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What Are The Best Natural Sunscreens?

October 23, 2014 · 64 Comments

What are the best natural sunscreens?

It’s a question that comes up again and again from my readers, so today I have a list for you of the best natural sunscreens in Australia.

I am sure you are aware that regular sunscreen is in fact, full of toxic ingredients that are detrimental to your health and the environment. I won’t bore you with the science but if you want to read up on the studies, two great resources are Dr Peter Dingle and Nicole Bijlsma who explain it really well to us non-scientists!

 

“Despite the fact that more people use sunscreen than ever before, the rate of skin cancer continues to rise. Research conducted by the Environmental Working Group in 2011, revealed that the great majority of sunscreens do not protect against both UVA and UVB rays and in addition, may contain chemicals that affect our hormones, damage the skin and in some cases, actually increase the rate of skin cancer.” Nicole Bijlsma

 

I have some qualms about using any sunscreen at all, considering that even the natural ones can contain nanoparticles. Then we have the new research telling us that sunscreen interferes with our Vitamin D absorption. It’s really quite confusing!

It’s probably a good idea to do your own research and read up a little more to decide what is best for your family. These are some things we do to balance the risk of sunburn with the beneficial effects of the sun.

 

♥ Avoid the sun in the hottest part of the day. Living in Queensland, it’s sunny most of the year round, so it’s really easy to get burnt quickly. If possible, we do our outside stuff before 10am or after 4pm.

 

♥ Cover up. Hats, t-shirts, longer-sleeve shirts, rash vests, sunglasses and umbrellas all come out if we have to go out in the hottest part of the day. Finding shade is also a good idea!

 

♥ Use coconut oil.  It has a natural SPF of about 7, so use it with care. According to Bruce Fife “one of the oldest uses for coconut oil is as a sun screen / suntan lotion. Islanders have been using coconut oil for this purpose for thousands of years. In the tropics where the climate is hot, islanders traditionally wore little clothing so that they could keep themselves cool. To protect themselves from the burning rays of the hot tropical sun they applied a thin layer of coconut oil over their entire body. This would protect them from sunburn, improve skin tone and help keep annoying insects away.” Carrot Seed oil also has an SPF factor, but it is a little smelly!

 

♥ Use natural sunscreens. Sometimes we just need extra protection for things like all day sports events and a good natural sunscreen provide that additional coverage.

 

This is the list of some of the best natural sunscreens in Australia.

Like skincare, sunscreen is a personal thing and depends on a lot on your skin type. So, try out a few until you get one that is just right for you!

Hello Sunshine

(our number one favourite)

 Wotnot 

eco-face-spf-30-sunscreen-65g

Eco All Natural Sunscreen Lotion

 UV Natural Sunscreen

Soleo-Organics-All-Natural-Sunscreen_grande
Soleo Organic Sunscreen

Moo Goo 

Simple as That

Simple As That 

Little_Innoscents_Natural_Sun_Lotion_100ml__40263.1409128913.1280.1280 Little Innoscents

 

So they are my top picks for natural sunscreen.

Is your favourite on my list?  What do you use? I would love to know!

 

You might also like to read:

The best natural insect repellents

The best natural perfumes

The best natural makeup brands

The best Australian natural skincare

The ultimate guide to natural deodorants

 

 

 

Filed In: HEALTH / Tagged: cancer, Eco Tan, hello sunshine, Moo goo, natural sunscreen, Reflect Outdoor Balm, skincancer, Soleo, sun, sunblock, sunburn, sunscreen, UV, Vitamin D, Wot Not

What are parabens and should we avoid them?

October 28, 2013 · 16 Comments

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

What are parabens and should we avoid them?

 

You may have noticed a few products cropping up with “paraben free” on them. 

But, what are they? And should we be avoiding them?

 

I am going to try to simplify this for you and give you some information from sources I trust.

Well, basically, parabens are preservatives used in cosmetic products and sometimes food. Look out for them in your shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, toothpaste, moisturisers, deodorants….. pretty much check the labels of all your cosmetics! They are also found in food products like pies, sausages and pastries.

Their function is to stop fungus and bateria growing in your products.

Parabens are derived from petroleum and you will often see it prefaced with methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl, isobutyl, isopropyl or benzyl.

So why are people freaking out about parabens?

In a study looking at breast cancer, parabens were found in the tumours of 18 out of 20 women. This led to the suspicion that parabens might be causing an increase in breast cancers.

In another study by the US Environmental Protection Agency, parabens were found to mimic hormones and disrupt endocrine function (our glands which secrete hormones around the body).

There is also some evidence that “butyl paraben adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system. In the present study, it is shown that propyl paraben also adversely affects the hormonal secretion and the male reproductive functions.”

The EWG Skin Deep Database rates several parabens at the toxic end of the scale.

The Chemical Maze Bookshelf Companion says to avoid parabens because of “suspected endocrine disruption, suspected skin or sense organ toxicity, contact skin irritation or dermatitis in some people and wildlife and environmental toxicity.”

On the other hand, there is this information from Choice Australia – ” The European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety conducted a review of parabens in consumer goods, and determined that they didn’t pose a risk in the quantities permitted in such products. However the Danish government has banned the use of some of the larger-molecule parabens in products for children up to three years old as a precautionary measure, as children might be especially vulnerable to endocrine effects. This is of particular concern if products are used on broken skin, such as nappy rash.”

 

So, what’s the verdict?

My concern about these products is the amount we use and the fact that parabens are stored in our bodies. Dr Peter Dingle, scientific researcher and toxicologist says “although companies assure us that the chemicals known to be toxic are in amounts too small to cause harm, no one knows what their long-term, cumulative effects will be. What’s more, we don’t know how toxic these substances are when combined with other ingredients in the product.”

Personally, I think there is enough of a risk and questions raised for me to avoid parabens and err on the side of caution. I also try to avoid all products made from petroleum. Remember parabens are just one of the chemicals that can cause problems.

 

How do you avoid parabens?

Read labels, read labels, read labels! I like to look up The Chemical Maze or EWG skincare database to check products and ingredients. I also like to stick with good quality, natural skincare that I trust, like Twenty 8, Miessence and Mukti to name a few.

You might also want to check out my post on The Best Australian Natural Skincare Brands.

 

What do you think? Do you avoid parabens?

 

 

Filed In: HEALTH / Tagged: cancer, cosmetics, natural skincare, parabens

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