When I was pregnant with Babyzilla, I began researching safe sunscreens to protect her delicate baby skin. Most sunscreens have ingredients that are unpronounceable, and having sensitive skin, I’ve never been one to blindly trust the chemicals in most cosmetics and skin care products. However, even after reading the back of every sunscreen bottle in Whole Foods, I found myself frustrated and disappointed. It turned out that all of the so-called “green” and “organic” brands had at least one highly questionable ingredient in them! Why should I have to trade short-term protection for long-term harm?
After a long online search, we eventually purchased Kabana Skin Care’s Green Screen. Kabana is a small company located in Boulder, Colorado, where outdoor enthusiast enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year. Their products are very effective and their website is very informative. The only ingredients in their sunscreen are:
- 25% Zinc Oxide
- Eldorado Springs Artesian Water
- Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Organic Jojoba Oil
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Organic Shea Butter
- Vegetable Emulsifying Wax
- Iron Oxide
- Vegetable Vitamin E
Now, this makes sense to a concerned mother. So what exactly is wrong with all the other sunscreens?
Petrochemical Ingredients
FDA-approved petrochemical sunscreens include: Avobenzone, also known as Parsol 1789, Octylmethoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Ensulizole, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Octyl salicylate, Sulisobenzone, trolamine salicylate and recently approved terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, which is also known as Mexoryl SX.
All of the petrochemical sunscreens can be absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream in amounts higher than any other petrochemical contaminant found in our environment, air or food! Petrochemical sunscreens have significant side effects because many mimic estrogen’s effects in our bodies. They often don’t biodegrade, and they accumulate in the watershed and can damage coral reefs and aquatic ecosystems. All of these petrochemicals are toxic, and by using them, UV damage is traded for chemical damage instead.
Parents need to know that NONE of the petrochemical sunscreen ingredients listed above are FDA approved for use on children and babies. In fact, none of these compounds are tested for SPF on children’s skin, so products that use these ingredients and are marketed as “baby” formulas are misleading you.
Unfortunately, these petrochemicals are found in virtually all reputable brand names, and even in many of the “eco” brands found at the health food store. Shame, shame! No one should have to choose between skin cancer and breast cancer!
Mineral Sunscreens
There are two FDA-approved mineral sunscreens: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. Zinc Oxide is the only ingredient approved for use on babies and children, which is also the main ingredient in most diaper creams.
Zinc oxide is better than titanium dioxide in sunscreens for the following reasons:
- Zinc oxide has a broader UVA and UVB absorbance spectrum than Titanium dioxide, so it provides better UVA protection.
- Zinc oxide is safer because it creates fewer free radicals than Titanium dioxide.
- Zinc oxide is the only active ingredient approved for use on babies under 6 months of age; Titanium dioxide is not.
- Zinc oxide is made from a critical mineral nutrient that’s also found in many multivitamins; Titanium dioxide is made from a toxic heavy metal.
Micronized vs. Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are defined as having a diameter of less than 100 nanometers, (0.1 millionth of a meter) which is about the size of a virus. Micronized particles, on the other hand, are defined as having a diameter of less than 100 microns, (0.1 thousandth of a meter) which is about the width of a human hair.
Micronized mineral sunscreens have been on the market for decades, and have a lot of supportive data on their safety. Nanoparticle mineral sunscreens, however, are very new and have been marketed by chemical manufacturers as an innovative way to make their formulas less whitening.
The problem with nano sunscreens is that safety of these particles is unknown, and some recent scientific studies, including one published in Scientific American, have demonstrated these particles can damage the ecosystem. Other potential issues include elevated skin penetration and free radical creation.
Manufacturers often market their nanoparticle sunscreens under the ‘micronized’ umbrella, since technically nanoparticles have been micronized very finely. This is dishonest marketing. Unfortunately, the only way you can tell if a manufacturer is not using nano, is if they say it’s non-nano. Look for that on the label.
Even if you don’t buy Kabana Green Screen, whatever sunscreen you do use this summer, there is a great database available for checking its safety and impact on the environment. In fact, the Skin Deep cosmetics database is a great resource for researching the safety of all your skin care and beauty products. We hope you will be a wise consumer, and choose sunscreens and skin care products that will protect your family in every way.
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