This Is Why Sunscreen Freaks Me Out
July 2, 2011 by Jenn
Credit: Joe Shlabotnik
As I’ve mentioned in passing, I am a fair, fair, fair redhead. My entire life, I’ve spent summers wearing a hat, covered in a T-shirt and lounging under an umbrella applying multiple layers of sunscreen. What can I say? It’s what I know. Just a few years ago, my fair skin became even more particular, breaking out with the application of most sunscreens and completely rejecting sunless tanner with full-out itching and hives. (A fair girl allergic to sunless tanner? Oh, the cruel irony. Also, oddly enough, FBG Erin has the same strange problem. I am not alone in my paleness.)
Now to add to the craziness and my own personal fear of the sun and anything in a tube, the Environmental Working Group put out its newest list on the best and worst sunscreens. According to the report, 92 percent of sunscreens either don’t adequately protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals—or both. Some can even accelerate skin cancer. Oh joy. This is why, obviously, I offered to review this natural sunscreen.
Tips to not get burned—literally or figuratively.
—Jenn
Originally published on August 11, 2010.
I think the new guidelines on sunscreens will help consumers be better aware of what they are purchasing. I had no idea that most sunscreens were basically doing little to protect against sunburn. Also, don’t forget to wear a pair of polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes, like these ones I just purchased for my niece here. My question on the sunscreen is why they aren’t pulling the current bottles off the shelves since the sun is so dangerous!