The irony does not escape me that I am writing this on the first day of rain this summer. It seems that winter was worried we might have forgotten about it and came to visit. At my home in the Bay Area it is pouring today like it was any other day in February or March. I love the rain, and yet I am not really looking forward to working in it all day today. Oh well, at least I got a free car wash and I shouldn’t have to worry nearly as much today about getting a sunburn : )

After my sunburns and freckles from a few weeks ago I immediately went out and bought new sunscreen to replace my year old tubes. I could not find one of the brands I wanted, and instead decided to try something new that I had read a bit about online. Within the first day I had completely fallen in love with it. Although the one I bought is not waterproof (I am waiting for a local store to restock before I can test out their water-resistant version), All Terrain’s TerraSport is incredible.

I know I have been all about sun protection lately, so I thought I should admit my failure so no one else has to have the same problem. I have had two major issues in the last few weeks of work. The first is that for some reason I keep forgetting to reapply. I get so caught up in everything that I am doing at work that before I know it my shift is over and it has been 4 hours since the last time I put on any sunscreen.

My other major problem is that the sunscreen I am using is from last summer. My mom is constantly telling me that sunscreen doesn’t work after it’s a year old. I remember it and I understand why it would no longer work, and yet it still kills me to throw away a half full tube. In hindsight, I think it would be better to throw away the tube and protect my skin with some new sunscreen instead of using the old stuff and getting burned or freckled and tan (which are both signs of skin damage).

I have been trying to wear my long sleeve shirt as much as possible, but with the summer starting to heat up, I have been getting really hot sitting in the sun. Part of the problem is that the long sleeve shirts for my job are made to be warm. They are the uniform for the guards in the winter, not a sun protection idea for the guards in the summer.

I haven’t gotten really burned yet this summer, and yet my arms are starting to tan, I have a swimsuit tan on my back (even though I put on sunscreen and then waited 20 minutes for it to really set before I got in), and my hands and forearms are full of freckles.

I guess this week I will be investing in some new sunscreen. And I will find ways to keep cool while wearing my long sleeves so I don’t have to worry so much about protecting my skin.

I know it’s odd that I am so passionate about sunscreen, but it is something that is important to me for many reasons. The first is that I have grown up with a mom who used to slather us in sunscreen before we went outside. I will be thankful to her in 20 years when I’m not covered in wrinkles or skin cancer (even though as a kid it used to drive me crazy! The 5 minutes it took was an eternity in kid time).

Today I had my last class in my environmental communication class, and to cap off our quarter together our professor took us on a walking tour of a few toxic waste sites near Santa Clara University (including superfund sites). The Silicon Valley has more superfund sites per square mile than any other place in the United States, so it should not have been surprising just how many were close to SCU.

Although this is not necessarily linked to sustainability, it is important for human health. Have you ever thought about how often you talk on a cell phone? Does it charge on your bed or under your pillow? Do you keep it in your pocket at all waking hours? I am certainly guilty of more than one of these, but increased concern of radiation from cell phones is making me reconsider my behavior.

Do we need one of these to talk on our phones?

“A World Health Organization panel has concluded that cellphones are ‘possibly carcinogenic,’ putting the popular devices in the same category as certain dry cleaning chemicals and pesticides, as a potential threat to human health.

“The finding, from the agency’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, adds to concerns among a small but growing group of experts about the health effects of low levels of radiation emitted by cellphones. The panel, which consisted of 31 scientists from 14 countries, was led by Dr. Jonathan M. Samet, a physician and epidemiologist at the University of Southern California and a member of President Obama’s National Cancer Advisory Board.

“The group didn’t conduct any new research but reviewed numerous existing studies that focused on the health effects of radio frequency magnetic fields, which are emitted by cellphones. During a news conference, Dr. Samet said the panel’s decision to classify cellphones as ‘possibly carcinogenic’ was based largely on epidemiological data showing an increased risk among heavy cellphone users of a rare type of brain tumor called a glioma.”

What can we do to protect ourselves from harmful radiation? Talk on your phone less, and when you do, use speaker phone or an earpiece. Do not keep your phone in your pocket and definitely do not sleep with your phone close to your pillow or your bed.

To see how your phone ranks check out EWG’s list and their advice on things you can do to decrease your exposure. CNET also has a list and some suggestions.

No one knows sunscreen better than a lifeguard. I have spent the last four summers trying to not get completely fried in the sun. All of the eco-friendly sunscreens I highlight below have been thoroughly tested by myself.

Water resistant sunscreen (body)

One of the main problems I have with some eco-friendly water resistant sunscreens is that they can feel like you are slathering yourself in glue. Although the stickiest sunscreens typically stay on the best, it can get to the point where it feels almost impossible to rub in at all.

