Do I need to use sunscreen?
Daily exposure to sunlight is SO beneficial for multiple metabolic processes in the body, such as stimulating receptors in your skin to use some of your cholesterol to produce Vitamin D, a key hormone for immunity and reproductive function.
Of course too much—especially mid-day or when the UV rating is the highest—can be bad for your health. Sunburns every summer for decades is torture for your skin and causes premature aging via the creation of free radicals.
Basically, it oxidizes you like a rusty car. And the rusty car look is not aligned with our concept of natural beauty!
What is the safest sunscreen?
Unfortunately most sunscreens on the market are causing more problems than they’re solving, with ingredient lists full of hormone disruptors, carcinogens, allergens, and immuno-toxic chemicals.
We don’t want to get burned, but we also don’t want to poison ourselves silly. There are some natural ways to make yourself more resistant to sunburns, such as consuming a good amount of high-quality astaxanthin, a red marine sea algae shown in studies to be sun protective.
For our fair skinned friends, there’s not enough seaweed in the world to protect our skin from burning outside in direct sunlight. Most of us need a topical product to block a large portion of the sun’s damaging rays.
If I’m laying by a pool or on the beach—or even at a midday baseball game—I will apply some sunscreen, but I only want a non-toxic product.
Your sunscreen’s ingredient list should ONLY list “zinc oxide” or “titanium dioxide,” which are the only two ingredients categorized as both “safe” and “effective” by the FDA.
Non-nano particles are better, if you want to get picky. They stay put where they belong–on the surface of your skin–rather than seeping into your bloodstream.
I’m not big on wasting in general, but I’d advise immediately throwing out your sunscreens that contain these ingredients, which are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors: Homosalate, oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene.
Visit EWG SKinDeep to find your new (safe!) favorite!