Approximately 650 sunscreens were investigated during EWG’s 12th annual sunscreen guide. EWG found two-thirds of the sunscreens they examined had serious concerns. Some concerns they found included inferior sun protection or toxic
ingredients like oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor, or retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that may harm skin. Despite scant evidence, the FDA still allows most sunscreens to claim they help prevent skin cancer.
Toxic For You and Our Corals
Over the course of 12 years, EWG has uncovered mounting evidence that one common sunscreen chemical, oxybenzone, poses a hazard to human health and the environment. Including harming our beautiful and delicate corals a life-line to many sea creatures. Oxybenzone a known allergen and hormone disruptor, soaks through skin and can be measured in the body of nearly every American today. Octinoxate isn’t much better: Sources say it may actually accelerate skin aging and has negative effects on the reproductive system and thyroid.
Mike Adams from NaturalNews.com says it quite well, “What’s truly astonishing is how people think using these toxic chemicals on their skin is somehow preventing cancer. In truth, it’s giving them cancer from chemical exposure. Instead of just skin cancer from UV exposure, it can give them brain cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer or even myeloma”
Sunscreen Ban, Hawaii Taking the Lead
Hawaii’s Govenor Ige is the first to ban sale of sunscreens containing harmful chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate. The two banned chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, are commonly used in more than 3,500 of the world’s most popular sunscreen products, including Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone and Banana Boat, according to NPR.
This new law will go into effect January 1, 2021, but not soon enough for our delicate corals here in Hawaii. We are already seeing the negative effects of these harmful chemicals to our beautiful corals.
Healthier Alternatives
There are healthier alternatives that will not harm our corals or your health. Using physical blockers like non-nano zinc and titanium dioxide will actually block the suns rays from penetrating the skin.
My favorite is Smiling Dolphin by Living Sea Life
and if you love oils like I do, you can use raspberry seed oil, it has a natural UVA 8 and SPF 28-50 UVB protection, its anti-aging and full of antioxidant, look for oils does not contain fragrance, parabens, petrolatum, or petroleum like this one from Patelle. There is no need to add this to a carrier oil, just use it right out of the bottle. That’s what I do, and I love it!
Help EWG get this hazardous ingredient out of sunscreens for good!
Oxybenzone is bad for human health and the environment. It has no place in the products we rely on to protect us from UV radiation. Oxybenzone is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has also been linked to damage to coral reefs across the globe. We need safe, reliable sunscreens. Oxybenzone is not the answer. I urge you to remove this chemical from all your SPF products and reformulate with safer alternatives.
What can you do to help get oxybenzone out of sunscreens?
You can sign this EWG petition to get oxybenzone out of sunscreens.
Mahalo!
Sources for this article include:
Hi, Thank you, we are glad you like our Smiling Dolphin Sunscreen, and we appreciate you sharing that. We will have our website back up soon. http://www.livingsealfe.com
sarahsmermaidpotions@gmail.com
Thank you for the info you posted on sunscreens. We really appreciate your help. We are with you in helping protect, save and love our beautiful planet.
Your friends, John & Sarah