Sunscreen news

[Ann G]

Did you see the recent news about sunscreen? My personal favorite, Coppertone Sport Lotion SPF 50, is among the worst, and none of Coppertone's sunscreens were judged to be safe and effective, according to this Environmental Working Group report. Banana Boat and Neutrogena didn't do very well either. The products that got a pass, like Trukid, California Baby, and Badger, were all things I've never heard of and can't find in the local K-Mart. Maybe I'll have to look for things online.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4227214.shtml

[jesvetmed]

Wow... thanks for posting that. I actually used coppertone for the first time in years at my tri the other day -- it worked. I was out for 3 hours and didn't burn, and it didn't come off in the wetsuit or on the sweaty bike/ride either. So it may not pass, but it passed for me! Course, I had the "55" on!

Among more widely available brands, Blue Lizard, California Baby, CVS, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Kiss My Face, Neutrogena, Olay, SkinCeuticals, Solar Sense, and Walgreens made the list.

Of these, Kiss My Face and Neutrogena and Olay are all widely available. And the other night I noticed Target carried "California Baby".... at least in their baby products. I know you can get them online, too.

California Baby makes the list of pretty good products based on lack of toxic chemicals in them, also.

Someone here posted a great website for cosmetics, shampoos, etc, and the site rated them based on their ingredients and whether or not any are considered toxic. Wish I could remember the site. Someone else probably does?

Jes

[Blueberry]

Here's the badger website: http://www.badgerbalm.com/

I've been using their "balms" for years and love them. I have not tried the sunscreen.

CA

[salsabike]

I think this is what you want--the website for the Environmental Working Group--

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/spe...unscreens2008/

[KnottedYet]

Many years ago I went through the whole "OMG I have malignant melanoma, OMG I'm gonna die!" crap. My cancer-man told me to always wear sunscreen that contains both a chemical screen (the ones that break down) and a physical block (zinc or titanium) and is at least 30 spf.

Kid's or baby's sunscreen is the stuff most likely to have both. I buy tons of it. Chemical screen doesn't wash off, and physical block doesn't wear out. (the chemical screen works by absorbing rays, which breaks it down. The physical block works by reflecting the rays, which won't help if it washes off with sweat or rubs off with clothing.)

Follow the directions on the bottle. If it says to apply 15 minutes before you go into the sun, that's referring to the chemical screen. Do it. If it says to re-apply, that's referring to the whole shebang. Do it.

When in doubt, put on your chemical/physical mix then put on a layer of a pure neutral physical. The physical blocks UVA and UVB, the chemical is your emergency back-up plan.

Best of all.... long sleeves, long pants, and a wide brimmed hat! (not so easy on the bike, eh?)

[michelem]

I'm allergic to the chemical sunscreens, so have to stick with pure physical blocks (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). Problem is that even the "non-whitening" forumlas make me look like I've rubbed white paste all over. Or, worse, Burt's Bees new "non-whitening" formula is yellow/orange! I called the hotline to find out if maybe I had a "bad" tube, but was told that the yellow/orange is the real color of the stuff! My hubby made fun that it looked like I had dried mustard all over my face! YUCK!!!

So, has anyone found a good zinc/titanium sunblock that blends into the skin and can even be worn under makeup???

On the bod I wear long-sleeves and long pants (full-length bike tights on the bike) with SPF 50 year-round. So, it's just my face/neck/hands that I need to worry about.