New Sunscreen Guide and Surprising Research about Vitamin A in Sunscreens

I've been anxiously awaiting the 2010 sunscreen guidelines from Environmental Working Group and today, they were live on their site. If you are gearing up for the summer, be sure to check out the newest ratings because manufacturers change their formulations every year (usually for good, but you never know!). I learned that the one I've been using for the boys (pictured here) contains an ingredient (oxtinoxate) that EWG recommends against. Bummer. In hindsight, anything ending in "noxate" should be a big red flag! Luckily our California Baby stick is cleared for safety and effectiveness. See how your favorite products rank and tell me what products you're buying this year. 

Here's a preview from the site: 

EWG’s Sunscreen Guide to 1,400 sunscreens, lip balms and moisturizers tells you what you need to know to find safe and effective sunscreens. EWG’s exclusive scientific analysis helps you avoid red-flag ingredients like vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) and oxybenzone. EWG gives you straight talk about SPF.

What's the brief on Vitamin A in sunscreen? From EWG:

This year, new concerns have arisen about a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, found in 41 percent of sunscreens. The FDA is investigating whether this compound may accelerate skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk when applied to skin exposed to sunlight. FDA data suggest that vitamin A may be photocarcinogenic, meaning that in the presence of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the compound and skin undergo complex biochemical changes resulting in cancer. The evidence against vitamin A is far from conclusive, but as long as it is suspect, EWG recommends that consumers choose vitamin A-free sunscreens.

Don't get burned by lousy sunscreen

I did a post a little while ago about eco-friendly, kid-friendly sunscreen, but it was hidden in a post about Vitamin D. (Getting your R"D"A of Sunshine)

Today, I saw another article about avoiding nanoparticles in sunscreen, and this one actually said why they might be of concern. So I wanted to share. Click through to read, or just try to buy one of these readily available brands, who all refuse to use nanoparticles:

Alba Botanica
Avalon Organics
Black Opal
Bullfrog
Lavera
Soleo Organics

I always recommend cross-checking your selection with the Cosmetics Database from Environmental Working Group.

Also, remember, the average t-shirt is only an SPF of 7, so covering up little ones (and yourself) with SPF-enhanced apparel — in addition to sunscreen — is recommended.

Getting Your R"D"A of Sunshine

So it turns out the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin D is woefully low. New research confirms that Vitamin D is effective in helping to prevent various forms of cancer, diabetes and a host of other dreaded conditions. Just 15 minutes of sunlight a day will juice you up with more than enough Vitamin D to reap the health rewards (exactly how much depends on the intensity of the UVB in the sun and many other factors).

However, we've all been warned many, many times about the effects of too much fun in the sun. The way I see it, it's easy to resolve: It takes about 30 minutes for sunscreen to be fully in effect. So instead of slathering up 30 minutes prior to sunning yourself (does anyone remember to do this anyway?), put it on right before you go out, and you will probably get just the right amount of exposure to replenish your body's Vitamin D stores. Another good approach is to take your 15 minutes early in the morning or later afternoon, when the sun's rays are less harmful.

Looking for a good sunscreen? I like to avoid nano-particles and unnecessary chemicals, while ensuring good UV protection. Here are some of the best:

For kids:
SOLEO ORGANICS SUNSCREEN Organic Chemical-Free Sunscreen, SPF 30+
KINESYS Kids Spray Sunscreen, Fragrance-free, SPF 30

For sporty types:
ALBA BOTANICA SUN-SPORT SUNSCREEN SPF 32
SOLAR SENSE CLEAR ZINC ADVANCED SUN PROTECTION, SPF 45

Best of the mainstream brands:
JASON NATURAL COSMETICS SUNBRELLAS: Mineral-based Physical Sunblock, SPF 30+
ALMAY Sun Protector for Body Spray, SPF 30
NEUTROGENA Fresh Cooling Sunblock Gel, SPF 30 or SPF 45
NEUTROGENA Sunblock, Body Gel, SPF 30 or SPF 45
BULLFROG Surfer Formula Gel, SPF 36