The best sunscreen for children is a hat and sun shirt (and shade, of course.) After that, there are many types of sunscreens to choose from. However, what sunscreens are both safe and effective for kids?

Let’s take a “parent’s dive“ into the world of sunscreen (not too much info, but enough to understand what we’re putting on our kids), including the good, the bad, and practical considerations of sunscreens. Some of the information might surprise you.

The Good

Sunscreens Work. Use them.

Both chemical and mineral-based sunscreens protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Some of the chemical ingredients under review have been used for decades.

The Bad

Chemical ingredients in sunscreens are under review by FDA in 2019, and some of the ingredients in sunscreens are being evaluated for use in and around coral reefs.

What is the FDA’s rationale behind the extra scrutiny on ingredients? According to agency officials, we now know more about how chemical ingredients get absorbed into the skin, and we are using these products a lot more today in larger quantities (study in JAMA.)

Other organizations, such as the government and legislative bodies protecting coral reefs, are also banning certain chemical sunscreen ingredients.

• Hawaii: In May 2019, the state of Hawaii passed legislation banning over-the-counter sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.
• Key West: Key West also banned the same ingredients, oxybenzone and octinoxate, to protect the Great Florida Reef.

The Practical

Wearing sunscreen is more important than analyzing ingredients, but we are learning more.

Sunscreen 101: Chemical vs. Physical Barrier

Sunscreens are classified as Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs with the FDA, and they are to be differentiated into “physical barrier” and “chemical” categories.

• Mineral-based formulas, or physical barrier sunscreens: these sit on top of the skin and reflect the sun’s UV rays. The minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are preferred to chemical formulas, since they are not absorbed into the skin. Zinc oxide is preferred to titanium dioxide, due to its broad-spectrum coverage, although many “natural” sunscreens contain both. The rub with physical barrier sunscreens? Mineral sunscreens often leave a white film that many find difficult to rub into the skin.
• Chemical sunscreens: these sunscreen formulas get absorbed into the skin. The chemical formulas then absorb the UV rays, convert them to heat, and release them from the body.

Is Sunscreen Safe? 2019 FDA Review of Sunscreen Ingredients

There are currently 16 active ingredients allowed in sunscreen. A 2019 FDA update on sunscreen regulation proposes that:

• Only two ingredients – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – are generally recognized safe and effective.
• Two ingredients – PABA and trolamine salicylate – are no longer generally recognized safe (thankfully, you won’t find either of these ingredients in sunscreen sold legally in the U.S.)
• There isn’t enough information to decide whether the remaining 12 are safe and effective at this time. The FDA is gathering more information.
  • Ingredients commonly used in the U.S.: ensulizole, octisalate, homosalate, octocrylene, octinoxate, oxybenzone, avobenzone.
  • Ingredients not frequently used in the U.S.: cinoxate, dioxybenzone, meradimate, padimate O, sulisobenzone.

The Bad: Concerns About Oxybenzone

The most common chemical sunscreens typically include a combination of two to six of the following active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Oxybenzone is most often flagged as the most worrisome member of the group, due to concern that it gets absorbed through the skin more than once thought and it is potentially an endocrine disruptor (interfering with the normal functioning of hormones, including estrogen.) For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against using sunscreens with oxybenzone, if possible, because the endocrine systems of fetuses, infants, and children are rapidly growing and developing.

Another report in the journal Reproductive Toxicology suggests that pregnant women who use sunscreen with oxybenzone daily might absorb enough of the chemical to increase the risk of a birth defect called Hirschsprung’s disease, a condition in which children are missing nerves in the lower colon or rectum, preventing normal stool movement through the bowel.

Sunscreen Ingredients to Minimize or Avoid (for those concerned about chemical exposure)

• Chemical ingredients: oxybenzone first, then avobenzone and octinoxate.
• Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (tiny particles that penetrate the skin and cause inflammation; look for “non-nano” mineral sunscreens)
• Spray sunscreen (flammable; risks of inhalation with children)
• Retinyl palmitate or retinol (good when used for anti-aging properties at night, bad when retinol meets the skin and the sun)
• Parabens (preservatives linked to hormone disruption)

Also, check your child’s sunscreen ingredients in the EWG Skin Deep database. Make sure that your precise sunscreen is on the list, as desired. Note: Some brands will game the system by creating one or two formulas with a “1” or “2” low hazard rating and then market the whole line as “EWG rated and approved.”

