Sunscreen Question

[Livin'onLife]

In the past, my skin has reacted badly to sunscreen. Does anyone have any sunscreen alternative ideas? I usually don't need sunscreen, but my family is going skiing this week, and I know from experience that when the Colorado sunshine reflects off of the snow you burn more easily. So, anyway, I didn't know if anyone had suggestions.
Thanks!

[irinam]

Have you tried Burts Bees Chemical-Free sunblock? Or Aubrey Organics? I heard good things about them and successfully used Burts Bees myself (though I was only mildly allergic to mainstream sunblocks)


https://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?categoryId=10010&subCategoryId=-143&productId=14025&catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1

http://www.aubrey-organics.com/product1.cfm?product_id=250&cat=16

[DavidZaneMason]

Of course, the most low-tech solution is just to cover up. Cover every darn centimeter of exposed body...and you shouldn't have too big a problem...and you can avoid chemicals. Avoiding late morning through afternoon sun (when it is at it's peak) should help avoid burns. Light tanning prior to your trip would probably also provide some basic protection. I would avoid putting processed oils or chemicals on your skin as much as possible. Just my experiences.

-David Z. Mason

[Blazin'Jane]

When Craig sommers (of The Raw Foods Bible) was here in Missouri last year, he said that his favorite brand was Aubrey. It's the cleanest. His next favorite is Burt's Bees. When I looked them up on cosmeticsdatabase.com, they both came up as pretty non-dangerous. :)

[Raw Angel Mom]

Do not wear SUN GLASSES unless you are driving and you can't see.

If your eyes are block by sun glasses, your body won't be able to generate the perfect protection for your skin. I am very white skin and used to burn like a lobster, since that i don't wear sun glasses anymore, i never had a sun burnt. I don't use sun block.

[Rawsome Ginger]

I have read that if you are raw you can use coconut oil and that will be just fine.

[irinam]

Do not wear SUN GLASSES unless you are driving and you can't see.

If your eyes are block by sun glasses, your body won't be able to generate the perfect protection for your skin. I am very white skin and used to burn like a lobster, since that i don't wear sun glasses anymore, i never had a sun burnt. I don't use sun block.

Oh, that's the first time I hear about it! I am not a starter of this thread, but it's nice to know, thanks!

[Livin'onLife]

Thanks everybody!:)

[Draginvry]

IMHO, just go without. The skin is an important transfer organ. It actually breathes. If you cover it up with a bunch of stuff, the skin suffocates. It will also absorb chemicals. If you MUST put something on your skin, make sure it is something clean like water or non caustic botanical oils.

The best way to prevent sunburn is still the old straw hat and cloak. Never fails.

Did anyone watch that Mythbusters episode where Jamie covered the entire surface of his skin with latex paint? Yeah, he almost got sick after just a couple of minutes.

Putting stuff on the skin is no-no. Just dry skin brush and exercise and your skin will become stronger.

[raweyes]

I have heard that sesame oil is a natural sunscreen.

[justinesmith]

I have read that if you are raw you can use coconut oil and that will be just fine.

Even if you aren't raw you can use coconut oil. It's the only thing I've used for the last 5 years on myself and my girls and we've yet to burn. :D

[ljcoolj]

Even if you aren't raw you can use coconut oil. It's the only thing I've used for the last 5 years on myself and my girls and we've yet to burn. :D

Couldn't agree with you more! We've been using it for about 3 years now and, in the summer, we are always out by the pool. We get nice, healthy tans!

[Livin'onLife]

Raw Angel Mom, does that work even if you wear contacts or glasses? Unfortunately, I still have horrible vision, and still wear glasses or contacts most of the time.
I had read before about using coconut oil instead of sunscreen. I think it is like four spf. Most mornings I put coconut oil on my face anyway, and I haven't burned since doing that. It was great all summer not having to worry about burning! I just know that with the light reflecting off of the snow, I burn way easier.

[RawSinger]

Do all these natural sunscreens, like coconut oil, protect your skin from premature aging in addition to sunburns??

[rawstrength]

Do you have to use that expensive, high quality, raw organic coconut oil on your skin?
Could you save the good coconut oil for eating and use the cheaper refined coconut oil on your skin?

