Sunscreen suggestions

spincity

my SIL freaked me out about what sunscreens to use. She said most of them out there on the market contain an ingredient we pregnant ladies shouldn't be used bc it could be toxic and absorbed into our blood. I refuse to indulge her and ask any questions, so I figured I'd ask here if anyone was familiar with this, and if anyone has any good safe suggestions for me and baby thank you

Jazmine928

I look for ones whose main ingredient is zinc and or titanium dioxide. Some are crazy expensive but I just found a good one by banana boat for babies. California baby is awesome but pricy!

SomedayInMyArms

Yes, a pregnancy app I use actually said to use safe sunscreen so I looked it up and there is an ingredient that is not suppose to be good for pregnant ladies. I can't remember the exact name of the ingredient, but it was easily found by Google.

I use Coppertone for sensitive skin. The regular adult Coppertone contained the ingredient. The kids Coppertone was safe too. It was hard to find one. Almost all the sunscreens had that ingredient in it.

kidcapri100

I use SunBum. It's not the cheapest sunscreen but still reasonably priced for a natural product. I believe Target even carries it now.

RSB1982

A really good website for reviewing safe sunscreen is :  https://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/

The Environmental Working Group reviews lots of products, I really like their cosmetics guide too.  One ingredient to avoid in sunscreen is oxybenzone.  Its a synthetic estrogen that can interfere with natural hormones.  I've been using Kiss My Face, its not too expensive and safer than most sunscreens.  The Honest Company has a sunscreen that gets good reviews and I've heard California Baby is good too.  

LauraSmarterSpam

I use honest co for my body, and my moisturizer is by Renee rouleau. I reapply on my face with colorscience's powder.

kleshelle

I use copper tone, for babies. It works really good!

Elysekern

The ingredient that you were concerned about is called "oxybenzone." I agree, it's found in practically all sunscreens! I'm on vacation now so it was so hard to find a good one! I use Honest Co. Sunscreen for my body (it is a little bit greasy but is non-whitening which I love) and Coppertone Senstive Skin Sunscreen for my Face - it does not make you break out!

CMDD

So glad someone posted this- I'm off to buy sunscreen and groceries for a long day on a canoe tomorrow! Thanks

fmraglio

I've been applying sunscreen multiple times a day and I just checked and it has oxybenzone in it. Is there something I need to do? We did not learn about this in nursing school and I'm freaking out right now.

daylynj

I use aveeno natural, but it is very whitening. I'll try the honest co

jjmace

Started having problems with sunscreen years ago with face breakouts/body rash. I really love mineral based for face (eminence has a wonderful product and lasts a long time...I buy it on amazon cheaper than a spa). Tryin out a new product for the body called 100%pure. It comes in a deodorant size stick. Looking forward to trying it out. I had been using neutrogenia sensitive skin for body but my skin is even more sensitive during this pregnancy. Wanted to try something even cleaner.

Marchmellow2

Last week on my vacation I use Honest company and Coppertone for babies. Both work well.

mollyjeanh

I just read this article this morning-

https://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/06/neutrogena-sunscreen-toxic-avoid/

We use Babyganics for DD but I've always used neutrogena. Guess I have to change.

Edited to add- I hate Honest Co sunscreen, it is super greasy!

lalg28

Gosh I used regular banana boat the other day! Totally gonna switch to one of these natural ones!

missphil

MD Solar Sciences in my favorite. Definitely choose a physical sunscreen (zinc, titanium dioxide) over a chemical sunscreen.

https://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/06/neutrogena-sunscreen-toxic-avoid/

The article has some interesting points on oxybenzone and retinyl palmate

Panda2879

I use Arbonne sunscreen and actually most of their products. I'll use their baby line for my little peanut too. It's all natural and a great company. Highly recommend anything they have.

CMDD

came across this today- https://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/six-sunscreen-rules-follow-when-you-re-pregnant

CMDD

SomedayInMyArms said:

Yes, a pregnancy app I use actually said to use safe sunscreen so I looked it up and there is an ingredient that is not suppose to be good for pregnant ladies. I can't remember the exact name of the ingredient, but it was easily found by Google. I use Coppertone for sensitive skin. The regular adult Coppertone contained the ingredient. The kids Coppertone was safe too. It was hard to find one. Almost all the sunscreens had that ingredient in it.

the kids copper tone i'm looking at is not safe for pregnancy or young children. and it's the one labeled pure & simple for babies.

CMDD

So at CeraVe looks okay. Can anyone let me know if they see something wrong with that brand of sunscreens?

CMDD

Ugh and the offending chemicals are in the face lotion I've used every day for a year now

mollyjeanh

CMDD said:

So at CeraVe looks okay. Can anyone let me know if they see something wrong with that brand of sunscreens?

Get the app "Skin Deep." It is a free app by EWG (Environmental Working Group) a non-profit that evaluates products based on a number of different factors.

The app is cool because you can scan the barcode on your products or search the database. A large number of CeraVe products came up so I'm not sure which one you are looking at. They don't have great ratings though.

Edited to add- they also have a great Food Scores app!

yl1m32015

My cousin was just telling me about that app and I'm afraid to get it....I feel like I'll be throwing away everything in my house after I scan it lol.

stephaniearthurs

CMDD said:

came across this today- https://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/six-sunscreen-rules-follow-when-you-re-pregnant

This thread made me research this and I read this article!! I didn't Think it was a big deal, now I'm moderately worried! I can't hurt to buy one that doesn't though!

rain0831boww

Embuzz247 said:

My cousin was just telling me about that app and I'm afraid to get it....I feel like I'll be throwing away everything in my house after I scan it lol.

