☀️SUNSCREEN☀️
Should we wear sunscreen? YUP 👍
Should we use chemical sunscreens? NOPE 😅
Sun exposure is a major contributor to some skin cancers as well as wrinkles, lines, pigment changes and spots. There are several factors but studies show that 80-90% of the visible signs of aging are due to damage from UVA/UVB rays❗️Of course we need the sun for vitamin D (and overall happiness✌️) but we also need to protect our skin.
Sunscreen doesn’t just prevent painful burns! Regular sunscreen use might be the secret to youthful and healthy skin✨. Sun damage can show up on our faces decades later. Having darker skin or a tan doesn’t mean we’re protected from cellular damage and beware - UVA rays can penetrate through clouds and windows!
It’s important to choose a SAFE natural mineral sunscreen. Most sunscreens use chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. ⚠️ Research is showing that these are not entirely safe for humans nor our environment. Almost every American tested in one study had oxybenzone in their bloodstream and small studies so far have shown that it can decrease testosterone, slightly increase estrogen and is associated with reduced birth weight in fetuses. Despite the lack of large evidence, it’s wise to avoid ingredients that can impact our hormones!
These chemicals in are now in the oceans and are partially responsible for the bleaching/die-off of the coral reef as well as genetic and reproductive issues in marine species. 🌎 As a result of this research, Hawaii just put forth a ban on sunscreens containing oxybenzene and octinoxate that will be in full effect by 2021! 🎉 And lastly, chemical sunscreens have not been shown to be any more effective than mineral sunscreens. The choice is easy! 🤗
What to look for in a sunscreen:
• a mineral-based sunscreen with an active ingredient of non-nano zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide
• broad spectrum to protect against UVA/UVB
I like Green Beaver, Derma E, and Goddess Garden. For daily facial sunscreen that’s not greasy, I like Derma E for face and Mad Hippie Facial SPF. 💕 Please share if you have any natural brands you love!
You can use EWG's site to determine if your sunscreen is safe!
Sources: Downs, C., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Segal, R., Fauth, J., Knutson, S., & Bronstein, O. et al. (2015). Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Archives Of Environmental Contamination And Toxicology, 70(2), 265-288. Flament, F., Bazin, R., Rubert, Simonpietri, Piot, B., & Laquieze. (2013). Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin. Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, 221. Sunscreens, E. (2018). EWG's 2018 Guide to Safer Sunscreens. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/#.W1HVRBJKg6U