1. Why All-Natural Sunscreen is the Only Choice
Summer is upon us. The official summer kick off will occur on June 22. For many
people, fun in the sun is the best part of summer. It’s time for long days at the beach,
hours on the lake fishing and time for those family barbecues. The one thing they all have
in common is exposure to the sun.
Exposure to the sun in moderate doses is good for us. It provides our bodies with Vitamin
D, which we need. However, too much exposure to the sun can put us at risk for possible
skin cancer. Protecting your skin is important. This is why sunscreen is often
recommended. In an average year more than 259 million dollars is spent on sunscreen.
That’s because each year more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are detected.
If you have gone to the store lately, you’ll see that there are several varieties of sunscreen
currently on the market. Each one offers a different level of protection. However, have
you ever paid close attention to the ingredients that are typically found in sunscreen?
You can see in this image some of the typical
ingredients found in sunscreens today. Do
you even know what many of these
ingredients are? Sunscreens today are made
up of various chemicals but what are you
really applying to your skin?
Up until about the 1980’s, many sunscreens
contained Para-aminobenzoic acid or PABA.
This ingredient was a powerful UVB
absorber in sunscreen but it did not absorb
the UVA rays. It was widely used because it
would remain on the skin and not wash off
quickly. It wasn’t until people began to
experience side effects from the PABA such
as dermatitis, skim sensitivity and more, that
it was removed from many sunscreens.
When looking at an ingredient list like this
example, how do you know which one could
be the next PABA like ingredient? Ask
yourself, “If I wouldn’t eat it, should I really
apply it to my skin?”
One common ingredient found today is sunscreen is Oxybenzone. Tests have shown that
this chemical can cause allergic reactions and can disrupt hormones in the body. It is
recommended that sunscreens with this ingredient be avoided in children due to the
potential toxicity concerns. This is a closer look at just one of the ingredients found in

2. sunscreen. There’s no telling what other reactions or concerns other chemicals could have
on a person.
This is why choosing an all-natural sunscreen is recommended. An all-natural sunscreen
is free of the harsh chemicals of traditional sunscreens on the market. They are gentle on
the skin and traditionally hypoallergenic. This makes them safe for the entire family. In
addition natural sunscreens tend to not clog the pores of your skin. If you’ve ever gotten
traditional sunscreen in your eyes you have felt the immense pain and burning because of
all the chemicals in them. This can be dangerous to something as sensitive as your eyes.
With a natural sunscreen you don’t have to worry if it accidentally gets in your eyes.
Depending on where you live, finding an all-natural sunscreen may be difficult to do
especially if you live in a rural community. There’s no need to panic though. Below is a
recipe (compliments of Marzia) for an easy to make, all-natural sunscreen.
All-Natural Suncreen
In a sauce pan combine:
½ cup of apricot kernel oil
¼ cup of coconut oil
¼ cup of bees wax
Mix gently until all ingredients are dispersed. Remove from heat and add 7/8 cup of
distilled water. Stir until thick and smooth and then add:
2 tablespoons of zinc oxide(available at health food stores and drug stores)
1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil.
Leave it to set and store in a dark colored glass jar. The zinc oxide is a white powder that
should not be inhaled so be sure to wear a mask and gloves.
(naturallyhealthyparenting.com)
The summer months are not a time to fear. With an all-natural sunscreen your entire
family can have hours of fun in the sun knowing that there skin is protected “naturally”.
So the next time you go the store for sunscreen, take time to read the ingredients on the
back of the bottle. If you can’t pronounce the name and you have no idea what the
ingredient is, then chances are you want to pass that bottle of sunscreen by. Choose an

3. alternative that will not only provide the protection you and your family need but is a
product made up of all-natural ingredients that are safe to use.