Comments on: God help me, I am so confused about sunscreen!

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:05:20 +0000

I have SCOURED the EWG’s website and done tons of reserch and the best sunscreen out there is the Badger. Great for all over the body. Great for kids.

On my face I use Sun Science Organic Daily Wear.
You’ll love it!

By: Jamie Pearson

Jamie Pearson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:13:50 +0000

The follow up:

So I followed Meg’s advice and bought some Vanicream Sensitive Skin formula SPF 30. I got it online at drugstore.com, where it was $12.99 for 4oz (no tax, and free shipping on orders over $25). It came today, and Eureka! It smells good and rubs in.

I know that’s a lot of money for a lot of people, but I wanted to report back. We’re going with it (at least until the next scary study comes out).

By: Debbie Dubrow

Debbie Dubrow — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:09:34 +0000

Like Meg, a local mom here in Seattle did a bunch of research and then tried several brands on her kids, and settled on Vanicream. She shared her information on a local moms group, and now I use Vanicream too. It’s not cheap, but you can order it on Drugstore.com (so at least I don’t have to search around town for it)

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:48:55 +0000

Actually does anyone have any good websites for sun clothes for kids? Not just swim gear I mean

By: Kathleen McDade

Kathleen McDade — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:56:39 +0000

Like many people, I can’t afford even the $15 sunscreen (unless the bottle’s a lot bigger than I think it is). So we just make do as best we can. I have purchased Alba Botanica on sale before, and I may check out that faux Neutrogena.

By: Michelle D

Michelle D — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:16:56 +0000

Well, this is an eye-opening post!
I’ve been using Coppertone’s Faces SPF50 lotion for years. We are pale and freckled people in my family, so maximum protection is always needed.
Now I find out from the EWG study you cite, that it’s full of noxious chemicals. Sigh. At least it started raining in Seattle today, so I know I don’t have to think about sunscreen again until next June.
In the meantime, I’ll be throwing out the leftover sunscreen from this year and stocking up on sunshirts for my kids in the end-of-season clearance sales at Land’s End and REI. FWIW, I’ve been buying sunshirts from Land’s End for the past 3-5 years and I’m impressed with the sun protective quality – at a price significantly lower than more salubrious brands such as Quicksilver.

By: Kayt Sukel

Kayt Sukel — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:17:07 +0000

I was feeling all guilty since I forgot sunscreen for this trip. Luckily, Chet’s Venezualan and Mexican genes mean he *never* burns. So no immediate harm (though, yes, I know that it’s later I’m slathering for).

But if regular sunscreen use is this confusing and means that he could grow boobs, maybe I can feel a little better about forgetting this one time.

By: Jamie Pearson

Jamie Pearson — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:26:39 +0000

Meg: Okay, obviously YOU should have written this post. Thank you for such a great comment. I’m going to try Vanicream. Are the sensitive skin formulations noncomedogenic?

Also, (now that I’ve found an expert on hormone disruption) what HAIRcare products do you use on your daughter? Are you worried about pthalates?

By: Mara

Mara — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:00:11 +0000

Wow. I just kind of reach for whatever is in the cupboard on this one. Now I’m feeling a little guilty.

On a different note, I do find that if I don’t use a kind that’s advertised as “baby no tears” sunscreen on faces, woe unto me. I did that one day to my own children as well as some of their friends. After two minutes in the sprinkler they were all running around the yard with their eyes scrunched up and tears running down their faces looking for all the world like I had taken a hot stick and poked their eyes out.

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:58:01 +0000

One more, just for parents. Powered sunscreen! Fits in purse, goes on dry, works pretty well, no breakouts or white stuff on face. Sunforgettable by Colorscience. Super splurge at $50 but lasted a year for me with daily use. (Also nice to just dust DD arms when I forget her’s)
http://www.colorescience.com/1024×768/flash/index.html