The toughest product to truly understand and learn about from a safety and organic standpoint has been sunscreen. I recently noticed that two of the top sunscreens rated for safety and UV protection from the EWG (Environmental Working Group) market themselves for being so effective because they do or don’t contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the core active ingredient. Confused?  To give you an example, the #1 rated Soleo Organics sunscreen has in bold letters on the box NO titanium dioxide. The only active ingredient listed on the back of Soleo is Zinc Oxide with 22.3% concentrate. The also very highly ranked (via EWG) California Baby sunscreen has only one ingredient listed within its active ingredients ~ titanium dioxide.  Isn’t this the same ingredient that Soleo proudly boasts about not using ~ yet both are ranked super high?

Since parents are so ingredient savvy these days, I’m sure the watchdogs at Environmental Working Group have received questions on this interesting debate regarding which active ingredients to look for when choosing a safe sunscreen for your family. They are doing their best to clear up some of the confusion starting with a 6 part series (the first was published Monday July 27th called About Those Mineral Sunscreens) in an effort to transfer all product knowledge and make us all sunscreen experts. Lisa Frack is a very smart, informative and well written analyst that is writing for this series.  I’ve been a big fan of Lisa’s and she is the perfect person to make this tough subject easier to understand.

The EWG have also posted a very handy 2009 sunscreen report that is 1-page and easy to read.  My favorite part of the guide is the condensed listing for ‘best easy-to-find sunscreens’ because we all know sourcing organic sunscreens on the fly is no easy task. Well worth a quick glance and something you can print and carry if purchasing sunscreen in a retail store if you don’t have this information in an electronic form.  This has arrived in the knick of time as I’ve finished my bottle of Soleo and California Baby sunscreens and to be honest, I won’t be a repeat customer on the zinc oxide Soleo sunscreen. I cannot justify spending over $30 for a bottle. The 2.8 oz bottle that I paid $32 only lasted my beautiful 4 children 1 week and with the heat wave the West Coast is experiencing, it’s not a practical solution for my family. I don’t think it’s fair that certain brands of sunscreens are targeting safety for families and children and then set their price point that high.  I think even paying $15-$20 is high, but is a way more affordable option for families wanting the safety and solid ratings from sunscreens listed within the EWG sunscreen database.
Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, the blazing heat felt more like mid-August than the 1st of June.  My clan headed to the beach and I grabbed my Badger sunscreen to use up from last summer. I spent about 10-15 minutes applying the sunscreen with each of my children because none of their skin had been exposed to the sun this year so I wanted really good coverage.  I re-applied 2 hours later on their faces, shoulders, and arms just to make sure they were protected.  Well imagine my surprise to discover one of my three year old girls got burned and so did I.  At first I decided to blame the sunscreen ~ because it’s organic had it gone bad since last summer?  ~ because it’s organic does it dissipate from the body more quickly?  I didn’t purchase my sunscreen from Gwen (owner of Nayla Natural Care) but I really trust her opinion on personal care products so I asked some questions and got some great answers I wanted to share with Mommy Footprint readers.

Gwen mentioned the shelf life on the all natural sunscreen that Nayla carries is 2 years. I also did some research and found out the same result with most organic lines.  My Badger sunscreen did have an expiry date and that date hadn’t passed, but it was something I hadn’t thought of to check so thanks Gwen!  However, when I checked my bottle of California Baby sunscreen I noticed it doesn’t have an expiry date, but has a lot number. Gwen recommended contacting the company to check the expiry date because a two year shelf life isn’t very long, especially if a product sits on a store shelf for awhile.  This is a great tip that I never thought of and I recommend if you are carrying over organic sunscreens from last summer.

I’m sure that organic, all-natural sunscreens do dissipate more quickly because they don’t have the chemicals that preserve them to sit on store shelves for x years.  I had to remind myself this is a good thing!  Here are some ‘don’t forget’ sunscreen tips that are worth reviewing with the hot summer approaching!  I hope to cover sun suits and hats in future articles, because these clothing items are extremely helpful with protecting children’s skin from damaging rays.  I also realized with my girls being 3 and really having no exposure to the sun yet, their skin is very sensitive and no matter how strong, organic, or high-quality the sunscreen is, their skin should not be exposed to the sun all day so I’ll have to do some research on protective sun suits. 

Don’t forget:

Tips of the ears, behind the ears, the scalp with scarce hair and your feet

Your lips..use a sun screen for your lips because cancer can later form here.

Don’t apply sunscreen to eyelids, just use protective eye glasses with 100% filter instead.

Moisturizers and sunscreens at the same time are not recommended.  The sunscreen will become diluted from the moisturizer, minimizing its SPF.

insect sprays and sunscreen at the same time are not recommended.  Like moisturizers, the bug spray will disrupt the integrity of the sunscreen.

And last from Gwen, after 1 year, the zinc oxide might have settled in your sunscreen, so ‘massage’ the bottle before using to ensure the zinc is properly re-distributed.

Related Articles:

Top Organic Sunscreen 2009

Banana Boat Oxybenzone and Badger Sunscreen

Safe Sunscreen Guide For Children

Last year I had a near impossible quest of sourcing where to buy organic sunscreen for my children when the hot summer weather rolled in.  California Baby was rated #1 by the Environmental Working Group for health hazard score (chemicals within the product) and sun hazard score (UVB and UVA) in 2008.  My quest to purchase California Baby in Canada turned up being very difficult, but after trying Badger Sunscreen and TruKid I was happy with my selections.  Because both of these sunscreen were so effective and safe for my kid’s skin, I was pleased, but one of my children complained bitterly about the very strong scent from the Badger sunscreen brand ~ so I’m always on the look-out for new products.  Since writing my article last July about sunscreen selection and safety, I’ve learned about a Canadian e-store that does carry California Baby Sunscreen called O’Baby Organics.  Since California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance SPF 30+, California Baby Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year Round SPF 30+, and Badger Sunscreen SPF 30+ were rated number 6, 7, and 8 out of a possible 1,104 sunscreens in the EWG skin deep database for 2009, they are definitely worth mentioning again.  Both of these brands have proven to be strong leaders in the cosmetics industry for not using harmful chemicals within their sunscreens, while providing very effective blocking for both UVA and UVB rays.

