Protect your skin this summer
Protect yourself from the sun this summer!
Now that the sun is out in full swing, it's imperative we think about protecting our skin. I advocate the application of sunscreen throughout the entire year, but it's obviously very important to be conscious of your exposure to the magnificent sun throughout the summer months.
As I've been lathering on the lotion for my soccer games, bike rides and runs, I've been wondering if there are any "natural" or "eco-friendly" sunscreens on the market.
I made a quick trip to Shopper's Drug Mart to scour the sun protection section, and there was nothing of the sort on the shelves. I was surprised, because hasn't the words "eco" and "green" become, at the very least, a way to sell thing these days?
My trusted Ecoholic book also had nothing to say on this particular subject. I haven't had a chance to hit up a health store to look for sunscreen of this nature, but it's now the top chore on my list, as I'm very curious if such a thing exists.
Have you heard of a greener version of sunscreen? Is sunscreen green enough as is? Or maybe it's something that can't be greenified. How do you protect yourself from the hot sun in the summer?
Until we find an answer, continue to rub in that sunscreen!
And a note to all your gardeners out there: CanadianGardening.com is hosting a live forum chat tomorrow (Tuesday) where readers can ask Stephen Westcott-Gratton their rose questions. It takes place at 1 p.m. EDT. Head on over there to ask your questions!
May 25th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I remember, since I was a child, always hearing "avoid the sun between 11am through to 3pm".
May 25th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
There are sunscreens that are greener - Google Skin Deep for The Environmental Working Group's searchable database of toxic ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products. It rates both health and sun safety. You can search by brand name, product, ingredient.
May 26th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I remembered seeing something about this on another blog... Pure and simple all-natural sunscreen is a Canadian product even. I can't say I've tried it, but at least you now know it's out there! http://www.pureandsimple.ca
May 26th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Check out Lush - they have a range of moisturizers, one of which is specifically billed to protect your skin from the sun http://www.lush.ca/shop/products/face/moisturizers/skin-nanny
May 29th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I'm a member of an online green social network at http://www.greenwala.com and one of the topics that was recently brought up was how detrimental conventional sunscreen is to the environment. Apparently, large levels of sunscreen-related chemicals have been found in bodies of water (lakes, rivers and oceans) as well as in public water supplies across the world. Scientists now know that the chemicals in conventional sunscreen lotions are responsible for causing coral reef die-off and they've significantly compromised fish populations.
My question to anyone reading this is...do you know of a homemade sunscreen recipe that is eco-friendly? If you do, would you please share it with the Greenwala community -- when you sign up, they'll plant a tree in your honor courtesy of the non-profit group "Trees For The Future"!!
June 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I've been looking for something non-toxic for my young children and have found that zinc oxide (the lifeguards white noses!) is a very safe effective barrier. Badger brand, available at my neighbourhood health food store, fits the bill. No petroleum or parabens or fragrance or chemicals. I'm going to try it because the high priced 'organic' one I just tried makes me break out!