October 11, 2015

Choosing the Right Sun Protection Part 1

Dominique Parenting and Kids, Recommendations Suncare, Sunscreen

Living in tropical Singapore the kids and I  get many opportunities to have fun at the pool. I’ve been taking them swimming since they were 8 months old and all of them love the water.

Since we are in the pool so often it is very important all of us apply sunscreen before entering the water to ensure that we are adequately protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

With so many different types and brands in the market. Which sunscreen is  then is the most suitable one for me and the kids?

There are two main different types of sunscreen- Mineral and Chemical.  There are both benefits and disadvantages to each type and preferences may differ depending on your concerns and opinions.

There have been many conflicting reports supporting both types of sunscreen and it is still best to based your choice on your own discretion.

I tested out a variety of sunscreens for myself and the kids. We tried both  Mineral and Chemical based sunscreens to see which type was more suitable for use.

The kids have a different requirement from me in choosing a suitable sunscreen as they needed one that was water resistant  as they go swimming weekly.

 

 

 

These 3 sunscreens are among the more popular sunscreens based on the various reviews that I’ve read and recommendations from my friends.

Here are my findings on the 3 different brands of sunscreen above.

 

I liked the fact that this sunscreen was made of Zinc Oxide which is a safe mineral for use. However upon further investigation it contained bad ingredients which could be harmful for the kids in the long run.

This sunscreen contained these ingredients.

Active ingredients : Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5.0%, Zinc oxide 11.7%

Inactive ingredients: Water, glyceryl stearate, cyclopentasiloxane, caprylic/capric triglyceride, propanediol, stearyl/octadodecyl citrate crosspolymer, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, glycerin, dimethicone crosspolymer, tocopheryl acetate, solanum lycopersicum (tomato) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil, nigella sativa (black cumin) seed oil, rubus idaeus (red raspberry) seed oil, sodium stearoyl glutamate, beeswax, lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 methicone, triethoxycaprylylsilane, xanthan gum, ethylhexylglycerin, disodium EDTA, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol.

polysorbate 60: Commonly used in fragrance, this emulsifying and solubilizing agent is one of several varieties of polysorbates, which some experts claim are reproductive toxins.

phenoxyethanol: A preservative found in nearly every type of cosmetic and various cleaning products. Proven organ system toxin in animals (even at low doses), and suspected to be carcinogenic. Some studies say that it can be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin and that it can cause reproductive damage.  (Read about the different studies on it here)

Conclusion = Unsuitable for the kids just considering the ingredients list.

 

My findings

Being a mineral based sunscreen it formed a thick white paste which was difficult to apply. The ingredients inside the tube also separated easily and many times water came out upon squeezing instead of the white paste even though I’ve shook the tube a few times before squeezing it.

What the kids say

They find applying it very cumbersome and it seems to peel off even before they hit the pool making it’s usefulness in sun protection questionable.

 

Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 4.8% Zinc Oxide 3.1%

Inactive ingredients : Aleurites moluccana seed oil (organic kukui), aloe barbadensis leaf (organic), aluminum, arnica montana (organic) flower extract, bentonite, caprylhydroxamic acid, caprylyl glycol, citrus aurantium dulcis (organic orange) fruit water, citrus aurantium dulcis (organic orange) peel oil, citrus limon (lemon) peel oil, citrus reticulata (tangerine) peel oil, citrus nucifera (organic coconut) oil, glycerin (organic), hydrogenated methyl abietate, hydrolyzed wheat protein / PVP crosspolymer, jojoba esters, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, mimosa tenuiflora bark extract, persea gratissima (organic avocado) oil, prunus armeniaca (organic apricot) kernel oil, cathamus tinctorius (safflower) olesomes, sodium chloride, sodium gluconate, sodium hydroxide, tocopherol, triethoxycaprylylsilane, water, xanthan gum.

There are no known carcinogens in this list and it certainly is safer as compared to the Babyganics sunscreen listed above.

My  findings

I loved the texture and light fragrance of the product. However it still left a white sheen after application which the kids didn’t like. It also felt sticky to the touch. The good thing is that it can last up to 80 mins which is more then sufficient for the hour long  swimming lesson that the kids go for weekly.

Ingredient list:

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are based on my personal findings. I am a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. If you are interested in testing out or purchasing any Mary Kay products you can contact me.