LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

It can be difficult enough finding a sunscreen you like that doesn’t clog your pores, leave a greasy sheen, or irritate your skin. But now it seems you also have to check the ingredient label. Sunscreen - the very item created to help prevent skin cancer and UVA/UVB damage - could actually be harming your skin or causing cancer.

Lately, more and more articles are coming out about some of the harmful chemicals that are in certain sunscreens. While studies are still out on the long-term effects of these ingredients, many doctors agree that it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially since there are others ways to protect your skin, whether you use a more natural sunscreen or wear UPF apparel.

According to the Environmental Working Group, which leads up annual studies on sunscreen and chemicals, only 25% of sunscreens on the market protect your skin without potentially harmful chemicals. Here is what the group evaluates in determining which sunscreens are safe and which ones you should skip.

Oxybenzone
This ingredient is the number one chemical you should avoid in sunscreen. Oxybenzone is used to absorb UV light. However, some research shows that the chemical itself can be absorbed through your skin. Several experts believe that oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption and, potentially, cell damage that could lead to skin cancer. As of this year, more than 50% of beach and sport sunscreens on the market contain oxybenzone.

Retinyl Palminate
A type of vitamin A, retinyl palminate may increase your risk of skin cancer if used on sun-exposed skin. While these studies aren’t entirely conclusive, many recommend it’s best to avoid the 25% or so of sunscreens containing this ingredient.

Parabens
Parabens are in a lot of products, not just sunscreen. This preservative has been known to cause allergic reactions, hormone disruption, reproductive toxicity, and more. Some studies suggest that parabens in deodorant could increase your risk of breast cancer.

Octinoxate
Another common ingredient found in sunscreen, Octinoxate easily absorbs into your skin and helps other ingredients absorb. While this helps your sunscreen absorb better into your skin, there could be some harmful side effects. The chemical’s effects on estrogen can be harmful both for you and the environment. Octinoxate could even cause premature aging since it produces free radicals, which can damage your skin and cells.

Beyond these four ingredients, the Environmental Working Group, among other organizations and experts, recommend avoiding sunscreen with a SPF higher than 50. This mainly comes down to the fact that these labels are misleading and can give users a false sense of security. Often, people think they can apply sunscreen less frequently if they use a higher number. However, SPF 50 doesn’t provide much more protection than SPF 30. Studies show that SPF 15 sunscreen can block around 93% of UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks about 97% and SPF blocks 98%. After that, the increase is very minimal, as no sunscreen can offer complete coverage.

Make sure you always check ingredient labels before buying your sunscreen. You may also consider cutting down on your sunscreen usage and opting for a safer alternative, like UV wear from Sundriven®. For large areas of your body, like your arms, hands, and legs, UV wear is a much simpler and safer way to protect yourself from the sun. You never have to worry about reapplying and there are no chemical ingredients used in Sundriven® products. For your face, ears, feet, and other small areas, use a sunscreen that doesn’t contain these chemicals listed. Wondering where to start? Try browsing organic and eco-friendly brands, like Tarte and Josie Maran.

Author: Melissa Darcey

It seems just about everything causes cancer. Building materials, hair dye, gas stations, air pollution...you name it. This makes the world around us seem pretty dreary. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and that includes the beautiful outdoors. So while it may seem as though carcinogens are all around us, there are ways we can protect ourselves. We can wear sunscreen and Sundriven® UV wear when we're outside. We can exercise. We can take care of our bodies and we can eat healthy foods.

For now, let's focus on food and some that doctors and scientists believe may help prevent cancer. And remember, no food can stop cancer in its tracks or prevent it entirely. However, there are some foods that research shows have cancer-fighting properties.

Garlic

Some studies have shown that garlic may help reduce the chances of cancer in digestive organs, like the colon or esophagus. How? Scientists believe either keep cancer-causing substances from working or they help prevent cancer cells from multiplying. While there is no hard rule about how much garlic you need to eat, many suggest a clove a day.