Now I'm going to check everything I use...

SomedayInMyArms

CMDD said:

SomedayInMyArms said:

Yes, a pregnancy app I use actually said to use safe sunscreen so I looked it up and there is an ingredient that is not suppose to be good for pregnant ladies. I can't remember the exact name of the ingredient, but it was easily found by Google.

I use Coppertone for sensitive skin. The regular adult Coppertone contained the ingredient. The kids Coppertone was safe too. It was hard to find one. Almost all the sunscreens had that ingredient in it.

the kids copper tone i'm looking at is not safe for pregnancy or young children. and it's the one labeled pure & simple for babies.

I looked at several websites and saw Coppertone named several times. I can't say they are all okay, but the sensitive and the kids (not sure if baby is different) did not contain oxybenzone which is the ingredient that I found needed to be avoided.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/05/two-good-sunscreens-for-kids-and-pregnant-women/index.htm recommends it, but I just now saw the date so it may be outdated. I will say I looked at the Equate brand and found that it contained oxybenzone in the adult version, so different versions may contain different ingredients.

I would say ask your OB what they recommend if you find it hard to find a sunscreen you are comfortable with using.

CMDD

SomedayInMyArms said:

SomedayInMyArms said:

Yes, a pregnancy app I use actually said to use safe sunscreen so I looked it up and there is an ingredient that is not suppose to be good for pregnant ladies. I can't remember the exact name of the ingredient, but it was easily found by Google. I use Coppertone for sensitive skin. The regular adult Coppertone contained the ingredient. The kids Coppertone was safe too. It was hard to find one. Almost all the sunscreens had that ingredient in it.

the  kids copper tone i'm looking at is not safe for pregnancy or young children. and it's the one labeled pure & simple for babies.

I looked at several websites and saw Coppertone named several times. I can't say they are all okay, but the sensitive and the kids (not sure if baby is different) did not contain oxybenzone which is the ingredient that I found needed to be avoided. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/05/two-good-sunscreens-for-kids-and-pregnant-women/index.htm recommends it, but I just now saw the date so it may be outdated. I will say I looked at the Equate brand and found that it contained oxybenzone in the adult version, so different versions may contain different ingredients. I would say ask your OB what they recommend if you find it hard to find a sunscreen you are comfortable with using.

@somedayinmyarms i bought the kids coppertone because all of the websites said it was safe for pregnancy and even recommended...but when i went into the store I read the ingredients and saw it had every one in it, so did the sensitive. Maybe they changed, but that seems weird. DH just reminded me- i'm usually not in the sun long enough to need sunscreen so i'm going to stick with the CeraVe for tomorrow and then ask the doc for a facial moisturizer next time i go in:) I was just panicking for tomorrow since i'll be in a boat on water all day long. thanks!

yl1m32015

rain0831boww said:

Embuzz247 said:

My cousin was just telling me about that app and I'm afraid to get it....I feel like I'll be throwing away everything in my house after I scan it lol.

Now I'm going to check everything I use...


Lol I broke down and downloaded the app. Oddly enough my lotion and face wash, normal stuff I use isn't too bad. So I'll take that as a win for now.

cicely786

I've been paranoid about sunscreen for a while. My favorite bargain sunscreen is Ocean Potion Protect and Nourish, which is Oxybenzone free. I also like Alba Hawaiian sunscreen which is widely available and Coola just came out with a Target line that is probably good and half the price of regular Coola sunscreen! Someone mentioned SunBum, which I used to use, but it has Oxybenzone in it too.

maxinemason

Thanks for posting this! My daily face moisturizer has oxybenzone in it -- will need to go shopping!! Appreciate the info that everyone has shared.

yl1m32015

Target has the honest co, California baby and Babyganics, all of which are chemical free and on the "safe" list. I'm trying the Babyganics and so far so good. They are in the actual baby section, not the regular sunscreen isle FYI.

TomekiaB

My mom died of skin cancer (melanoma) when I was teenager as a result sunscreen is a big deal in my family. I looked at these chemicals more since I read this thread. I found these links were the most concise evidenced based review of this topic: https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/ask-the-experts/are-sunscreens-safe and https://www.aad.org/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/prevent-skin-cancer/is-sunscreen-safe.

I did see some debate among reliable sources that the nano particles in zinc sunscreens (zinc that is altered so it doesn't leave you with a white film now used in some of the natural alternatives) may actually be absorbed through the skin specifically in people with skin conditions such as eczema and some of these medical professionals are wary of those types of "natural" sunscreen because they have found the nanoparticles in internal organs of humans.

Most of the really anti-sunscreen supporters seem to be Dr. Oz, Dr. Mercola types both of which had a history of using questionable science despite real credentials. Dr. Oz was called out recently for "selling snake oil" by Congress and some of the other doctors he "works with" at Columbia (where he's tenured) also asked Columbia to remove him from tenure because he is using fame rather than science for his medical claims. 

My conclusion is that the professionals think sunscreen is safe but that a couple do question the "more natural alternative of the nano particle zinc"  and there seems to be evidence to support the need to study whether or not nano particle zinc is really safe for most people. The safest answer is probably clothing that protects you from the sun (rash guards and hats) and avoiding 10-2pm when the rays are most dangerous.