"Healthy" Sunscreen
 

Coming to the smart people on TOTV again for some help finding sunscreen that doesn't contain all those harmful ingredients. I was using the sunscreens designed for babies that say minerals. No one would harm a baby, right? And minerals are good for you. Apparently not so.

Any help is appreciated.

Can you tell us what is not good for you in sunscreen?

Our dermatologist highly recommended Trader Joe’s sunscreen. Their shampoos and soap don’t have all the additives either.

Benzene
BHT
Propylparaben
Octocrylene
Benzophenone-3

Our dermatologist highly recommends Cetaphil sheer mineral face liquid sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 50.

We really like the Sun Bum products. They have a mineral line as well although we have not used it.

Here is the know authority on best sunscreens

Sunscreen Guide - Rated by Scientists | EWG

A slight twist on the thread, but as an avid lap swimmer I would appreciate recommendations on the best waterproof sunscreen that doesn’t sting the eyes when some inevitably gets inside the swim goggles. I swim lots of backstroke and need to be very diligent about protecting my face while swimming when the intense Florida sun is high in the sky. I have been using Coppertone WaterBabies as it’s supposed to be both waterproof and tear free. It seems to hold up relatively well during long swims, but it can really sting the eyes.

Blue Lizard "Sensitive" is awesome. Broad spectrum with none of those ingredients. Active ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Primary carrier ingredient is castor oil.

It has a lot of scary-sounding ingredients, but they're mostly (not all, but mostly) isolated chemical components or synthetic results of combining natural sources like minerals, sand (dimethicone is a type of silicone which is made with sand, water, and methanol gas) waxes, seaweed, and other plant substances.

In large doses, any of these ingredients can be harmful. Especially if ingested. So don't eat it, just rub it on your skin. It coats the skin, it doesn't absorb into it. The only downside to mineral sunscreens is the effort required to wash it off. Soap and water won't be enough. You need OIL to get this stuff off. The good news, is that oil is good for your skin. Options that are skin-friendly and very spa-like:

Get a coconut oil sugar scrub - or make one. If you make one with normal granulated sugar or "superfine" sugar like you can get in Publix, it's safe to use on your face, except on your eyelids and eye sockets.

Use just plain old kitchen cabinet olive oil. Massage it onto your skin. Get a thin coat over every part of your body that has the sunscreen on it, run the shower hot enough to steam up a bit before getting in. Then get in. Rub briskly all those spots again for a minute or so to loosen up the minerals, and THEN use soap to wash the oil off.

WaterBabies gets around the claims by using slightly altered versions of the same chemicals that it claims it doesn't have. I wouldn't use it on a baby, or on myself.

I’m aware it’s not the healthiest option, but compared to the risk of getting melanoma (again) it’s a risk trade off I consciously make. That’s why I asked for alternative recommendations for a better waterproof option that doesn’t sting the eyes.

I've never heard of anyone dying from exposure to sunscreen products but melanoma is a beeotch. I think you're doing the right thing and it would be great if you can find a product that doesn't burn one's eyes.

The question I never hear answered: If you are using the "safer" mineral sunscreens with titanium and zinc oxide, it you rub them in until you can't see them, do they work? Or do you need to go around looking like you have white paint on you? Generally if you search about this, the answer is always - apply liberally.

They do result in a light whiteish haze, you don't rub them INTO your skin, they won't rub in, they coat the skin. If you have pale skin, it won't really be noticeable at all. If you have a tan, then yes it'll be noticeable. How much will depend on how dark your tan is.

You're thinking of the old-fashioned zinc oxide past which lifeguards always smeared down their nose. This stuff isn't like that. I have a slight tan over not-quite-pale skin. When I use the mineral sunscreen it leaves a sort of - pearlescent residue, you can't tell that it's white, it just glimmers a little.

Believe it or not, but Aldi sunscreen always does well in independent tests.