20 MYTHRIVEMAG.COM
Health
Scary
Stuff
here are two ways that a sunscreen can protect
the skin from sun damage: with a mineral barrier
or a chemical one.Mineral sunscreens typically include ingredients like zinc
oxide or titanium dioxide, which create a physical barrier to
protect the skin from the sun.Chemical sunscreens use one or more chemicals, including
oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate
and octinoxate. These sunscreen chemicals raise some
special concerns because many are able to cross into skin
and other tissue.With these chemicals, it is important to ask
questions such as:Will this cross the skin and get into other tissue in the body?Does this chemical have the potential to disrupt hormones,
especially in children?Are there long-term or allergic reactions to these chemicals?New research reveals that the chemicals commonly used
in sunscreen are endocrine disruptors, estrogenic and may
interfere with thyroid and other hormone processes in the
body. YIKES!The most common sunscreen chemical, oxybenzone,
was found in 96% of the population by a recent study by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is
especially alarming since oxybenzone is considered an
endocrine disruptor, can reduce sperm count in men and
may contribute to endometriosis in women.The Environmental Working group (EWg) warns against
using oxybenzone, especially on children or pregnant/
breastfeeding women.Even more alarming?Of the 1,400+ sunscreens tested by the EWg, only 5% met
their safety standards and over 40% were listed as potentially
contributing to skin cancer.I found this really shocking. And disturbing. So what now?Look for the EWg green logo on products online to see if
your sunscreen passes the test.My Top Pick
I’m a stickler for natural products. The only one I travel
with now is babo botanicals. It’s the purest I’ve found
on the market, but use whatever is best for you. I
reached out to Kate, the angelic founder and
formulator of babo, to see if I could include
her products in this feature. We need healthy
alternatives for our kids and families that are
also cruelty-free. She’s built her company from
the ground up, because she couldn’t find clean
products for her kids. I called her from the Virgin
Islands months ago, freaking out that we lost our
sunscreen, and our in-store choices overseas were
limited and toxic. She express shipped them. My
entire team has been using babo for the last year as we’ve
traveled to more than 18 countries. I won’t travel without
it. It’s my top pick. Make sure you always do your research
before you put anything on your skin.Here’s to healthy, vibrant, protected skin this summer!sunscreens
Harmful or Helpful?
Not all sunscreens are
created equal, and in
many cases sunscreen
is harmful, not helpful.
t
instagram: @babobotanicals | babobotanicals.com
maranda pleasant
Thanks, Kate!