SUNSCREEN
Don't let the changing seasons fool you, sunscreen is an essential step in our skin care routine, all year long, because even when it's cloudy or cooler out, the sun's harmful rays are always at work! The sun really takes no days off, which is why using a safe, non-toxic sunscreen is critical in protecting your precious skin year round.
The problem with conventional sunscreens today is that yes, they may reduce your risk of skin cancer, however, the actual ingredients of these sunscreens are now coming with cancer risks of their own when absorbed into the skin! Laboratory studies of various sunscreen chemicals showed that they can mimic hormones which can then disrupt the hormone system. Whenever our hormones get out of whack so many other things can go wrong which is why it's important to buy a sunscreen as safe as possible!
Because we understand deciphering between the good and bad can be tricky, today's Toss it Toxins will cover all things Sunscreen, highlighting the worst offenders in conventional SPF's as well as offering you a safer swap to try out instead! Wondering if your sunscreen is full of bad guys? Grab it now to follow along!
SYNTHETIC SUNSCREENS TO AVOID:
Oxybenzone-
The most problematic sunscreen chemical used in the U.S. is Oxybenzone, with various links to eczema, found in just about all conventional sunscreens. Not only does this ingredient allow other chemicals to more easily penetrate into your skin, it also comes with various risks like allergic reactions, itchiness, hormone disruptions, endocrine disruptions, organ system toxicity and breast cancer. The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected oxybenzone in more than 96 percent of the American population, based on a representative sampling of more than 2,500 children and adults (Calafat 2008). Researchers found higher concentrations of oxybenzone in samples collected from participants during the summer months and concluded that sunscreen use may explain this seasonal difference.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone-
Awarded allergen of the year in 2013, this chemical ingredient is known to cause serious allergic reactions when applied to the skin.
Homosalate-
This ingredient can be found in over 45% of sunscreens today however, it comes with serious risks like hormone disruptions and more allergic reactions. Once absorbed, it accumulates in our bodies faster than we can get rid of it which is why it's never good to use any product that contains Homosalate.
Formaldehyde-
We've all heard of formaldehyde to preserve deceased bodies and frogs in science class, but did you know that it is also used in a wide range of our favorite cosmetics to preserve their shelf life? Eeeek! According to the federal Food and Drug Administration, almost 1 in 5 beauty products contains a substance that generates formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. What's even worse is, detecting formaldehyde in products is almost impossible unless you know the keywords to look out for!
Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals to look out for include: DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15, Bronopol, and Hydroxymethylglycinate. All of the above generate formaldehyde as they sit in our makeup bags and should definitely always be avoided.
Parabens-
As always, parabens are some of the worst ingredients we can find inside our favorite beauty products. Parabens can be disguised in a variety of different words, the most important thing to look out for here is any ingredient ending with "paraben".
This can look like Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, etc... Parabens are harsh preservatives that come with so many risks, you never want to use any product that contains them. Parabens mimic estrogen which leads to endocrine and hormone disruption, and they are also known to be carcinogenic, found in breast cancer tumors frequently.
Now that you can see how many toxic chemicals are hiding in your favorite SPF's, how about a safer product to try instead? Not only does this Suntegrity Natural Mineral Sunscreen not contain any of the bad guys above, it's also made with other great ingredients for additional skin softening benefits! Featured in the "Best Sunscreens" Category with a #1 Rating in the EWG's 2013, 2014 & 2015 Sunscreen Guides, this Suntegrity's SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen offers a broad-spectrum protection and is free of harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic dyes, sulfates, nano-particles, chemical UV absorbers and more!
