It’s June and the sun is shining – time to get out of that office chair and into your beach chair! But before you do, read up on which sunscreens to lather on and which ones to lose this summer. We’ve highlighted four sunscreen shopping tips you don’t want to miss out on. Plus, get the two sunscreen brands our moms love to use on themselves and their kiddos.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) wants to make sure you think twice about what sunscreen you put on your skin this summer. And be particularly cautious about what you put on your kiddos as well. Their annual sunscreen guide details how many popular brands are not only a waste of money, but could potentially be harmful to your skin.
Some tips while searching for your summer supply:
1.) One in four sun protectants on the market are aerosol sunscreens. They may be easy to spray onto your squirming toddler, but the risk and danger of inhalation should rule these out.
2.) Watch out for high SPF ratings. SPF, or “sun protection factor,” is far outdated, and can lead to false hope in what this product is capable of. One out of eight products evaluated this year by the EWG had SPFs above 50+. The FDA is considering the barring of SPF above 50+ because of its inability to protect the deep penetration of UVA rays that are unprotected by sun products.
3.) Oxybenzone in EWG’s sunscreen hall of shame: This active ingredient is able to penetrate the skin and get into the bloodstream, acting like estrogen in the body causing everything from allergic reactions to some severe disorders, mainly in women.
4.) Lastly, retinyl palmitate concentrate helps put many sunscreens on the shame list. This form of vitamin A is used in night creams to help make your skin look more youthful, but, when used on sun-exposed skin, it can lead to quicker development of skin tumors and lesions. Steer clear!
The good news is there’s a running list of great safe sunscreens approved by the EWG – and many of these brands are partners of Pure Living. Here are two of our favorites:
Erbaviva’s Sunscreen (SPF 30) effectively provides both UVA and UVB protection for the entire family. It’s not too thick and smells delicious, because it is naturally crafted with zinc oxide (a naturally occurring mineral), aloe, sunflower, olive and jojoba oils.
Or, try Bare Belly Organic’s line of sunscreens – great for the whole family. Made by moms for moms, this brand comes in a a variety of sizes and options for easy application. Our team loves the mess-free face sticks. Kids love to put it on themselves, and you can feel safe knowing it is non-irritating and formulated for baby’s tender skin.
