Update :: a better link to EWG’s 2013 Natural SPF Sunscreens

Previously I wrote about finding a healthier natural spf sunscreen and I found a better link to EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment.’s 2013 Natural SPF Sunscreens. It’s an excellent resource:

http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/

As well as an iphone app if you want detailed info on the go (maybe you’re flying somewhere, only taking a carry-on and can’t take more than 3oz of sunscreen with you…)

May 28, 2013

Natural Oils SPF – sunscreen alternative

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Skin Care

Recently I posted about choosing a more natural healthier sunscreen this summer. I wanted to follow up that article with some information my local co-op grocery store recently posted about natural oils SPF properties. Some in these natural oils even provide the 15-30 SPF range that most people choose when they’re shopping for sunscreen.

Source: http://livelovefruit.com/2013/05/natural-sunscreen/

List of 10 oils with natural UV-ray protecting properties:

Carrot Seed Oil: SPF 38-40
Raspberry Seed Oil: SPF 28-50
Wheatgerm Oil: SPF 20
Avocado Oil: SPF 4-15
Coconut Oil: SPF 2-8
Olive Oil: SPF 2-8
Macadamia Nut Oil: SPF 6
Almond Oil: SPF 5
Shea Butter: SPF 3-6
Jojoba Oil: SPF 4

Many of these have antioxidant properties if they are cold-pressed oils. Always look for cold-pressed when possible anyway because it will have retained more of it’s natural healthy qualities over something that has been heated.

So which Natural Oils SPF should I choose for sunscreen?

A quick glance through options and it looks like wheatgerm oil would be the best bang for your buck. 32 oz for about $25 with Amazon Prime or 16oz for around $10 from other suppliers or Vitacost. Raspberry or Carrot seed oils are in the $16-$19 price range for 2oz.

However wheat germ oil will probably leave you feeling a bit oily whereas the Raspberry and Carrot Seed oils absorb more readily so you may want to opt for those for your face and the wheatgerm oil for your body.

How accurate are these SPF numbers?

http://livelovefruit.com/2013/05/natural-sunscreen/ references several studies but I also went looking for a little more info because I was curious where they came up with the SPF info since that seems a little vague (and some of the sources referenced were more about vitamin D production or how bad standard sunscreens are):

In a study published in “Pharmacognosy Magazine” in 2009, a sunscreen comprised of wheatgerm and vitamin E had a natural SPF rating of 20. Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_7557101_natural-oils-contain-spf.html#ixzz2Ubir3JBF

So even though I can find multiple sources stating the same SPF figures for each oil, after a quick search I could only find one study mentioning a study of SPF for Wheatgerm. Yet another reason this one is probably your best bet. But I do wish I knew how much the Vitamin E affects the SPF value.

IF you can find studies that show SPF for each of these oils please link up those studies in the comments.

SPF doesn’t mean it protects 100% from the suns rays, it just extends the amount of time you can spend outside before you burn so your own personal tolerance to UV is also a factor in how long you can stay outside with or without SPF. If you want to understand SPF better, check out the wikipedia article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen

Wide brim hats and clothes are a better UV blocker than anything topical. But I don’t know anyone who wants to go swimming in full head to toe clothing and a hat. 🙂

Natural Oil vs Allergies and Skin Sensitivities:

Also note – don’t go slathering these on without checking for allergies first. If you know you have skin sensitivities definitely do a patch test over the course of three days to see if you react. No one wants a head to toe rash!

Now get out and enjoy the summer!

And if you’re hesitant about using Natural Oils SPF as your choice of sunscreen, check out my previous article on choosing a healthier sunscreen.

UPDATE May 29th 2013:

Ok I’ve reviewed in more detail the article mentioned in ehow … :
http://www.phcog.com/article.asp?issn=0973-1296;year=2009;volume=5;issue=19;spage=238;epage=248;aulast=Kapoor

… and come up with this.

That study was done on fourteen commercial herbal sunscreens that were purchased from local dealer of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. I can’t seem to find the proportions that comprise those herbal sunscreens. And I suspect that “Water melon” isn’t the same thing I’m thinking of (or would be some sort of extract or seed extract.) In other words, the study is still incredibly vague.

Since I went to the trouble of compiling this table from the presented information, I’m posting it here (since it simplifies some of the information in the study):

code	ingredients	SPF (in vivo - real life tests)
HS1	Watermelon	10 SPF
HS2	Sandalwood, Winter Cherry, Cobras Saffron, Wheatgerm, Honey, Red Sandalwood, Symplocos, Aloe Vera	29.5 SPF
HS3	Carrot, Symplococos, Wheat Germ	40.6 SPF
HS4	Aloe Vera, Apple	14.5 SPF
HS5	Sunflower, Indian Madder, Cucumber	19 SPF
HS6	Aloe Vera	19.9 SPF
HS7	Orange, Vitamin C	25.2 SPF
HS8	Coriander, Vitamin E	20.5 SPF
HS9	Aloe Vera, Vitamin E	24.5 SPF
HS10	Aloe Vera, Basil, Tumeric	30.8 SPF
HS11	Sandalwood, Aloe Vera, Carrot, Honey, Sunflower	15.1 SPF
HS12	Wheatgerm, Vitamin E	14.9 SPF
HS13	Aloe Vera, Vitamin E	19.0 SPF
HS14	Cucumber, Jojoba, Orange, Sandalwood, Lavendar, Vitamin A, C, E	29.9 SPF

There is one surprising finding. That Aloe Vera appears to have an SPF of about 20 with no additional ingredients.

