A
note about Sun Screen Chemicals...
In 1997, Europe, Canada,
and Australia changed sunscreens to use three specific active sunscreen
ingredients - avobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide,
and zinc oxide - as the basis of sunscreens. In the USA, the cosmetic
companies have held off this policy as they try to sell off their stockpiles
of cosmetics containing toxic sunscreens banned in other countries. Names
to avoid:
- Benzophenones (dixoybenzone,
oxybenzone)
- PABA and PABA esters
(ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O
or octyl dimethyl PABA)
- Cinnamates (cinoxate,
ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate)
- Salicylates (ethylhexyl
salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate)
- Digalloyl trioleate
- Menthyl anthranilate
- Avobenzone [butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane;
Parsol 1789] - This is the only chemical sunscreen currently allowed
by the European Community. However, its safety is still questionable
since it easily penetrates the skin and is a strong free radical generator.
- Micronized titanium
dioxide - Prof. Nicholas Lowe (Dermatology, UCLA) has reported that
micronized or encapsulated physical sunblockers such as titanium dioxide
penetrate into the skin where they can cause skin damage while pure
titanium dioxide remains on the skin's surface - where you really want
it to stay.
Comments from Dr. Pickart
regarding Titanium vs. Zinx Oxide: ''Zinc Oxide may be OK but the sweat
from your skin breaks it down into zinc ion, this could react with the
copper ions and reduce effectiveness of copper peptide products. So I
think that titanium dioxide is better to use with copper peptides".
Protect & Restore
Day Cover and Protect & Restore Sun Tanning Lotion do not contain
chemical sunscreens. If you have a tendency to sunburn or plan an extended
time in the sun, use a reflective sunscreen such as zinc oxide or titanium
dioxide. One acceptable sunblocker is Clinique's SPF-25 Special Defense
Sunblock or City Block which are reported to be chemical sunscreen-free.
