New Mom Resolutions #1 - Sunscreen

So Candice and I have decided to start blogging together. One of her passions is safe cleaning and beauty products. Since I became pregnant, I have been taking this a lot more seriously and trying to become informed about what I'm putting in/on my body - and now my baby! As an outlet for this passion/obsession of ours, we decided to chose different products to write about and hopefully educate a bit in the process. Candice is the mastermind, but I'm trying to keep up! :) You can read her version at: http://rupprechtroots.blogspot.com/

What's wrong with conventional sunscreen like Banana Boat, Coppertone and Target brand?
Many contain chemicals and nanoparticles that may be harmful to our endocrine system - and after experiencing how crazy hormones are during pregnancy and especially after childbirth, I'm certain I don't need any additional chemicals affecting my body's ability to regulate hormones.

What are some of the harmful ingredients?
Oxybenzone - a hormone-disrupting compound that penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream

Vitamin A, retinyl palmitate - used as an antioxidant to slow skin aging, but when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions (NTP 2009)

Methylbenzylidene camphor - Strong evidence of hormone disruption and thyroid affects

Octyl methoxycinnamate - Multiple estrogenic effects, Thyroid hormone reductions, hormone-mediated immune effects and moderate rates of skin allergy

And look how many of these baby sunscreens are on the list of worst-protecting sunscreens?!? http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/buyer-beware/

Better ingredients are mineral-based sunscreens that use Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide. Yet even these better alternatives have research indicating that inhaled nanoparticles reach organs and cross the placenta and enter the brain. So it's definitely best to avoid any spray sunscreens, even though they are so convenient! The problem with nanoparticles is that can be more chemically reactive and more easily absorbed into the body. However, in the case of zinc oxide and titanium oxide, the EWG (Environmental Working Group) asserts that the benefits of sun protection outweigh the risks of nanoparticles...so more on nanoparticles in a future post.

All of the info about chemical concerns was taken from the EWG website, which has extensive research on skincare products; in fact, they have a database called SkinDeep (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) that rates on a 0-10 scale, every type of skin and beauty product you could imagine. 0 is the safest, 10 is the highest risk to health. They have done the same with sunscreens, so we're on a quest to use sunscreens that have the lowest rating possible, while still being affordable and not turning our skin white.

What are better choices? We've tried...
Aubrey Organics Natural Sun SPF 25 Sunscreen for Active Lifestyles (3) - Hard to rub in and makes your skin white
Alba Botanica Sun: Lavender Sunblock SPF 30 (5)
Nature's Gate AquaBlock SPF 50 (3)
Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion daily shade formula, SPF 16 (6)
Kiss My Face Face Factor, SPF 30 (3)
All Terrain AquaSport SPF 30 (3)

Alba Botanica Green Tea SPF 30 (5)

Candice and I at Coronado Beach. Who knows what kind of sunscreen I wore then!?