Safe Sunscreens

With summer coming I thought it would be helpful to have a list of safe sunscreens to use. You can look up any sunscreen on EWG. org or the Think Dirty app to see how it rates. I also wanted to cover some other topics that relate to sun exposure and using sunscreen.

NO SUNSCREEN
A lot of families do not use any sunscreens at all. These articles explain further:

1. 4 Reasons Why My Family Doesn't Wear Sunscreen and Why You Shouldn't Either. -
http://www.earthbasedmom.com/4-reasons-why-my-family-doesnt-wear-sunscreen-and-why-you-shouldnt-either/

2. 8 Reasons Why I Don't Wear Daily Sunscreen - Deliciously Organic
http://deliciouslyorganic.net/8-reasons-dont-wear-daily-sunscreen/

MELANIN
Learn more in these two links:

1. The Protective Role of Melanin Against UV Damage in Human Skin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671032/

2. Melanin—Umbrellas of Our Skin | Answers in Genesis
https://answersingenesis.org/human-body/melanin/

ASTAXANTHIN
Learn more on these links:

1. Diet and Supplements for Sun Protection and Skin Health
https://wellnessmama.com/4621/eat-your-sunscreen/

2. Health Benefits of Astaxanthin | Wellness Mama
https://wellnessmama.com/15283/astaxanthin-benefits/

HOMEMADE
I would strongly encourage you to research well before making a homemade sunscreen. There are many parts that go into making an effective sunscreen, and even following recipes, it will be impossible to know accurate SPF for what you have created without getting each batch tested. This is not an area you want to experiment in. I would encourage you to consider one of the brands listed below or finding a WAHM whose product has been tested to purchase from (WAHM are supposed to have homemade sunscreens tested, by law, before selling). If you do wish to learn more about homemade sunscreens, here are some things to keep in mind:

Most of the recipes you will find contain one or all of these errors. Here's the list to watch for when finding a recipe:

1. Essential oils are *not necessary* in homemade sunscreen recipes. Some oils can also make you more sensitive to the sun, or phototoxic, these may include citrus oils. Essential oils should be respected for the powerful medicine they are and not used for something like this where they are not needed, this includes using them for scent. Most recipes will also have unsafe dilutions for children so it's best to avoid adding essential oils at all.

2. Carrot seed oil and Raspberry seed oil are not effective for SPF. This is a big myth that they carry high amounts of SPF. Neither are useful or helpful to have in a homemade recipe.

3. You will want to make sure your homemade recipe includes zinc oxide as this is the only ingredient that will have SPF properties. Zinc oxide is said to be difficult to mix properly in a homemade recipe without the right equipment.

Article on homemade sunscreen: DIY Sunscreen – The Barefoot Dragonfly
http://www.amykreydin.com/diy-sunscreen/

Note: I referenced several Wellness Mama articles above, however, her homemade sunscreen recipe does not fit with these guidelines for finding a homemade recipe so I have not shared it here.

BOUGHT SUNSCREEN

When choosing a sunscreen:
Look for ones with active ingredients of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, other types can be harmful.

Spray on sunscreen:
When considering using a spray-on type, also note you will be inhaling this and that aerosol cans are not environmentally friendly.

Sunscreen options we recommend:

Thick creams:
Badger
California Baby
Goddess Garden

Thinner Creams:
Alba (read labels, not all are safe)
Think Baby

Thinner creams may be more suitable for face use.