[Update: Several people recommend the following website for a list of Environmentally friendly / chemical friendly sunscreens: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/]
So, I have a question. The folks as Breast Cancer Fund have indicated that some of the chemicals used in sunscreens are endocrine disruptors and are therefore bad.
The article on harmful chemicals is here: Sunscreens (UV Filters). The bad chemicals are listed as:
“3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA), bexophenome-3 (Bp-3) and homosalate (HMS) (Krause, 2012; Schlumpf, 2001).”
I primarily use:
- Coppertone Sport (cream), active ingredients are: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, and octocrylene.
- Coppertone Sport (spray), active ingredients are: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, and Oxybenzone
- Aveeno daily moisturizer, active ingredients are: Avobenzone, Octinoxate, and Octisalate
OK, so looking at this, it looks like Coppertone Sport would not be recommended (sad face) – so now I need a recommendation for a good waterproof / sweatproof sunscreen that doesn’t contain any bad chemicals. Any thoughts? (the print on the bottles is so small that it is really difficult for me to read!). I notice that some of the Aveeno products also use Homosalate, specifically I have a bottle of Broad Spectrum SFP 50 for Face that contains Homosalate.
So, for those of you reading this, can you do me a favour and check the ingredients on the sunscreen you use … and let me know if you find one that is sweatproof / waterproof and doesn’t contain any of the bad chemicals listed above. Thanks.
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