economical, safe sunscreen - Page 2

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

some mentioned the aveeno babies, and looking on skin deep there is a copper tone water babies pure and simple sunscreen that is rated as a 3. We are in need of some new sunscreen this year so i will probably try on of those for us. CVS.com has it priced at 10.99 for an 8oz bottle and it could be cheaper at walmart or target or when there are sales going on.

[Auraji]

Originally Posted by eirual

And this is a bit of a personal decision, but I've changed from SPF 50 freak to just a sunhat and shade if you can. I don't think we used sunscreen at all last summer. This came from a quick google of "good fats sun exposure"...I don't know if it's a decent article or not, but the general theory is that if you have a healthy and natural diet, your body may be better equipped to deal with the sun's rays and that they are actually good for you.

I know what you mean. I grew up in Dominican Republic, the middle of the Caribbean and I've NEVER used sunscreen regularly, neither have I seen people put it on kids. It happens, but it's VERY rare and they only use the lowest protection. I've never seen anyone use over 30.

I've never met a person in DR that has skin cancer. Part of it is because we have darker skin, but there's a lot of white people in DR too. Now I do use sunscreen in my daughter because there's skin cancer in DP's family. His mom and dad and her skin is lighter than mine.

I dont think sunscreen is necessary ALL the time and dont think you need a super high SPF if you live up north, but this depends on the individual. I only tan and never burn. My DD does burn, so I use a bit of sunscreen if we're gonna be out in the sun for a long time.

[sanguine_speed]

I've heard a couple of mentions of lack of need for sun protection if you live "up north" or in "ontario".

I just want to let y'all know that five months of the year, the average temperature in Ottawa, Ontario is above 70 degrees, and it's not unheard of for the temperature to approach 100 degrees. And there are plenty of days with the UV index in the 8-10 range.

[Auraji]

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

I've heard a couple of mentions of lack of need for sun protection if you live "up north" or in "ontario".

I just want to let y'all know that five months of the year, the average temperature in Ottawa, Ontario is above 70 degrees, and it's not unheard of for the temperature to approach 100 degrees. And there are plenty of days with the UV index in the 8-10 range.

Im not saying that you dont need it. Im saying that there are many factors on how much sunscreen you need. I used to live in Ottawa, but only from Aug to Feb.

I NEVER use sunscreen, not even when I've been camping at a beach in an island in the Caribbean, but I have dark skin. The darker your skin the more protection against the sun it has, also the lower your vitamin D absorption is.

[Magelet]

Originally Posted by mom0810

Going without is NOT an option, especially for kids. One bad burn as a child increases their chances of skin cancer as an adult. I have already had 3 skin cancer scares in the past year. Not for my kids... they will always be protected.

If that's the case i'm doomed. I burned BAD BAD BAD multiple times a year every single year since I was ummmm... a little little kid. 2 or 3? maybe 4. the sun pretty much has the think about me and I'm a lobster. I didn't burn as bad or as much this summer though. I think maybe increased vit. D helped. I used to burn being out for an hour or two of afternoon sun away from the beach, and now, I don't seem to burn as bad if I take some sun in the afternoon (usually late, not midday, like after work. haven't had a lot of time to get midday sun yet this year)

[PPK]

Try Blue Lizard, I like it and can get it at CVS. I think its about $8 a tube, but not positive.

Ratings on Skin Deep are pretty good:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/pro...aby%2C_SPF_30/

Its thick and takes a while to blend, but I think that's just the nature of a zinc-based sunscreen!

[mom0810]

I've heard really good things about Blue Lizard.

Magelet, I don't think you are doomed. I do think though, that if you have any moles or suspicious spots that you should go right to the dermatologist and have them checked out.

I have moles everywhere and go for a yearly check and if anything looks suspicious, it comes off! But I had several bad burns as a child/teen and that is when you have the highest risk. It's not the burns you get as an adult that are dangerous, it's the ones you got before you were 18. Those are the ones that can produce icky stuff later on in life.

Don't stress about it, just make sure you are getting regular checks and don't go out without protection.

[mnnice]

I am going to try Lands End UV protective shirts for the first time this year on both my kids (not in lieu of sunscreen, but I hope that I'll use less). I found both the shirts at the thrift store and only spent $6-7 for two.

I have found some of the best rated suncreens by skin deep to be IRL a pain to apply and go on so gloppy that I miss places. I have sort of given up on it in and just by the cheaper chemically stuff (need the little hiding smiley)

[Babina's Mommy]

I hate it...how the safest sunblock is so expensive. I don't mind paying a little more for safer products, but sheesh! I bought Burt's Bees tonight....yikes. I checked out the Coppertone Pure and Simple sunblock but it's loaded with parabens. Surprisingly the Equate brand Kids spray on sunscreen doesn't have any parabens but it still has the oxybenzone stuff or whatever it is that makes sunscreen toxic...but the Kids Equate sunscreen appears to have more dangerous ingredients than the Baby one. Crazy! Last year I used Earth's Best on my son...I have used Avalon Organics which me and my daughter were both sensitive to something in this and we turned bright red and started stinging...I called the company who gave me coupons, and it turns out they are the same company as Earth's Best so we bought more of that instead. Which of course that stuff is really thick....I balked at the price of California Baby at Target and got the Burt's Bees instead...CA Baby was really expensive at my Target...Anyone use the CA Baby stick though? I was curious about that...I bought Kiss My Face sunblock at a health/herb/nature store and didn't realize until I brought it home that it had parabens. The companies just can't seem to get away from parabens...But yeah....sun safety is one of my biggest hurdles, finding a good cheap natural sunblock...I made sure to think about sun safety as much as I could when picking bathing suits...son has a bathing suit with a rash guard shirt, daughter has a one-piece, and they will both have hats and sunglasses...

[provocativa]

Adele Davis, the famous nutritionist from the 1970s, mentions that you can supplement with paba (para-amniobenzoic acid, a b vitamin). They used to make sunscreen out of it, but it stings the eyes (now sunscreens are often advertised as Paba-free for that reason). I am very sunburn prone, and have had many bad burns; I'm at high risk for skin cancer. Paba supplements and coconut oil do seem to have increased my skin's sun tolerance. It's a b vitamin (one of the so-called minor ones), so water soluble and needing to be taken every day. We do zinc oxide when we're really poor. We all wear swim shirts to the pool, and I wear men's trunks. Often the girls wear swim shorts with their shirts, but not always. We found the Alba Botanicals physical sunscreen (zinc/titanium oxide) to be cheapest in the long run. If you try Blue Lizard, only squirt a bit at a time (a little goes a long way, and it's thick and takes awhile to spread). Also, sometimes we just put sunscreen on the tops of our arms, etc. This year, I joined a unfi buying group and will buy a case of sunscreen to save money. I'm also planning on compounding my own zinc oxide ointment with coconut oil, but don't know if I'll get that done.