Sunscreens

It is the first really nice day in Maine this year (67 degrees at 2:30 p.m.) and the weekend is suppose to be even nicer. With the sun out and a cookout tomorrow, I decided to do some quick research on sunscreens. If you are using sunscreen you are most likely trying to prevent skin cancer. Why not take it a bit further and use sunscreen without ingredients that are possible carcinogens. (I know, crazy thought, isn’t it?)

My resource was my favorite skin product site, Skin Deep, referred to me by another favorite, The Soft Landing Blog. This information is taken from the Skin Deep blog and summarized for my use and others that may find it helpful. See both sites for more information.

SUNSCREENS from http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/index.php?nothanks=1

Top 10 products* (The numbers to the right of the product refer to its toxicity level).
1.    Soleo Organics Sunscreen Organic chemical free sunscreen SPF 30+            0
2.    Keys Soap Solar Rx Cosmetic Sunblock, SPF 30                        0
3.    Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+    0
4.    California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+                    0
5.    Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30                                0
6.    SanRe Organic Skinfood Supple Sunshine – Organic Rosemary and Lavender Day Creme (Dry to Normal)                                                1
7.    Purple Prairie Botanicals Sun Stick spf 30                        1
8.    Marie Veronique Organics Creme de Jour Tinted, SPF 30 (light face screen)        1
9.    Lavera Sunscreen Neutral, SPF 40                            1
10.    Devita International solar protective moisturizer 30                    1

Recommended Common Brands
1.    Blue Lizard            anything without oxybenzone
2.    California Baby            anything with SPF 30+
3.    CVS                with zinc oxide
4.    Jason Natural Cosmetics    Sunbrellas Mineral Based Sunblock
5.    Kiss My Face            “Paraben Free” series
6.    Neutrogena            Sensitive Skin Sunblock
7.    Olay    Defense         Daily UV Moisturizer (with zinc)
8.    SkinCeuticals            Physical UV Defense
9.    Solar Sense            Clear Zinc for Face
10.    Walgreens            Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears

Recommended products from popular brands* (A repeat of the list above with added detail.)
Blue Lizard

• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream Lotion, Sensitive, SPF 30
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream Lotion, Baby, SPF 30+
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream Lotion, Face, SPF 30+

California Baby

• California Baby Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance, SPF 30+
• California Baby Sunscreen Lotion Natural Bug Blend, SPF 30+
• California Baby Sunscreen Lotion Everyday/year-Round, SPF 30+
• California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+
• California Baby Sunblock Stick Everyday/year-Round, SPF 30+

CVS CVS Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 45+

Jason Natural Cosmetics Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas Mineral Based Physical Sunblock, SPF 30+

Kiss My Face

• Kiss My Face Face Factor Paraben Free, SPF 30
• Kiss My Face 100% Paraben Free Sunscreen with Oat Protein, SPF 30

Neutrogena Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30

Olay

• Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer, Sensitive Skin, SPF 30
• Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer, SPF 30

SkinCeuticals Skinceuticals Physical UV Defense, SPF 30

Solar Sense Solar Sense Clear Zinc, for Face, SPF 45

Walgreens Walgreens Sunblock with Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose & Ears, SPF 45+

Major brands that have no recommended sunscreens
Aubrey Organics (6), Avalon Natural Products (8), Aveeno (21), Banana Boat (41), Biore (1), Biotherm (11), Bull Frog (9), Burt’s Bees (2), Cetaphil (2), Clean & Clear (2), Coppertone (41), Cover Girl (4), Dove (4), Dr. Scholl’s (2), Elizabeth Arden (12), Eucerin (5), Garnier (3), Gillette (1), Hawaiian Tropic (10), Jergens (2), Juvena (2), La Roche-Posay (5), Lancome (28), LORAC (5), Lubriderm (1), Maybelline (1), Murad (9), Nature’s Gate (7), Nivea (4), Paradise Gold (4), Phisoderm (2), Pond’s (2), Purpose (2), RoC (6), Skin Simple (1), Target (.method) (1), The Body Shop (3), Vichy (2), Zia Natural Skincare (3)

* Products listed above are made by brands that are widely available in stores and that meet our criteria (SKIN DEEP) for an ideal sunscreen. Each of the recommendations has a green rating on our index (including broad spectrum protection from zinc or titanium, stable in sunlight, few hazardous ingredients). Additionally, these products offer other benefits, providing an SPF of 30 or higher, containing no oxybenzone which poses health concerns, and made in a cream or liquid form that can’t be inhaled like powder or spray sunscreens.

