Lovely Skin

Healthy Skin

We spend so much money on cosmetics, face creams, face wash and a plethora of other skin care products hoping that they will keep our skin looking young and supple. It’s a multi-billion-dollar market, and, yet, every day we read articles about all the bad ingredients that are in our cosmetics . . . so what can we do?

Even though the FDA does not regulate skin care and cosmetics in the U.S., many brands are striving to provide ethical and organic products that your face will love. We must be diligent in reading labels and checking them out.  

Just as we advocate for eating organic foods, we advocate for using organic, chemical free, environmentally conscious, and cruelty free cosmetics. Our skin is our largest organ and it is connected to every part of our bodies.

Pure Skincare and Make Up Products

I’ve always had sensitive skin and had to be careful what products I used because of breakouts and allergic reactions to fragrances and ingredients.  Today, I purchase goPure Beauty. It contains NO Parabens, NO artificial fragrances, NO propylene glycol, NO hydroquinone, NO formaldehyde, NO sls and NO dyes in their products. My skin looks the best it has ever looked. 

I use an organic eye shadow that is formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate or gluten. Eye shadows were always an issue for me. My eyes would start to itch and water at the end of the day, dripping eye shadow down my cheeks . . . not the look I was striving for! Once I started using eye shadow without all the additives, my watery eyes have gone away.  

  • Buy Organic and paraben free
  • Read labels
  • Ask questions
  • Research online for the best organic products

Sunscreen . . . to use or not to use

My first choice in sun protection is to cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and find shade if possible. I have not had any sunburn for years. I attribute most of that to my diet and covering up for long periods of sun exposure.

There is a lot of conversation about using sunscreens . . . or not using sunscreens. Below are some pros and cons and other considerations when enjoying our beautiful outdoors.

Holistic Help, an online holistic resource, provides 7 reasons we should not use sunscreen:

  1. Sunscreen contains as many as 5 carcinogenic chemicals.
  2. An SPF above 8 blocks your vitamin D production by more than 95%, which leads to vitamin D deficiency.
  3. Sunscreens are at least partially responsible for the increase in skin cancer.
  4. Many sunscreens contain harmful endocrine/hormone disruptors thus damaging your endocrine and hormonal systems that can result in a vast array of debilitating health conditions.
  5. They block the body’s production of melanin, a natural occurring substance that protects you from sunburn.
  6. Women with consistent sun exposure are much less likely to die of breast cancer.
  7. Men exposed to high levels of sunshine cut their risk of prostate cancer in half.

Does that mean we can or should sit out in the sun all day? No. We should avoid sunburns. But, according to Dr. Al Sears, avoiding the sun altogether is dangerous for our health. We need the sun, even if for brief amounts of time.

  • Fair skinned people should get 10-20 minutes of sunshine per day.
  • People with moderate pigment skin should get 20-40 minutes per day.
  • People with darker skin may require up to 2 hours of sunshine per day.

Food Renegade provides research that sunscreen is not the answer to skin protection and that perhaps the sun and our diets can help prevent sunburn and cancers.  If you are out in the sun for a full day, wear a hat and be cautious of getting too much sun.   

Apple Cider Vinegar just in case

  • I have used raw apple cider vinegar for sunburn since my daughters were little.
  • Drench a cotton ball with raw apple cider vinegar.
  • GENTLY apply the vinegar to the skin.
  • It will relieve the pain and reduce the redness.
  • The smell may be a little overwhelming, but it definitely works!

A Few More Sunshine Tips

  • Cover up with a hat and clothes.
  • Purchase sun protective clothing for beach and swim time.
    • Blocks out 98% of harmful UV rays.
    • Swim tops, worn over bathing suits, protect even while swimming.
  • Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes against the UV rays.
  • Create shade with umbrellas or find shade under trees and pavilions.
  • Play in the sun in the early morning or late afternoon when the UV is the lowest.
  • If you use sunscreen, select a good one.
    • Nothing over 50 SPF . . . over 50 provides no additional protection, but lulls us into thinking it does.
    • Use a broad spectrum sunscreen.
  • Recommendations on using sunscreen:
    • Apply sunscreen about 15 minutes before going out into the sun to allow the sunscreen to soak into the skin.
    • Look for products with zinc oxide, 3 percent avobenzone or Mexoryl SX.
    • Re-apply frequently especially after swimming or sweating from sports.

Things to Avoid

  • Avoid sunscreen with Vitamin A.
  • Avoid sunscreen with oxybenzone.
  • Avoid sunscreen with bug repellant.
  • Avoid spray on sunscreen which releases particles into the air that may be inhaled.
  • Avoid tanning parlors. Tanning parlors expose the skin to as much as 15 times more UV radiation than the sun and contribute to the increase in melanoma rates. 
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