an old friend once told me, if I got any whiter I’d be see-through), and I’ve spent all day in the tropical
sun wearing Aubrey Organics’ SPF 20 Green Tea sunscreen. California Baby sunscreens rank among the least
toxic of those tested by the EWG, and they’re great for adults and kids alike. Jason Natural Cosmetics mineral
sunscreen ‘Sunbrellas’ formulas are also a good choice. If you’re concerned about parabens, which find their way
into nearly everything, you’ll find more options among natural sunscreens. Natural formulas may also work better
for people with sensitive skin.
One thing I do find with my Aubrey sunscreens is that they’re rather thick, and they get thicker as the SPF gets
higher. Titanium dioxide works by reflecting the sun’s rays, rather than by absorbing them like chemical
sunscreens, and at a high SPF the lotion can look a little white on the skin. I solve this problem by diluting the
sunscreen with a few drops of sweet almond or jojoba oil; this doesn’t seem to affect the sunscreen’s
performance at all, and it gives my skin a much-needed moisture boost. You can also apply sunscreen to damp
skin.
As far as facial-specific sun products go, I like Eco Bella’s Age Antidote Day Cream with SPF 15, Collective
Wellbeing’s Day Moisturizer, and Lavera’s Anti-Aging Sunscreen SPF 20 Face. They all cost less than department
store brands, and come with none of the chemical baggage.
Also, I’ve fallen in love with Physician’s Formula’s Organic Wear tinted moisturizer. It gives a great dewy look to
the skin, the ingredients are non-toxic, the packaging is eco-friendly, and (most importantly) the price is right.
Look for it at drugstores – just be sure not to confuse Organic Wear with the Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear
line, which has none of the former’s redeeming qualities.
been a ‘product junkie’ my whole life – but when I started researching what actually goes into our personal care
products, I got a real wake-up call.
As consumers, we are not protected by the FDA or anyone else when it comes to our cosmetics: according to the
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, only 13% of ingredients in commercial personal care
products are actually tested for toxicity. Look up your current products at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and get a
breakdown of ingredients. You may be surprised – and a little frightened – by what you discover.
So what does this have to do with sunscreen? Everything! If you’re like most people, you’re concerned about skin
cancer, sunburns, and the aging effects of UVA and UVB radiation. But since over 60% of what you put on your
skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, you don’t want to slather on just anything.
Conventional sunscreens, like most body lotions you’ll see in the drugstore, usually employ a lotion base of
petroleum waxes, mineral oil, or some combination thereof. This in itself is not good: petroleum waxes
(petrolatum, etc.) and mineral oil come from the same place as gasoline – crude oil. In fact, nearly as much
crude oil goes into our cosmetics, cleaning products, and plastic packaging as goes into our cars! They can also
contain ingredients like oxybenzone, an ultraviolet light absorber, which according to the EWG is a developmental
toxin, an endocrine disruptor (meaning it messes with hormones like estrogen), and a neurotoxin, and may
cause ‘biochemical or cellular changes’ in humans. And that’s just one ingredient!
So how can you protect yourself from the sun and from your sunscreen? Choose mineral sunscreen formulas
which use zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and other natural compounds to block harmful rays. I have extremely fair
skin (as an old friend once told me, if I got any whiter I’d be see-through), and I’ve spent all day in the tropical
sun wearing Aubrey Organics’ SPF 20 Green Tea sunscreen. California Baby sunscreens rank among the least
toxic of those tested by the EWG, and they’re great for adults and kids alike. Jason Natural Cosmetics mineral
sunscreen ‘Sunbrellas’ formulas are also a good choice. If you’re concerned about parabens, which find their way
into nearly everything, you’ll find more options among natural sunscreens. Natural formulas may also work better
for people with sensitive skin.
One thing I do find with my Aubrey sunscreens is that they’re rather thick, and they get thicker as the SPF gets
higher. Titanium dioxide works by reflecting the sun’s rays, rather than by absorbing them like chemical
sunscreens, and at a high SPF the lotion can look a little white on the skin. I solve this problem by diluting the
sunscreen with a few drops of sweet almond or jojoba oil; this doesn’t seem to affect the sunscreen’s
performance at all, and it gives my skin a much-needed moisture boost. You can also apply sunscreen to damp
skin.
As far as facial-specific sun products go, I like Eco Bella’s Age Antidote Day Cream with SPF 15, Collective
Wellbeing’s Day Moisturizer, and Lavera’s Anti-Aging Sunscreen SPF 20 Face. They all cost less than department
store brands, and come with none of the chemical baggage.
Also, I’ve fallen in love with Physician’s Formula’s Organic Wear tinted moisturizer. It gives a great dewy look to
the skin, the ingredients are non-toxic, the packaging is eco-friendly, and (most importantly) the price is right.
Look for it at drugstores – just be sure not to confuse Organic Wear with the Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear
line, which has none of the former’s redeeming qualities.