For 2009 the top organic sunscreen is Soleo Organics.  I’m so excited thanks to the EWG watch dog group, there is another tested and safe sunscreen option for families this summer.  Here is a picture of the Soleo sunscreen packaging, picture courtesy of Saffron Rouge website:

Saffron Rouge Organic Beauty is widely available to Canadian and US customers and they currently carry Soleo Organics Sunscreen SPF 30.  We love more options this year for non-toxic, safe sunscreens, so with the weather heating up this beautiful spring, start sourcing these brands right away.  I remember checking widely available American websites for California Baby products last year (Target, Amazon, etc.) and this brand was available by wait-list only.  Cross off one more product from your list, shop early, and ensure you are protected from the sun this year.  With parents having a heightened awareness that traditional sunscreens contain harmful chemicals, organic sunscreen companies are predicting stores selling out of popular brands early this summer.

For related articles:

Safe Sunscreen Guide For Children

Just Arrived – 2008 Safe Sunscreen Report From EWG!

Trukid Sunscreen is rated number 2 out of all the sunscreens reviewed by the Environmental Working Group.  Wow – what an honour for the company to receive the top spot by the helpful scientists at EWG.  What is so great about the Trukid company and their sunscreen products (Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen and Trukid Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen) is that unlike many of the other safe brands recommended by EWG, Trukid is easier to find and a much better price point.  It’s especially easy for Mommy Footprint readers because Trukid has provided a discount for anyone shopping on their website www.trukid.com with our very own coupon code.  When $25 or more is purchased, you receive 20% off the order by using coupon code: footprint.  Isn’t that awesome?  When you order multiple products, shipping rates are very reasonable.  Their website is very helpful as there is a Shipping and Sales Tax calculator after you’ve added items to the shopping cart, but before you submit your billing and payment info.

This offer is open to US and Canadian readers, so check out their website if you’re still sourcing non-toxic products for your kids ** www.trukid.com ** I’m very excited with the Trukid product line.  There isn’t a toxic product in their vast line of children’s products.  Here are some products that look awesome and can give parents peace of mind that phthalates or other toxins are not touching their child or baby’s skin.  I’m intrigued by the ‘Hero Stick’.  This product is marketed with ‘herbal heros’ to nourish skin with cuts, scratches, bug bites, etc.  How cute is that?  My kids have been collecting scrapes on their knees and bug bites by the bucket full this summer.  Here are more…

TruKid™ Sunny Days™ SPF 30 Sunscreen Stick
TruKid™ Hero Stick
TruKid™ Bubbly Body Wash
TruKid™ Cool Conditioner
TruKid™ Happy Face & Body Lotion
TruKid™ Silly Shampoo    

You know a company is dedicated to safety and kids health when their website has a great blog that talks about tips on correct sunscreen application and what makes a sunscreen non-toxic.  A good read if you want more information on the Trukid product line.

For more information on sourcing non-toxic, safe sunscreen and personal care products for your family, check out:

Non-Toxic Sunscreen For Kids – Badger, California Baby, Blue Lizard, TruKid, Alba Botanica?

Safe Sunscreen Guide For Children

Protect Your Family From Phthalates In Your Home

Thanks to one of my awesome resources Leah, she’s tipped Mommy Footprint off to where Badger sunscreen SPF 30 is sold and it’s very local!  It was ranked 5th on the EWG’s (Environmental Working Group) website for top sunscreen choices.  Most of the top products that I’ve previously written about are extremely hard to find for Canadians.  Well, Badger exists in the most unlikely of stores….Sears.  The nearby Sears has a natural heath and vitamin store.  Not all Sears have this little store, but this one does carry Badger SPF 30 sunscreen for $19.99.  Yes, still pricey, but at least you’re not paying shipping on top of that!  I’ll be going there asap to pick up a few bottles for my clan.  Yes, unfortunately, my Banana Boat sunscreen drama continues.

I called the American and Canadian Banana Boat Customer Service desks today and got the same answer from both regarding if the ingredient oxybenzone is in my brand of Banana Boat Sunscreen for Kids, SPF 50.  Apparently, this product does not contain the suspected harmful ingredient. It was listed as containing this ingredient from the EWG’s database that reviews all sunscreen.  I’ve emailed the EWG to let them know of this discrepancy.  But, many of the Banana Boat products still contain the ingredient oxybenzone and the rep was not confident in her answers regarding the nature of when and why this ingredient is used.  Who do you trust?  I’m just not sure and until someone admits they are wrong….I’m just going to stop obsessing and buy the Badger! That $20 is going to buy me peace of mind and hopefully eliminate the skin irritation my girls get from the big name sunscreen brands.

Octopus Graphic Tee (UPF 50) (22415)
He’ll love the cool graphics; you’ll love the extra sun protection! Regular lightweight clothing only offers an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 5, but this tee (UPF 50) is made to block out a higher percentage of the sun’s harmful rays. Plus, Cabana Life gives a portion of its proceeds to benefit nonprofit organizations like The Skin Cancer Foundation. Octopus Graphic Tee (UPF 50)