Every year about this time everyone writes about sunscreen, so I I write a new post about sunscreen, too. And I received a question about it this week, so…
First, please read Debra’s Guide to Choosing Natural Sun Protection. Though I wrote it some years ago, it still has the best advice I can give on this subject: don’t wear sunscreen, and don’t wear sunglasses. But there other things you can do that are very effective. I lived in Florida for sixteen summers and I never had a sunburn.
Every year I also take a look at EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens. There is a lot of good information here about what’s wrong with sunscreens, but I just don’t agree with many of their recommendations.
I suggest listening to a show I did on Toxic Free Talk Radio called Things You Should Know About Sunscreen, But Probably Don’t. My guest was Michael J. Russ, President of Oceana Naturals, author of Sun Care Decoded . At the time of this interview he was the authorized US distributor for MelanSol 100% natural sunscreen (his website is no longer up, but you can still purchase MelanSol here. Still titanium dioxide, but the rest of the ingredients are 100% natural. If you want to use a lotion, this is the most natural I’ve found.
If you don’t want to use lotion, see Q&A: Natural Sun Protection Without Lotion.
Even Dr Oz says don’t use sunscreen.
And now, scientists warn that wearing sunscreen is “not a reliable way to prevent getting skin cancer.”
Read my guide for sun protection that is both safe and effective.