Why are babies and young children more sensitive to chemicals in sunscreen?

Babies and young children have sensitive skin that is easily irritated by the chemicals in adult sunscreens, and infant skin is three to five times thinner than adult skin. Look for sunscreens that protect against both UVA rays (responsible for skin cancer) and UVB rays (responsible for sunburn), also called broad-spectrum protection. Know that if you see an SPF above 50, it is likely a chemical-based sunscreen.

Some Form of Sunscreen is Better Than No Sunscreen

Keep in mind that even with recent news coverage about chemical sunscreens, experts agree that applying sunscreen to protect against sunburn and skin cancer outweighs the risks of chemical ingredients. Just a few blistering sunburns as a child can double your chances of developing a serious form of skin cancer, and more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.

Furthermore, large physician groups, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, are still recommending chemical sunscreens for reducing the risk of skin cancer, preventing sunburn, and decreasing the signs of aging on your skin.

Best Sunscreen Recommendations for Babies and Kids (from the Environmental Working Group)

The Environmental Working Group offers 27 sunscreens as their “Best Scoring Sunscreens for Kids.” However, that is way too many sunscreens to sort through, so here are some of the more affordable and/or well-reviewed brands.

The following contains affiliate links.

Here are the brands individually (all with an overall score of “1” and a green rating for ingredient hazards and UV protection; they also had to pass the 2019 FDA proposed standards.)

Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

Badger Active Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen Cream, SPF 30 (scores high for ingredients and efficacy with EWG and Consumer Reports)

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Lotion, Baby, SPF 30+

Coppertone Pure & Simple Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

Goddess Garden Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 (the stick is also well-reviewed; gets a 3 on EWG)

Supergoop! Sunnyscreen Lotion, Babies + Kiddos, SPF 50

thinkbaby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50+ (First sunscreen to pass Whole Foods Premium Care requirements, but expensive for bigger kids.)

Some of the EWG’s Worst and Most Toxic Sunscreens (marketed to kids):

Click on the link to see the reasoning behind the score.

• Banana Boat Kids Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 100 (Score 10)
• Banana Boat Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100 (10)
• Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion Spray, SPF 50 (7)
• Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50 (7)
• Coppertone Kids Wet Protect Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50 (7)
• CVS Health Children’s Clear Spray, SPF 50 and 70 (7)
• Equate Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70 (7)
• Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Stick Sunscreen/Spray, SPF 70+ (7) Surprise! This is a favorite for many.
• Up & Up Kids Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50 (7)

Other EWG “Red Zone” Sunscreens (scoring 7-10, not kid-specific)

Click on the link to see the reasoning behind the score. Note: The blue-bottle Ultra Sheer Neutrogena scores surprised me, as well. I really like the “feel” of the sheer sprays. Ugh.

• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen, SPF 60+ (10)
• CVS Health Sensitive Skin Sun Lotion, SPF 60+ (10)
• Panama Jack Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70 & 85 (10)
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100+ (10)
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 85+ (10)
• Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Spray, SPF 15, 30 & 50 (7)
• NO-AD Sun Care Sport Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 50 (7)
• Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50 & 85+ (7)
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30 (7)

Best 2019 Sunscreens (According to Consumer Reports)

Here are the Consumer Reports Best Sunscreens of 2019, in categories:

• Best lotion
• Best spray
• Best sunscreen without oxybenzone
• Best mineral sunscreen

Note: Consumer Reports prioritizes efficacy over ingredients. This is the statement on their testing criteria: “We check to see how well sunscreens protect against the types of rays that cause sunburn, skin cancer, and skin aging—and whether you can trust the SPF number on the label.”

