Sunscreen: How to Choose Wisely for Healthier Skin

I always get excited when I talk about how better nutrition can boost your health on the inside. But did you know that the foods you eat can also have a positive effect on the outside (that is, your skin). Slowing the aging process of your skin and giving it that healthy glow are just the beginning! It’s true- including lots of fresh colorful fruits and veggies in your diet is the key to looking great on the outside while enjoying better health overall.

In addition to better nutrition, the other piece of the healthy skin puzzle involves what you put on your skin topically. Organic skincare and personal care products are the best choice because they are free of the many chemicals that lurk in traditional personal care products.

One such product that you may be picking up at your next grocery or pharmacy run is sunscreen. There are a lot of choices out there, but some of them may be harmful to your health.

Let’s talk about the sunscreen choices and the safest ones for you.

There are two kinds of sunscreen- physical and chemical. Physical block sunscreens are made with natural ingredients that physically block, or scatter the UV rays so they don’t penetrate the skin. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, use chemical ingredients that absorb the rays to reduce damage to the skin.

Some chemical sunscreen products contain chemicals that may be harmful to the body, so it’s important to become familiar with common ingredients. Here area some chemicals to avoid:

Oxybenzone has been linked to allergic reactions, endocrine (hormone) disruption and even cellular damage. Studies have linked use of products containing oxybenzone by pregnant women to an increased risk of birth defects in babies. In the U.S. this ingredient is deemed safe for use in sunscreen at concentrations of up to 6%, but the EU has found it to be unsafe in concentrations above 2.2%. This ingredient is also particularly dangerous for use by children due to its possible endocrine disruption.

Avobenzone is another commonly used ingredient known to cause allergic reactions and hormone disruption. Like oxybenzone this chemical is highly absorbable by the body. In fact, it is absorbed at amounts that are almost 10 times higher than the safety threshold set by the FDA.

Homosalate, like the others, is a known endocrine disruptor and has been linked to possible toxicity. This brings with it a concern for an increased risk of endocrine and other cancers.

Octinoxate, Octisalate and Octocrylene are the O words to avoid in your sunscreen for sure. Among other issues, these ingredients can lead to the development of free radicals in the body. These are the molecules that lead to cellular damage and disease and which we fight through a diet high in antioxidants. When choosing a sunscreen, if you see these “O” words on the package, put it back on the shelf and make a different choice. Don’t expose yourself to anything that is a known carcinogenic endocrine disruptor, or that may lead to more free radicals in your body.

What Are the Best Choices?

Whenever I want to find the healthiest alternative to choose in personal care products, I turn to EWG. The Environmental Working Group has a section of their site called “Skin Deep.” This is where hundreds of products from makeup to baby care, skincare, sunscreen and more are tested and scored according to their safety.

We can’t control all of the toxins we come in contact with in our daily lives, but what we put on our skin is one place we do have control. It’s important to choose wisely because your skin absorbs anything you put on it, so why slather it with potentially dangerous chemicals when you have so many healthier choices.

I’m excited about one of the newest choices in suncare. doTERRA, the most conscientious essential oil company, with the most tested and trusted products I know of, is launching a suncare line consisting of spray, stick and lotion forms of mineral sunscreen along with an “after sun” product that is hydrating and rejuvenating to the skin. It is available as of July 1, 2022, so check this link to find out more about these safe and effective products.

Whatever you choose, just remember that you can greatly impact your health by making personal care choices that are better for your body and the planet. Use the EWG resources as a guide to the safest products for you and your family.