I FIND MY HAPPINESS WHERE THE SUN SHINES
Its Memorial Day weekend and nothing could make this momma happier! We are heading to the beach to kick off our summer season! I am counting down the hours until my toes are in the water, my beach chair is in the sand, and I am listening to the sounds of the waves lapping against the shore. But before the kids run towards the water and I begin my R&R …SUNSCREEN.
So, how do you protect yourself and your little ones from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the glorious vitamin D production machine in the sky? How can you get that D you need without compromising the health and wellness of the largest organ in your body… your SKIN?
Here are a few things to consider:
Chemical Sunscreen vs. Mineral Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreens work via absorption and are laden with ingredients I can hardly pronounce like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. These chemicals cross the skin and enter tissues in the body. Oxybenzone is a known endocrine disrupter, so for those of us that have thyroid concerns, using this type of protection is a hard NO. Oxybenzone has also been shown to lower sperm count in men and contribute to endometriosis in women; it is an estrogenic. Not to mention, have you ever been downwind of someone spraying an aerosol can of this stuff? (I’m holding my breath jus thinking about it) Other things to consider are the long term effects of chemical sunscreens like potential allergic reactions or tissue damage in the body- none of these long term effects have been studied. In fact, sunscreen wasn’t invented until 1936 and wasn’t widely used until the 1960s.
Because of the known dangers of chemical sunscreens, many have turned to mineral-based sunscreens which are made of Zinc or Titanium Dioxide. These options are SAFEST and work by creating a barrier on your skin that the UV Rays cannot penetrate. If choosing a non-clear Zinc option, these sunscreens may leave a thick white coating on the skin. And beware, these sunscreens may contain nanoparticles, (choose NON-NANO) which can also cross the skin barrier. The nanoparticles can enter our ocean waters and damage precious wildlife and coral reefs. Sunscreen companies are moving to create “reef safe” sunscreens to prevent damage. If you love Lagerhead sea turtles as much as my kids, you might consider paying attention to this labeling.
What about Vitamin D?
Further, most sunscreens block the bodies ability to make vitamin D and the majority of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. So, does it make sense to create a barrier to prohibit vitamin D production? Vitamin D deficiency is directly related to a whole lot of bad things. In fact, those deficient in D have an increased risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease (see Scientific American and Medical News Today). If you have an autoimmune condition, you may also choose to increase your vitamin D intake. To feel my best, I try to keep my own vitamin D level at the upper 1/3 of the range. Our bodies need only 15-20 minutes of direct sunlight to make 1,000 units. This by no means is me advising you to seek out a sunburn by sitting on a beach all day with no sun protection. What I am saying is consider all the facts and make the best choice for you and when in doubt: seek shade and wear protective clothing and sunglasses. If the sun isn’t your best pal and you are looking to boost your vitamin D, consider supplementation. I can guide you in the right direction.
My 2019 Summer Sunscreen MVPs
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a report in 2018 finding that nearly 67% of all sunscreens don’t provide adequate sun protection and or they contain harmful ingredients. Sunscreen is an imperfect protection, so after reviewing the facts and trying different mineral options, I have compiled a list of my MVPs for Summer 2019. (always mineral based and non aerosol) Here are the sunscreens we will be using all summer long:
1. Garden Goddess Organics Kids, Broad Spectrum SPF 30
(from a Certified B Corp, non aerosol, organic, mineral sunscreen option)
2. Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion, Broad Spectrum SPF 30
(face sunscreen, cruelty free, non GMO and gluten free)
3. Garden Goddess Kids, Sun Stick SPF 50
(smells delightful, clear zinc, vegan, cruelty free, and reef safe)
4. Babo Botanicals Baby Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50
(100% zinc, sheer, reef safe and made in the USA)
5. ThinkSport Sunscreen, SPF 50
(non- nano Zinc, non-oily, and suitable for face and body)