Best Lotion Sunscreens

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-in Sunscreen Milk

BullFrog Land Sport Quik Gel SPF 50 sunscreen

Best Spray Sunscreens

Trader Joe’s SPF 50 Spray Sunscreen (*buy this at TJ’s for $6, not Amazon for $16-17)

Banana Boat SunComfort Clear UltraMist Spray SPF 50+ sunscreen

Best Sunscreens Without Oxybenzone

Walgreens Hydrating Lotion SPF 50 (buy at Walgreen’s)

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance Lotion SPF 50 sunscreen

Best Mineral Sunscreens

Badger Active Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen Cream, Unscented SPF 30

California Kids #supersensitive Lotion SPF 30+ sunscreen

Note on mineral sunscreens: I am including the following quote from Consumer Reports to help you think more about the efficacy of sunscreens. Because of the thick, white film of mineral sunscreens, parents can often be lead to think that these sunscreens are superior for UVA and UVB protection (i.e., thinking that you might need less, or thinking it’s expensive therefore it must work better, etc.) However, after years of in depth testing, Consumer Reports has found the opposite to be true.

Sunscreen Tips and Tricks

• Wear swim shirts, clothing, hats, and sunglasses with UV protection.
• Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Choose a physical sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, if possible.
• Always select a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection.
• Choose SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 30 or higher. Remember that SPF protection does not increase proportionally with the SPF number (e.g., SPF 30 absorbs 97% of the sun’s rays, while SPF 50 just 98%.)
• Be generous when using sticks (studies show that consumers apply too little sunscreen and underestimate effective protection when using sticks.)
• Expiration dates: The FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their original strength for at least three years. However, if the expiration date has passed, throw it out.
• Apply early: your skin can take up to 30 minutes to absorb sunscreen.
• Re-apply every 2 hours, says MD Anderson. Every 60-90 minutes if swimming, sweating, or using a spray.

I hope this provided a fairly balanced look at sunscreens and that we all feel a little more knowledgeable. Do you have any additional sunscreen tips to add?

Related content: What is Your Skin Care Routine? Skin Care Tips and Tricks

The post How Safe is Sunscreen? Best Sunscreens for Kids appeared first on UPKiQ.

How can some things be so meaningful and important to us, yet carving out the time to do them seems nearly impossible? Cleaning our your closets is one thing, but I’m talking about the kinds of projects that put a lump in your throat. How do these make the To Do List?

Here’s a confession. I am behind several years in making photo albums for our family. When the kids were little, I used to organize photos and make photo books seamlessly, but now? Maybe writing this article will inspire me to put those family memories together, again, as this is just one of several projects that I believe we will never regret prioritizing.

Making family photo albums or photo books.

If there is a fire in our home, the family photo albums are what I will grab first. Of course, a prudent photographer today will also make sure that her digital photos are backed up in the cloud, or on a hard drive. However, I still have many old school-style albums from college and beyond with printed photographs. We also have a collection of Shutterfly photo books that I made when the children were younger, and our kids love flipping through these books.

However, the sheer number of photographs since the advent of the iPhone has made this project more daunting. Clicking through thousands of photos (our Mac automatically downloads photos from my husband’s iPhone, too), trying to decipher duplicates, deleting blurry selfies of my children, wanting to edit and brighten each photo, scrolling through event after event of endless pictures, etc. Why did I take so many pictures? Sound familiar?

Nevertheless, with a little discipline, let’s try to regularly delete the uglies (and duplicates) and have a goal to get photo books made regularly. Services such as Shutterfly and Snapfish will automatically lay out photos in a book with autofill, saving valuable time. I also usually save my photo books as drafts and wait for 50% off coupons before purchasing. Let’s see how we do.

Making a family recipe book.

Both my mother and mother in-law have taken the time to produce family recipe books, and I couldn’t tell you how much we use them. From simple pancake batter to Thanksgiving stuffing to the World’s Best Chocolate Chip cookies. Perhaps this gift is best timed when children are headed out on their own. However, you could also put recipes together for your extended family as a holiday gift to all. This project could be as simple as printing a .pdf or Word document and putting it into a binder, or using an online printing or publishing tool, such as Blurb.com, Shutterfly.com, or createmycookbook.com.

Recording the stories of your elderly relatives.

Family traditions help kids make sense of life, and they are important to a child’s well being. The stories, traditions, and customs that get passed down through the generations anchor us to our family members and help us feel that we belong. In the spirit of The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw, I don’t think you would ever regret sitting down with your elderly relatives to record some of their family stories. What was life like as a child? What do you remember about your parents? What was your experience during the Great Depression? What happened when World War II broke out? Where were you? Tell me about your wedding day. We did this with my grandfather years ago using cassette tapes. However, now all we have to do is press record on our phones, saving videos of grandparents, great grandparents, and great aunts and uncles, for years and generations to come.