Berries

Out of all vegetables and fruits, berries are believed to be the best at reducing cancer risks. Berries have so many incredible benefits, due to their high level of antioxidants. In particular, blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries are believed to have the highest potential to ward off cancer, largely due to an antioxidant known as pterostilbene.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes (or any veggie high in beta-carotene) has shown to reduce risk of cancer in the colon, breast, and lungs. If you aren't a fan of sweet potatoes, look for leafy greens and other orange veggies with beta-carotene, folate, fiber, and vitamin C.

Green Tea

This is another item that contains a lot of antioxidants. Green tea has an antioxidant called catechins, which is believed to prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Some studies show that catechins can even reduce tumor cell growth and shrink tumors.

Salmon

This healthy fish is rich in vitamin D, a rarity in many foods other than dairy products. Scientists believe that vitamin D can block some development of blood vessels that feed growing tumors. Studies also show that low vitamin D levels are linked to colon and breast cancer, among other types. If you don't like salmon or dairy, consider a vitamin D supplement with at least 800 IUs of vitamin D3.

Tumeric

Typically used in Indian dishes, tumeric is a spice in curry powder. The active ingredient, curcumin, is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Based on studies using lab animals, this ingredient has helped prevent breast, colon, liver, stomach, and lung cancer.

Cruciferous Veggies

You knew this would be on the list. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and dark leafy greens are all believed to be helpful in preventing cancer, mainly due to their ability to protect you from free radicals. Free radicals are what can damage the DNA of your cells. The specific phytonutrient in these veggies believed to be most beneficial is glucosinolates. Scientists believe these can hinder the metabolism of certain carcinogens and increase the production of detoxification enzymes.

Author: Melissa

No matter how judicious we may be about applying sunscreen, it seems we still end up with a sunburn somewhere on our body. For some people, this may happen because they have photosensitive skin due to an illness or condition. For many of us, it's because we don't realize (or we forget) that certain areas of skin on our body are thinner and therefore more easily damaged by the sun. Or, it's because it's a body part we forget to protect. Let's take a look at some of the most common body parts we forget to protect from the sun and why they are more vulnerable and require extra special protection.

Your Hands

Look down at your hands. You likely see a lot more veins there than on your arms or legs. This is because the skin on your hands is very thin and thin skin is more vulnerable to damage. As you age, your hands will be the first body part to give away your age. One of the reasons many of us don't protect our hands is because we don't like the feeling of sunscreen on our hands. After we apply sunscreen on our body, we tend to wash our hands afterward, removing any protection you had just applied to your hands. It's also easier for sunscreen to wear off on our hands as we frequently wipe them with towels to remove any dirt, liquid, or oil. For your hands, I recommend protecting them with Sundriven's UV wear gloves, rather than sunscreen. Your hands will always be protected, they'll never feel greasy, and you won't have to worry about reapplying. They're also fashionable and contain other skin benefits!

Your Chest and Neck

Your chest (or décolletage) and neck is another area of thin skin and an age giveaway. As you get older, a sun damaged chest and neck may appear splotchy with brown spots and wrinkles. While we may apply sunscreen to our arms, it seems many of us easily forget to cover our chest and back of our neck. Or, we choose not to because of the shiny, oily appearance some sunscreens give. In summer, we already tend to sweat around the chest area, so the last thing we want is an even greasier appearance, especially as this can cause clogged pores and acne. Instead of sunscreen, try a scarf. I know that sounds bizarre to do in summer, but Sundriven creates several UV wear scarf options, all of which are made from a fabric that actually keeps your skin feeling cool when it's hot. And with fashionable cuts and muted colors, you won't feel silly wearing them all summer long, whether it's over a bathing suit or paired with jeans.

Your Ears and Scalp

These two areas are often neglected from sun protection for two very different reasons, but there's one solution that can help. First, when it comes to your ears, we often don't protect them because we just forget. When applying sunscreen to our face, our ears somehow always seem to go unnoticed. With your scalp, it's simply because you can't apply sunscreen on your head (unless you want greasy, matted hair). Even hair products that claim to include UVA/UVB protection don't have the power to entirely protect your head. This calls for one of two things - a hood or a hat. For a hood, this can be from a sweater, jacket, or hooded scarf. For a hat, I don't mean a baseball cap, as this won't protect your ears. Instead, go for a wide brim hat, like a fedora or Panama hat.

Author: Melissa Darcey