Business & Services

Your Health and Sun Safety – Choosing the right sunscreen

Warm sun and blue skies are a big part of an enjoyable and memorable vacation. However, in the U.S. alone, more than a million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year and the incidence of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form, is escalating. The easiest and most effective way to avoid sun-damaged skin – and make the most of your vacation enjoying your time outdoors is to be informed. Buy effective sunscreens which are safe for you and for the environment. Look for organic sunscreens that are free of potentially harmful ingredients, synthetic chemicals, parabens or alcohol, which dries the skin. Note that when visiting popular water attractions in Mexico, you may be required to use only biodegradable sunscreens.



Skin care is an enormous business – there are literally thousands of products. So, to help identify the best sunscreens on the market, a good place to start is the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) web site.  EWG is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) EWG is a research and advocacy group based in Washington, DC focusing on issues that protect human health and the environment. (ewg.org)

  • Investigation of 506 beach and sport sunscreens finds that 2 out of 5 contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays.
  • EWG found 58 sunscreens claiming SPFs from 55-100+ that might tempt you to stay out longer in the sun, but they block just 1 to 2% more sunburn rays than an SPF 30 sunscreen. These products violate FDA's sunscreen safety standards.
  • Four percent of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30) protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and provide poor protection from UVA, the sun rays linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer. FDA does not require that sunscreens guard against UVA radiation.

According to EWG, campaigning for more effective sunscreens is paying off with 70 percent of sunscreens offered for the 2009 beach season containing strong UVA filters, compared to just 29 percent in 2008.  In addition, year over year there were 25% fewer sunscreen products containing oxybenzone, an active ingredient that can be absorbed through the skin and disrupts the hormone system.



Keep your lips kissable
Remember to coat your lips too. EWG's sunscreen guide can help you find lip balms that give broad-spectrum sun protection with the fewest ingredients that raise concerns when they're swallowed — facts you won't find on these product’s tiny labels.

EWG’s top rated sunscreen, lip balms:
Purple Prairie Botanicals sunstick lip balm, SPF 30
UV Natural Lip screen, SPF 30+
Fallene Cotz LipCotz, Ultra High Sun Protection, SPF 45
SanRe Organic Skinfood Chocolate Kiss - Yummy Cocoa Day Lip Balm - SPF 15
Jane Iredale LipDrink, SPF 15
Badger Lip Balm, SPF 15

A list of organic and environmentally-friendly sun screens available online, include:
Soleo Organics
Badger Healthy Body Care
Kiss My Face
Mexitan
Purple Prairie
UV Natural
Lavera Naturkosmetik
SanRe Organic Skinfood
Elemental Herbs
Kabana Skin Care
Rare Natural Care, Inc.
HelioVital
Aubrey Organics

For more information, visit ewg.org.