Random Musings: Sunscreen

To sunscreen or not to sunscreen?

Right now, my feet are firmly planted in the pro-sunscreen camp. I wear it everyday, rain or shine. I even layer an antioxidant containing face oil underneath the sunscreen. I am a stage 5 sun-phobe. However, the religious-type fervor that is now accompanying sunscreen usage is kind of turning me off. I'm really supposed to reapply it before I go out for lunch? Really? On top of my make-up? How does that even work? I'll stick to my morning application and call it a day (unless it's an outdoors, make-up free kind of day.) Honestly, I'm not wearing sunscreen to prevent cancer (sorry!). I'm wearing it for superficial, irrational fear of age spots reasons (don't act like I'm the only one!)

I'm willing to agree with the school of thought that says chemical sunscreens contribute more to cancer than they prevent it. It sounds crazy, I know, but hear me out. Instead of physically blocking the sun like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, chemical sunscreens absorb the UVA and UVB wavelengths and then manipulate them to avoid damage to the skin. That makes me wary. I prefer for my skin to be shielded from the sun's rays period. Now I know that this only addresses the physical v. chemical sunscreen debate. What about those who believe that avoidance of the sun is the unhealthy approach? I tend to agree that the sun provides us with vital, all-important Vitamin D. But the holistic approach doesn't really address my concerns about premature aging so for now I will use sunscreen (If I stop I envision a crazy 60 year old lady with extreme hyper-pigmentation yelling into the mirror, "why did I stop using sunscreen?!? why!?!"  Like I said, irrational.)

I currently use Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer to quiet my age spot anxiety. I like it. I recommend it. But I'm not so fond of a few of the ingredients, like dimethicone and phenoxyethanol. And it contains a little too much titanium dioxide. I would like to clean up my act. So as usual, I spend hours researching the alternatives. I can't help it. I'm a bit obsessive. I fear the white cast that physical sunscreens leave.

So what are our choices?

The first sunscreen that has caught my eye is Suntegrity All Natural Face Protection SPF 30. High level of SPF - check. No titanium dioxide - check. Antioxidants - bonus. This is definitely on the top of my must try list. Plus, the founder's story is extremely moving and heartfelt. She created this brand after she lost her mother to cancer. I can always get behind brands that have a compelling vision and mission statement.

The second sunscreen that I find myself unnaturally attracted to is Vive Sana Solar to Polar. I know it's thick. I know it's hard to blend. I understand that people find it oily. BUT I WANT TO TRY IT. Why? No idea. Maybe because it's Spirit's favorite. And she wasn't wrong about May Lindstrom The Clean Dirt (it's amazing.)

(In an earlier post, I mentioned that Marie Veronique Organics Everyday Sheer Coverage was on my wishlist. So why didn't I mention it here? Well, I would have if I hadn't started reading the comments following the No More Dirty Looks rave review. One reader mentions that it contains emu oil, which is rendered from the fat of an emu. I just can't support that when there are plenty of terrific plant oils available.)