A Long Overdue Update

Looking back over my Blog I’m amazed to find that I haven’t posted anything since the 30th of January. The past three months have been full of gatherings, appointments, child-care hunting, home renovations, attempts at dog relocation, being a mom, and everyday life. Despite always seeming to have something to do, a strong sense “cabin fever” has dominated and claustrophobia has set in.

Perhaps it because snow came early while we were still in Kazakhstan or the mere fact that I don’t get out quite as much with a little one to bundle up and nap times to consider that has made this winter seem so long. The constant noise from the construction (that finally ceased about three weeks ago) and not being able to leave our anxiety stricken dog during the day certainly hasn’t helped either.  I actually think a combination of above with the fact that I was in Kazakhstan for almost three months (half of it alone) is to blame. Although I was free to explore on foot and interacted with friends there, the experience was a bit isolating and incredibly boring at times.  Whatever the cause, I, like most people in Maine, am anxious for consistently warmer weather and am dying to get outside more!

We’ve had glimpses of spring ranging from a couple beautiful days in the fifties to snow melting downpours. The overall weather has been downright dreary for days and after poor weather forecasting last weekend left an expectant state without the one sunny day it was hoping for, all are looking forward to parting clouds this Sunday morning. I want to go outside and play!

Kairat turned one year old on February 5th and took his first real steps two days later. It is so funny to watch him practically run with his Frankenstein-like gait. Carrying toys from room to room and chair to chair seem to entertain him much longer than I could ever imagine. He loves to rock his collections in the adult rocking chair in his bedroom and then will cross the room to rock himself in his miniature version.

Mud (of course) is quite the fascination and we’ve already spent some time playing in it. The local consignment shop was a great place to pick up extra “play clothes” as being outside, at least at this point in the season, means being covered with mud upon our return to the indoors. Prior to the mucky season, Kairat LOVED being pulled in his sled through the snow. The faster, the better, which was good exercise for Mama. Riding in his baby backpack has also shown to be a tolerable outdoors activity although I’m sure K would much rather be running around on his own clumsy little legs.

I’m amazed at K’s verbal skills. At a recent doctor check-up he was declared to be performing on an 18-month level with his animal sounds. Large felines are obsessions right now and K prefers all creatures to have a roar like a tiger or lion, even when he knows that isn’t the sound it makes. I have to admit, he’s got a pretty good imitation but it just doesn’t sound right coming from a duck. Actually, anything he isn’t sure of (as far as sounds go) becomes a tiger. “Roar!”

Kairat identifies numerous body parts, clothing, home items such as doors, windows, etc. upon request along with characters, food, and other things found in books and his alphabet placemats. I’m starting to move from object recognition to number and letter identification. K points to the objects he wants to know repeatedly and I just give him the unknown information over and over again.  He really enjoys it so I’m happy to help.

Hours are spent reading books in his bedroom, on the couch, and especially while sitting on the potty. We’ve continued the toilet training started in the baby house, often to the shock of family and friends. Most people don’t expect a 1 year old to be ready to sit on a potty but, frankly, I can’t get the kid off sometime. He’ll sit and we’ll read book, after book, after book until I finally decide it is definitely time to move on to other activities.

Of course, we spend plenty of time listening and dancing to music (oldies, classic rock, classical, jazz) and singing and acting out the typical “kiddy” songs. It is really amazing how all children have such a natural love of music and dance. They’re like little sponges and I already love how much fun it is to help my little sponge soak up everything he is interested in.

Aside from his walking, Kairat really seems to be very coordinated fourteen-month old. He is doing very well eating with utensils and is drinking from a regular cup rather than a “sippy” cup. Along with dining coordination, though, also comes dining messiness and playfulness. The messiness is fine with me and all part of the learning process but when that little bugger takes a piece of food, looks at me out of the corner of his eye, and then throws it across the table we then work on some simple mealtime manners while I try not to crack-up laughing.

If this child doesn’t grow up to be a soccer player, I’ll be surprised. Before he could even balance on his own, he would hold our hands in order to walk around the house and kick his balls of various sizes. Now that he is walking on his own, he’s continued this practice with surprising success. He is also obsessed with trying to bounce a ball. I’m not talking about a bounce in a pass to someone else. He’s been doing that for months. No, we’re talking about bouncing as if he were bouncing a basketball. Once his aim for that second bounce becomes more accurate, we are going to have a bouncing fool on our hands.

For anyone reading this Blog post, you can probably tell that I’m a bit biased and in love with my incredible son. It is so amazing how your child becomes a perfect little being in your mind, incomparable to all others.  Then again HE IS the most talented, charming, handsome, intelligent fourteen-month old ever.  Well…. at least I think so. (-: