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With the weather warming up and more people going outside, I wanted to bring some awareness to one of my biggest pet peeves – Spray Sunscreen! I’m assuming most people don’t realize that these toxic mists are doing more harm than good, so I wanted to write this article to share the dangers of spray sunscreen so that we can start spreading awareness and say goodbye to these poisonous sprays once and for all!
If you have been to a pool, a beach or any outdoor area in the last few years you have seen that mom standing in a cloud of sunscreen as she mists down here children before they run off to play. Spray sunscreens have become increasingly popular with most consumers believing that because they are on the shelf for sale, that these products are safe. Unfortunately, that is not the case. While these products have yet to be banned, the FDA has been trying to decide since 2011 if aerosol sunscreen is safe. Meanwhile, it’s flying off the shelves by parents who are looking for a quick and easy way to protect their kids but are being duped on the safety and efficacy of the products.
Dangers of Spray Sunscreen
Let’s be honest, as parents, we are looking for things to make our lives easier. A simple mess-free alternative to wrestling kids as you try to lather them down with lotion before some fun int he sun? Sign me up! But spray sunscreens are not the answer. In fact, they are the opposite of the answer. Just one of the dangers of spray sunscreen is much thinner than lotion and several types of the sprays on the market are alcohol based, which means they evaporate quickly, providing less coverage than lotion type sunscreen. This leaves us and our children under-protected from harmful UVA & UVB rays. If you are outdoors and applying this product while there is even a slight breeze, half of this spray blows away. This leads to uneven coverage and skipping massive areas of the skin. Not to mention the fact that the sunscreen ingredients are blowing through the air, into the environment and the lungs of anyone nearby who is breathing. That means all the toxins in the sunscreen are being inhaled to anyone within a close proximity, and just what kind of damage does that have on the lungs and bodies of us, our children, others around us and the environment?
Chemicals in Conventional Sunscreen
So what kinds of chemicals are in sunscreen? Here is a list of chemicals in both lotion and spray sunscreen. The difference is that with spray sunscreens you have the additional risk of inhaling the following ingredients:
- Avobenzone
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Octisalate
- Octocrylene
- Homosalate
- Artificial fragrances
- Styrene / acrylates
- Copolymer
- Silica
- Beeswax
- Cyclopentasiloxane
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Glyceryl stearate
- PEG-100 stearate
- Acrylates / dimethicone copolymer
- Acrylates / c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
- Chlorphenesin
- Triethanolamine
- Diethylhexyl 2,6-naphthalate
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
- Disodium EDTA
- BHT
- Methylisothiazolinone
Warning Labels on Spray Sunscreen
It seems that most things have warning labels these days, and Spray Sunscreen is no exception. These products also have a list of warning labels written on it for people to adhere to for safety. Here are some warnings that you can see on spray sunscreen bottles:
“If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Center immediately.”
“Never spray directly into face.”
“Do not apply in windy conditions.”
“Use in a well-ventilated area.”
“Avoid inhaling or exposing others to spray.”
“Keep away from the face to avoid breathing it.”
So basically, you need to hold your breath for a long time while putting this on and don’t put it on around other people unless they are also holding their breath. Not really the easiest to coordinate that kind of thing most times, let alone at the pool or beach and around others. And from my experience, most people pay no attention to wind conditions or whether or not anyone nearby is being exposed to the toxic fumes. Many people seem to be completely unaware of the dangers of spray sunscreen because I just can’t believe that many people would knowingly use a product so harmful!
In addition to the ineffective coverage and inhalation damage these products can cause, the FDA is has received several different incidents where people where spray sunscreen actually caught fire when they were near an open flame. And this was after the spray sunscreen has been applied! SCARY! Are you willing to look past the dangers of spray sunscreen just for a little convenience? If you are looking for better, healthier alternatives I have got you covered! (no pun intended!)
Better Alternatives
Most people don’t realize that there are lots of ways you can naturally protect yourself from the sun. This includes diet and other supplements that can help your body to protect itself naturally from harmful UVA & UVB rays. Click here to read my article on how to protect yourself from the sun naturally.
In addition to my natural tips, my two favorite toxin-free sunscreens are:
Young Living Mineral Sunscreen – Don’t let the low SPF number fool you. You can learn more about the true meaning of SPF here. I never knew until recently and was surprised to learn what it actually meant! I always thought a higher SPF was better. Turns out, higher the SPF, the more toxic chemicals are used. SPF (sun protection factor) is a relative measure of how long a sunscreen will protect you from ultraviolet UVB rays. So if you would normally burn after 20 minutes in the sun with nothing on then an SPF 10 sunscreen will protect you for about 3.5 hours. But the intensity and wavelength distribution of UVB rays vary throughout the day and by location. A lower SPF factor just means you have to reapply it more often. Here is where you can order my favorite plant-based mineral sunscreen!
BeautyCounter – Want to try a face sunscreen stick for free? Spend $100 or more on BeautyCounter (One of my favorite and trusted companies) You can click here to learn more about the sunscreens that BeautyCounter offers.