So there you have it. If you’re in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India you might be able to pick up some nice herbal sunscreen that really does what it says it does. Otherwise this study doesn’t seem to cover as much in the way of individual ingredients.

I’ll continue to look for studies that do cover the oils mentioned on the LiveLoveFruit article and post that information if I find it.

May 19, 2013

Find a healthier natural spf sunscreen

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Skin Care

Natural and organic spf sunscreens used to be harder to find but due to demand, more and more have become available in recent years.

Picking a Natural SPF Sunscreen for the sake of our HEALTH:

You should avoid the following ingredients:

Oxybenzone
Vitamin A (Retinyl palmitate)
Aerosol spray and powder sunscreen
Added insect repellant like deet
Parabens
Fragrance

On the “powdered sunscreen” I have to note that I think powdered mineral makeup that has natural mineral sunscreen for regular daily wear would be an exception.

If you haven’t noticed yet, one of my favorite resources is the Cosmetics Database from EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment.. For a list of general ingredients to avoid by product category, check out their guides:

Tips for safer products: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products
Wallet Guide: http://static.ewg.org/skindeep/pdf/EWG_cosmeticsguide.pdf

For a full listing of some of the best options, check out their listings here:

SPF 15 to 30 : http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/sunscreen:+SPF+15-30/
SPF 30+ : http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/sunscreen:+SPF+greater+than+30/

** UPDATE: Better link and iphone app here **

Picking a Natural SPF Sunscreen for the sake of our OCEANS:

Not only is it important to be concerned about what we put on our skin but since many people are wearing sunscreen on beaches and into the ocean, how it affects ocean wildlife is something to think about as well.

Be sure to avoid sunblocks with:

octylmethoxycinnamate
benzophenone-3
parabens
octocrylene

These cause complete coral reef bleaching at very low concentrations. If you want to read more about this bleaching phenomenon, check out this National Geographic Article.

What sunscreens are both healthy and won’t harm our ocean wildlife – BOTH?

Well the easiest to find would probably be Badger. They even have one of the easiest to follow explanations about the coral reefs. Most of their sunscreens are within the 1-2 range (lower is better) with the cosmetics database. They ARE mineral based sunscreens so they may leave some white residue and they are in the $15-$20 price range. I haven’t tried this one yet so I can’t tell you from personal experience the pros and cons.

Honestly the next sunscreen I’m probably going to buy will be from Coola. I was really impressed with the sample in my birchbox AND it does fit both health and ocean requirements. I’ll probably get the Coola Face SPF 30 Unscented for general use and Coola Classic Sport SPF 45 Sunscreen Unscented for longer outdoor / swimming use. These are again in the 1-2 range with the cosmetics database (the Coola brand has some older listings that are higher.)

Since there area lot of personal preferences, I’m probably not going to try and go through a whole lot of sunscreens simply to review them but I am going to go through a few for myself just to find what I personally like. What I had been using wasn’t very healthy.

For the most part, products 3 and under via the Cosmetics Database are going to also be safe for the oceans (but just quickly double check the ingredients to be sure!!)

infographic_sunscreen_web

May 17, 2013

TJMaxx Calvin Klein hat white and black

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Accessories, Hats

Great find! TJMaxx Calvin Klein hat… I went in for a dress! I swear! And I’m told I look good in hats but don’t wear them enough. 🙂 This one was a little more unique than hats I usually see in most stores. Short brim, round top, simple black and white with ribbon and silver buckle accent.

Originally $44, bought for $16.99

I kept thinking “Great Gatsby inspired” but couldn’t put a finger on why. I double checked some hat styles and the “Cloche” shape was popular in the 1920’s which is the time period that Gatsby takes place in. You can see this shape better in the below photos:

May 15, 2013

Swatch – Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Zodiac

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Makeup / Cosmetics

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Zodiac is a very complex neutral shade. In daylight the swatch looks more subtle but in artificial light the shimmer really pops. I couldn’t really capture this with photos so I decided to swatch it on my hand and do a video. It was a wet application of the eyeshadow in the video. When applied dry it’s much lighter and can be used more subtly.

Swatch video of Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Zodiac with in both natural and artificinal light:

I have included below some photos of both wet and dry applications on my eyes both in natural light as well as in my bathroom. (Nitpicking my up close photos – I don’t think anyone should ever be this close to my eyebrows but in the photos you get to see that I need to clean them up a little. Also a few photos it somehow looks like my eyeliner isn’t applied all the way down even though it is.) In photos: Everyday Minerals powder foundation, Mica Beauty liquid liner, Covergirl Waterproof mascara in black. That’s it. No other eyeshadows applied.