Badger: This is my go-to sunscreen for when I’m in the water at work. Teaching swim lessons mean I am in the water for up to 4 hours at a time. Little kids often grab onto my hands and arms, removing my sunscreen if it is isn’t tough enough. This sunscreen withstands it all! When I get out of the pool after a long day I have to really try to scrub it off. I have never gotten burned when using this, but I do try to reapply at least every 2 hours. As a warning, I would not use this on my face or back. It’s base is olive oil and I can see it potentially clogging pores if you have acne prone skin. Also beware that it will leave your skin looking blueish white.
EWG rating: 1

Non-water resistant sunscreen

Some of these sunscreens may say water resistant on the bottle, but I have found that they work significantly better out of the water, and I will not wear them in the water.

Face and lips

Lipcotz: This sunscreen lip balm keeps my lips well protected from the sun. Some warnings though: It will color your lips because of the minerals in the sunscreen. It’s not a bad color and it’s worth the protection. I also use another lip balm underneath this one for some moisture because this one is really best to just block the sun, not moisturize.
EWG: 3

Best aftersun

Korress Yoghurt Cooling Gel: If you accidentally get a sunburn (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us) this aftersun cooling lotion is the best. It helps take away some of the pain, moisturize your skin, and keep it from peeling later on (unless you really burned yourself, then you will probably still peel).
EWG: 0

You can find any of the sunscreens featured here online as well as some grocery stores like Whole Foods.

More options:
Wondering how your sunscreen is standing up? Check it against the EWG’s 2011 Hall of Shame sunscreens.

For more eco-friendly sunscreens that are safe to use, check out EWG’s list of some of the safest sunscreens.

As the weather warms up everyone rushes outside, but most people forget to protect themselves with sunscreen.

When you do remember to grab the sunscreen, have you ever thought about what’s in it? Reading the ingredients in sunscreen feels like a chemistry lesson gone horribly wrong. As with any product, knowing what’s in your sunscreen is key to protecting yourself from harmful chemicals and the harmful rays from the sun. This post will outline some of the basic things you to need to know before you head out to enjoy the weather.

How to protect yourself without slathering up:

Before you start breaking out the tanks and short-shorts, consider going old-school and covering up. Covering up with a shirt and a hat are easier and better for you than trying to get chemicals to absorb the sun’s harmful rays. A lightweight long sleeve shirt won’t wear off and you will not have to remember to reapply it.

Hang out in the shade instead of baking in the sun. Think your tan is too cool? Any darkening of the skin is a sign of skin damage. Once you are burned you have drastically increased your risk for skin cancer. Not to mention that no one wants to look like a lobster.

What to watch out for:

If you need to use sunscreen keep these quick tips in mind:

9 surprising truths

This year the Environmental Working Group compiled a list of truths about sunscreen. For more information on them you can go here.

1. There’s no consensus on whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer.

2. There’s some evidence that sunscreen might increase the risk of the deadliest form of skin cancer in some people.

3. There are more high SPF products than ever before, but no proof that they’re better.

4. Too little sun might be harmful, reducing the body’s vitamin D levels.

5. The common sunscreen ingredient vitamin A may speed the development of cancer.

6. Free radicals and other skin-damaging byproducts of sunscreen.

7. Pick your sunscreen: nanomaterials or potential hormone disruptors.

8. Europe has better sunscreens (and more options)

9. The 34th summer in a row without final U.S. sunscreen safety regulations.

Check back tomorrow for my favorite eco-friendly sunscreen choices.

After all of the posts I have had recently on dangerous materials in cosmetics, I was excited to see a post on Treehugger.com about a new study from Environmental Defense Canada. The study found that toxic heavy metals have been found in 49 products tested even though none of heavy metals were listed on the label.

TreeHugger.com nicely summarized the article:

“The study tested 49 products from popular brands like Laura Mercier, MAC, L’Oreal, Mary Kay, and Sephora and found that 100 percent of the products contained nickel, 96 percent contained lead and 90 percent contained beryllium. Only one product, Annabelle Mineral Pigment Dust (Solar), was found to not contain a single metal of most concern.

On average, products contained four of the eight metals of concern—mercury, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, nickel, lead, selenium, and thallium. The Benefit Benetint lip gloss contained the highest level of lead at 110ppm, which is 10 times higher than the limit set by Health Canada.

The heavy metals found in the products tested are categorized as unintentional contaminants. They are not required to be listed on the labels, which is why it may come as a shock to some that they are in the products in the first place. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics points out that, in Canada, there are draft guidelines for impurity levels of some metals it believes are “technically avoidable.” In the United States, there are no standards for these metals in cosmetics, nor are there “draft guidelines.”

“Individual exposures to these metals in small amounts are unlikely to cause harm, but heavy metals can build up in the body over time and may increase risk for a variety of health problems,” the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reports. Meaning, if you’re using cosmetics laden with heavy metals on a daily basis, or more than once daily, you could be putting yourself at risk.

Visit Environmental Defence to download the report (pdf) and make sure your favorite products aren’t listed. While you’re there, sign the petition asking Health Canada to better regulate impurities in cosmetics.

Are you shocked? Or is this what you’ve come to expect from the cosmetic industry?”

I don’t know about you, but I am sadly not too shocked. I am appalled that this is going on without any regulation or reprimands. Instead of continuing to support this dirty industry, we need to boycott their products by refusing to buy them and educate others about the dangers of the products.

Want to know more? You can also look at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.