If you live in the U.S. you've probably seen your share of sun for the entire summer, with the heat and sun we're experiencing.
If you're stocking up on sunscreen for your daily outings, there's a quick way to find out how to decrease any toxic chemical exposure on your skin or your child's skin from sunblocks and sunscreens that are currently marketed as safe:
Read the Environmental Working Group's annual report on safe and unsafe sunblocks and sunscreens.
Top offenders include some of the most popular and well known children's sunblocks from Coppertone and Banana Boat. Why? These can contain the chemical oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor.
Other ones to avoid include: those that contain "retinyl palmitate" or Vitamin A. But, isn't Vitamin A supposed to be good for us? Depends on where it's going, according to researchers at EWG.
"Foods rich in vitamin A are good for the body. But applied to sun-exposed skin, this common sunscreen additive may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions, according to government studies. Why is vitamin A (shown as “retinyl palmitate” or “retinol palmitate” on labels) allowed in sunscreens made for use in the sun? Good question."
In addition, avoid powder sunblocks and sprays (both could be inhaled easily during application).
See more quick tips from EWG and download their full report here.
-photo credit: Wikipedia
