At this time every year since its inception, our local Gentle Parenting group has a debate about sunscreens. Are they safe? Should you use them or just cover up and stay out of the sun? Which ones are best? How often to apply? I started the conversation this year both at my son’s preschool and online with my Confessions post, and my pal the Crunchy Domestic Goddess continued it here.
And now I’m hear to report that, like so many other great issues that face us today, this one is going to make you poorer 
Yes, I just ventured to our local health-food store to pick up some of the sunscreens from Skin Deep’s recommended list and I can tell you, they may be safer, but they’re not cheaper.
So first, here are the sunscreens that I’m tossing (and yes, one was on my recommended list from the last post on this topic!):
- Coppertone Water Babies – This may be the “#1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand” but it’s main active ingredient is Oxybenzone, which I now know is toxic and doesn’t belong anywhere close to my skin or my children’s skin.
- Avalon Organics Vitamin C Moisture Plus Lotion – Yep, this “natural” lotion also contains Oxybenzone, so it’s got to go.
I have replaced these two items with the following:
- MyChelle Sun Shield SPF 28 - Active ingredients are barrier sunscreens, not chemical, and there are lots of good antioxidents in this. Unfortunately, not yet reviewed on Skin Deep.
- California Baby SPF30+ Sunscreen – This is #7 on Skin Deep’s list (and the sticks, which they didn’t have at Vitamin Cottage, was #1), so that’s what I’ll be using on my children. But at $14.99 for a 2.9 ounce bottle, it’s just about as expensive as Lancome. Yikes! Going to have to try to find this online for cheaper!
- Mustela High Protection Sun Lotion – I was happy to discover that this lotion, which is in a small bottle and thus was in my diaper bag all last season, is on Skin Deep’s safe list. So it didn’t get pitched with the Coppertone!
- Juice Organics SPF30 Light Tint Moisturizer – Yes, it’s true, I’ve finally ventured into a natural cosmetic product other than lip gloss. This lightly tinted sunscreen can double as foundation, and measured up well on Skin Deep, so today I kiss my 3 year old Lancome foundation goodbye!
3 comments
Mom says:
April 18, 2008 at 4:06 pm (UTC 2 )
Ok, Julie — I need you to check out the two sunscreen lotions I use. Neither one has listed oxybenzone but they have somethings that look like they are similar. I use Artistry moisture rich protective mosturiser SPF 15 and Eucerin extra protective moisture lotion, SPF 30. Are these ok? Mom
Julie says:
April 18, 2008 at 1:00 pm (UTC 2 )
I took a quick look and it seems like they have some things that are very safe and others that get points added to their score for petroleum products and a few other things. So overall, my learning experience of the day is that just because it says “organic” or “obsessively natural” or something like that does not mean that they don’t slip a few carcinogens into their brew. Take a look at Skin Deep: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=avalon+organics
Corrina says:
April 18, 2008 at 9:27 am (UTC 2 )
As usual, thanks for doing the leg work for the rest of us!
So since Avalon gets such poor marks for sunscreen, do their other products get the boot, too? You know I hate their facial cleanser.