Today, I'm introducing a new segment to the blog called, "Which Is Worse?" In these periodic postings, I'll be examining the lesser of two environmental evils. Because, after all, living a green life is about making changes, not sacrifices.
Which Is Worse?
Getting sunburned which will lead to wrinkles, skin cancer and generally looking like leather by the time I'm 50.
OR
Using toxic sunscreen laden with cancer-causing parabens and other compounds.
The Coppertone Sport SPF 15 sunblock I'm so fond of (it sprays on!) is listed on Skin Deep as one of the 37 worst I could choose, due to sunblock instability, those nasty cancer-causing parabens, loads of fragrance and more. So, while I'm blocking myself from melanoma, I may be giving myself some other form of cancer thanks to the super-absorbing nature of the toxins in this sunscreen.
The skin is our largest organ. Every time we slather conventional, fragrance-laden products on our skin, they are rapidly absorbed into our systems.
So, what's a sun-loving Colorado girl who just got two suspicious moles removed for testing to do? Get a new sunscreen.
Skin Deep has a list of 128 recommended sunscreens - and they aren't all the $50 a bottle versions. Oil of Olay, Banana Boat and Coppertone products make the list. As do some great baby varieties.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?sunscreens=1&best=1
Time for me to lather up and hit the trails!
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1 comment:
What a question! I looked into other sunscreen options and it seems that the better way to go is by using one with the ingrediant Parsol 1789. You can find many companies online that include this Paraben free UVA and UVB blocker. Some include Ocean Potion and Arbonne.
But just to set your mind at ease a little the link between parabens and breast cancer is very slim and still widely disputed. Here's Wiki's link and their sources for the info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben#Paraben_Controversy
And here's some info on Parsol 1789 aka, avobenzone
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/article.asp?PAGETYPE=ART&ID=135
Thanks for keeping us on out toes Karma girl!
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