How Organic is your Organic Sunscreen?
Following my post of Cancer Alert: Protect Your Skin this Summer, I have been searching for natural and safe sunscreens that is free of harmful chemical ingredients like Octyl Methoxycinnamate (OMC), Titanium Dioxide, benzophenone and etc…
I first did a search in Google using the search term “organic sun screen” and a list of hits were returned. One of the hit results interest me and I clicked on the following:
The above search results said “Find organic sunscreen manufacturers and retailers” and that’s definitely the site I would like to check out as part of my quest.
I was delighted to find a list of manufacturers that produce organic sunscreen:
I was attracted to Alba Botanica because they are selling “Organic Lavender Sunscreen SPF 30. Light textured and fast absorbing sun protection enriched with vitamins, certified organics herbs and pure plant proteins for optimum benefits. SPF 15 “. With that, I decided to click on their link and see what they got to offer.
It is a very well designed website and I am quite impressed with what I read about the product description:
PRO: From the Signature Ingredients, the product looks fantastic. They actually include CERTIFIED organic lavender, aloe vera, chamomile, green tea and ginkgo.. !How exciting… :)
However, being a skeptic I searched for the complete ingredient list on the web page. The ingredient list was displayed on the right most panel of the page and here is a snap shot of it:
CON: Hmm..after scrutinizing and analyzing the ingredient list, I am VERY disappointed with Alba Organic Lavender Sunscreen. Besides the organic ingredients, they have included other nasties as well! From the list, Alba sunscreen also contain:
- isopropyl palmitate,
- glyceryl stearate SE,
- steareth-2,
- dimethicone,
- trimethylsiloxysilicate,
- glyceryl stearate,
- stearic acid,
- methyl glyceth-20,
- cetyl phosphate,
- allantoin,
- phenoxyethanol,
- benzyl alcohol,
- potassium sorbate
These stuff are definitely neither natural nor organic! These are synthetic chemicals and you can actually go to MSDS to check its toxicity.
For example, Dimethicone is a silicone emollients that is occlusive - that is they coat the skin, trapping anything beneath it, and do not allow the skin to breathe (much like plastic wrap would do. Recent studies have indicated that prolonged exposure of the skin to sweat, by occlusion, causes skin irritation. Some synthetic emollients are known tumor promoters and accumulate in the liver and lymph nodes. They are also non-biodegradable, causing negative environmental impact.
I cannot imagine myself putting some Dimethicone on my skin. Even, the thought of applying a mixture with isopropyl palmitate is rather daunting. This is because isopropyl palmitate is a fatty acid from palm oil combined with synthetic alcohol. Industry tests on rabbits indicate the chemical can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. Also shown to be comedogenic (i.e. acne promoting).
These are just a small research on the ingredient list and I am not liking what I’ve read. For sure, Alba ‘Organic’ sunscreen will not be one of my to-buy product. It is now in my black book.
I am feeling angry about the abuse of the word ‘organic’ as a mere marketing strategy to attract health-conscious consumers. It is really up to you to judge, how organically safe is your organic sunscreen?
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Monet Macomber said,
February 8, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
I too have been looking for Organic Sunscreens to carry in our spa retail store and found some interesting information about what defines sunscreen as organic. They are using the word organic, but in a different form. I found this article:
Sunscreen and sun creams
There are two types of sunscreens: Organic and Inorganic, which work by either absorbing or reflecting the sun’s UV rays.
Organic sunscreens are partially absorbed by the skin and work by absorbing light within the epidermis. The term ‘organic’ simply means that these sunscreens are made of carbon and hydrogen. It doesn’t mean that they are naturally occurring or are organically produced.
Organic sunscreens are made up of relatively complex molecules that are absorbed into the skin. The most well known organic sunscreen is PABA (para amino benzoic acid). It is not uncommon for people to have allergic reactions to PABA, which is why most sun creams are now ‘PABA free’. There are newer organic sunscreens such as Benzophenone (Oxybenzone) however many people may also be sensitive to these. Most of the organic sunscreens only block the rays that burn, UVB.
Inorganic sunscreens are mineral based non-chemical pigments such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They work by making a physical barrier between the skin and the sun, reflecting sunlight away from the skin. Inorganic sunscreens contain tiny pieces of solid sunscreen and may also contain moisturisers, which can make them gentler on the skin. The skin does not absorb inorganic sunscreens so they are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
These sunscreens are less transparent because of their content, have you ever seen a ghostly looking child on the beach? That’s the one. However, nowadays these creams contain much finer particles and tend to look just a little shimmer if anything when applied.
I don’t think there is such a thing as truly organic sunscreen. I think when it comes to sun protection you have to go with what is available and get as organic as you can. Oddly enough I think any product with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are safe to use because they do not absorb into the skin, they sit on the surface. Companies like Dr.Hauschka and Erbaviva use as many “organic” ingredients as they can, but still use Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide to help protect better. For an green lifestyle I thin these may be the best there is. I think in a few more years an actual Organic sunscreen will appear on the market, in the meantime we have to protect ourselves as best we can.
MaryAnne said,
June 3, 2008 @ 12:04 am
The only effective and water resistant sunscreen I’ve found is by Soleo Organics. They leave out the titanium and just use a microfine zinc oxide. My kids aren’t fans of the smell but it does work and at least I know that it is safe to use. Bought it online at carenonline.com but it is sold at other places too. Hope this is helpful.
Jules said,
July 6, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
Great post! After all that searching, finally at the end you see the ingredient list and it has oxybenzone and other toxic sunscreen chemicals :( There are a lot of sunscreens out there that claim to be organic or all natural and then you find these chemicals included, its really sad. I use to use UVNaturals sunscreen but it was very greasy and I did not like the smell at all. I found a new one that is toxin free, does include organic plant sources, goes on clear and has no scent. I used it for the first time last week at the beach and I was impressed :) Its called BestBloc and I found it on the website I got an organic colon cleanse from, http://BestOnEarthProducts.com I can say that it is a good product and safe to use.