May 14, 2013

May Ipsy 2013 – unboxing … (unbagging?)

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Nail Polish, Subscription boxes

In my May Ipsy Bag – (a cute chevron makeup bag!):

yaby concealer refills in Buff
Zoya Nail Polish in Jacqueline
Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia
Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink
Nume Finishing Serum
BONUS – Urban Decay Moondust in Zodiac

My May Ipsy Glamroom:

My May Ipsy bag items in more detail review:

yaby concealer refills in Buff – well the color looks like it’s the correct shade but with cyclomethicone (cones!) and talc I’m not really interested in it. Mostly the cones keeping me away (yeah, I’m sure if you read regularly, my comment about cones causing breakouts for me has become annoying.) It however ranks a low 3 with cosmetics database which was surprising and a pro for it. 0/5 stars

Zoya Nail Polish in Jacqueline – love zoya. This is “5-free” and the shade is quite surprising. I wasn’t sure I liked it at first but after I put it on it grew on me quickly. It’s not a shade I would have chosen but I really like it. It’s very opaque and it’s almost a very subtle ivory-ish eggshell shade. It’s hard to describe and it’s also hard to get a great idea from pictures. It’s elegant and I think it will be a versatile shade. 5/5 stars

Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia – I already own this and I love it. I don’t mind getting a second one! Love love love this company because they are one of the few that makes wonderful natural perfumes that don’t make you smell like a hippie and aren’t over the top expensive. No they aren’t drugstore cheap but they are worth every penny. I keep meaning to do a post on the scents I have bought from them. The roll on bottles are great for travel. The Tahitian Gardenia is a rich soft scent – not light, more deep and calming. Floral notes but not teen girl and surprisingly even though I have a hard time with some florals (even natural) this one seems to get along with my sinuses. It does have a vintage-ness to it. Older, more sophisticated. 5/5 stars

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink – ANOTHER winner. I double checked the ingredients just in case but this is perfect. No dimethicone, all natural organic. Nice subtle color with that touch of pink and shimmer. Not glittery. It’s a little lighter and a little more neutral than some of the other pinks I’ve bought lately. I think this would work well with a variety of skin tones. It’s is maybe a teensy little oily feeling but it feels like it stays and nourishes your lips. I still like the zuzu luxe and burt’s bees just a little better particularly since they have a wider range of colors but I almost feel like this will be my go to lip gloss in winter. 5/5 stars

Nume Finishing Serum – fail (for me at least.) It’s only a 3 with cosmetics database (mostly due to “fragrance” being an 8 on it’s own) but “DIMETHICONOL” is basically another cone in disguise. :/ If you don’t mind cones, I suspect this will tame flyaways and be excellent against humidity, just feels like it would do what is says it will. Also even if I didn’t break out I would still likely avoid regular use because cones aren’t good for hair either over time. (I swear I’m going to do a longer post about ‘cones’ soon and just link to it instead of repeating myself so much.) 0/5 stars

BONUS Urban Decay Moondust in Zodiac – This was apparently a bonus item for ipsy community members who are content creators (who knew!) You know how I feel about dimethicone however. BUT the shiny shimmery uniqueness has me intrigued. Since it’s eyeshadow and I don’t think I’ve ever broken out close to my eyes (and hopefully this won’t be a shade that migrates) I’m thinking about giving this one a go. It’s such an awesome shade. 3/5 stars … I really can’t make up my mind on this one.

At $20 a pop (and I did receive a full size sample) this is possibly the most expensive eyeshadow I’ve owned in awhile. Since I only got one color and was curious about the other colors (and to see if swatches would help me make a decision on the dimethicone breakout risk issue.) I came across this excellent video that shows the different shades and swatches. It kinda makes me want Space Cowboy. I’m about 90% likely to give this one a shot… we’ll see. If I do use it I’ll post some photos of it on and swatched.

May Ipsy Bag total score:

3/5 stars overall. But I REALLY REALLY liked several of the items in my May Ipsy bag. And should I start counting the bag? I don’t really use the bags but this one was really cute. I might have a thing for chevron lately though.

Oh and I almost forgot – the Nume Coupon Code:

I should upload the unbagging video I did soon. There was also a coupon code on a card for numeproducts.com/shop

I was thinking that their styling products were going to be super super expensive if they were offering a $110 discount and a free heat protector. I was right. However there was one hair straightener, the mini, that would have been cheap with the discount but it said it was backordered. I decided to give it a try. … It won’t let you backorder it. When I clicked checkout I just kept being brought back to the checkout page with a warning at the top that the item was out of stock. Can’t order something that’s out of stock even if you’re willing to wait for it. Which makes the other products that the coupon code qualifies for STILL over $45. :/

Has anyone tried their styling tools? I haven’t looked for reviews yet. I’d want mega reviews before I forked over the amount of money (even WITH a discount) that they are asking for their styling tools. I think the most expensive styling tool I’ve ever bought was … $60?