[RawSinger]

unfortunately, i don't believe that the cheaper, refined coconut oil has the nutrients in it that the unrefined has

[Theogirl]

I read somewhere else that the reason sun "causes" skin cancer is not really the sun, it's just that the sun draws out the toxins from your body. So the less toxins in the body, I would imagine your risk would be less!
I've stopped using sunscreen on my very fair facial skin. I have to say, I look much better with a little tan! :D I've avoided the sun all my life because so many in my (Scandinavian and fair skinned) family have had skin cancer. But you know what, most of them are farmers, and had many years of exposure to toxic pesticides, fertilizers, etc. Thinking deeper, my two aunts who had cancer (one breast one skin) and my grandmother (breast) were all very emotionally toxic people, with much anxiety and inner pain. By cleansing both physically and emotionally from the inside out, I plan to stay calm, happy and healthy.

[Theogirl]

I just got back from the library where I found a cool article in a current magazine (was it Natural Health?) regarding sunscreen. The title of the article was something like "Eat your sunscreen". They did recommend using a topical product as well, but they made a bigger case for food!
Some of the things mentioned were COLORFUL FRUITS (tomato, watermelon, guava, pink grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries, red yellow and orange peppers).
DARK CHOCOLATE :D and they specified that any sort of milk product added (i.e. milk chocolate) negates the benefit - so Yay for Raw!
GREEN LEAFIES like broccoli, kale, chard. Apparently broccoli sprouts contain something called sulforaphane which is an anticancer compound.
They also mentioned green tea and oily fish but we won't get into THAT!
Anyway, do some research on the topic, but sure is interesting!:)

[RawSinger]

It's true Theogirl; you can actually eat your sunscreen. In Ani Phyo's book, Ani's Raw Food Kitchen, she says, "A diet rich in essential fatty acids from hemp, flax, and walnuts helps our skin in it's natural protection against the sun. Eating antioxidant-rich foods kills free radicals and helps shield our skin from sun damage." She also mentions wearing sunglasses to protect yourself. Even when I have been 100% raw for a while and am eating all these foods to protect my skin, I will still use sunscreen just in case, because that's how cautious I am :rolleyes:

[cara4art]

I hear ya about the sunblock! But I'm inclined to agree with other folks here about the nutritional protection from the inside as well. In the meantime while that is building up, I'd still say use a good natural sunblock if you're going to be out for awhile, or just cover up. Regarding skin cancer, there are lots of people who have this that almost never go out in the sun, so sun exposure is not entirely the bugaboo that it has been made out to be. It is increasingly found to be a systemic condition arising from toxicity caused by lousy diets, and of course the action of sun on toxic oils and creams applied to the skin in the sun. As the sun supports life, and we are getting solar energy by way of eating raw in the first place, some unprotected sun exposure is actually good for one's health. Depending on one's natural skintone, proceed with care, just a few minutes a day might be enough for fair types, more is needed for darker skins in this regard. I read somewhere it is better to wait until after sun exposure before applying any oil to it. But when I was visiting Hawaii, all I used were my homemade shea butter and coconut oil concoctions and I did not get burnt - I slowly got a nice tan(but I tan very easily anyway.) The first time I went to Hawaii I had a base tan to start with anyway, and the second time, it was during the winter when I didn't have much of a base, and I was still OK. I still didn't stay out all day though - this is where people get into trouble, as over-exposure isn't good either. Of course, one has to use common sense about getting burned and doubly so if one has a naturally delicate, very fair skintone that doesn't have the melanocytes in it that respond by tanning. Those folks would do better with the tried and true methods of covering up, wearing a hat, staying in the shade, and only going out either early or late in the day. Over-exposure to the sun can be a very real problem and I'm sure no one is advocating getting burnt(as this does really affect the skin for a long time afterwards in its function)in the name of staying natural. Even in some traditional indigenous cultures with darker skin, hats, long sleeves, and pants are worn for outdoor work - so they're even protecting their skin!
What I do these days is just wear some sunblock and shea butter on my face, as that is always exposed, leave the rest go natural and cover up too when I've had enough sun. I use coconut oil anyway as my body moisturizer.

[RawSinger]

rawstrength: good coconut oil is not too expensive. I buy Nutiva brand, extra virgin unrefined coconut oil. It was a little over $12 at my local HFS. The thing is, a little goes a looonnnnggg way.

[cara4art]

I used to get my Nutiva extra-virgin coconut oil in the jar for about $12, but now the big old co-op that I go to in SF has it in bulk - YAY! MUCH cheaper, so I can slather it on any old time, plus use a little for eating.

[Pookietooth]

I tried coconut oil and got puffy eyes that burned. And a sunburn.

[iamacranberry]

Coconut oil does not function as an effective sunblock. Instead, it actually magnifies the sun's rays before they hit your skin.