Who is with me on prioritizing one or more of these projects?

The post You Will Never Regret Prioritizing These 3 Projects appeared first on UPKiQ.

For years, people have asked fashion designer and entertainer, Pharrell Williams, how he has managed to stay so youthful and fresh? Pharrell has shared that he exfoliates regularly, uses moisturizer with sunscreen, and drinks water. He also has a dermatologist, revealing his derm’s daily routine (and it doesn’t look so exotic.) Drum roll…he uses Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and water, as well as Glytone Self-Foaming Cleanser, a clearing toner, and a moisturizer. I want my skin to look like that!

What is your daily skincare routine?

For many, it may not include the wash, exfoliate (with a toner), and moisturize step-by-step process. However, these can be skin care goals. As I get older (seeing brown spots, creases, dryness, dullness, and crow’s feet around my eyes), I am becoming more and more invested in keeping my skin healthy with a regular routine.

Always consult your physician first. However, I also take a women’s daily multi-vitamin, and supplements of Biotin (makes hair grow faster) and Collagen (makes your skin more elastic and tight) to give my skin, hair, and nails a little extra boost from the inside. It seems to really make a difference. To note, I get my supplements from the private or generic labeled section at the drugstore or Trader Joe’s (don’t waste your money buying fancy products in a fancy box marketed as a beauty product.)

Skin Care Goals

1. Wash
2. Exfoliate (with a toner)
3. Moisturize
4. Consider what you are doing for your skin on the inside (water, vitamins and supplements, etc.)

Wash Your Face (if you do anything, do this)

It may seem pretty harmless to hop into bed without washing your face, but think about all of the buildup that your face has endured throughout the day (makeup, oil, sweat, dirt, debris, sunscreen, dead skin cells, etc.) Let your skin renew itself each evening by washing with a gentle cleanser (don’t over cleanse or use irritating soaps). For the nights when brushing your teeth is all of the nightly routine you can manage, consider putting some Makeup Removing Cleansing Towelettes by your bed.

Top Skin Care Products (Skincare Favorites)

Some women prefer to purchase skincare kits with step-by-step products included. Some popular brands with solid reviews are: the Clinique 3-Step Introduction kits, Rodan & Fields skincare sets (find your favorite rep), Mario Badescu Facial Sprays and Drying Lotion (not 3-step but very popular), and Proactiv Treatment Systems (with variations depending on skin type, acne-prone, etc.) For budget cleansing that won’t dry out your skin, try CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash.

Some other researched skin care favorites are:

Cleansers: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser, Philosophy Purity Made Simple Face Wash .

Anti-Aging: Obagi Professional-C Serum, SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore Anti-Aging Cream, Cosmedica Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Skin.

Sunscreens: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk, EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum (mineral-based zinc oxide formula), Clinique Super City Block Ultra Protection SPF 40 for Unisex (tinted)

Note: These are all beauty award winners and top picks on Amazon, Sephora, etc. but I’m always skeptical about the price of skincare products. So try a sample or trial size, if possible.

Finally, you may have other skincare favorites, and if you are like most women, you have a hodgepodge collection of cleansers, lotions, and potions on your nightstand. I couldn’t tell you how many different skincare products I have tried, as if each one is going to make me beautiful, youthful, and represent my innermost being.

Anti-Aging and Repair (or Well-Aging and Repair)

Organic and green beauty products. The “going green” topic is near and dear to my heart, but it’s also tricky. Organic skin care products are presumably safer, but do they work for anti-aging and repair? Does the product hydrate our skin, or does it inhibit cell damage? This is all very confusing! However, after reading and comparing notes from several different sources, let’s see what ingredients might keep our skin looking younger.

Vitamin-A creams

These are the gold standard for anti-aging and repairing sun-damaged skin, with names such as Renova, Retin-A, Tazorac, tretinoin/generic Renova and Retin-A, and Retin-A Micro (all available prescription only). Retinol is the OTC, weaker form available without a prescription. SkinCeuticals Retinol is close to prescription strength. Many popular drugstore brands also contain Retinol: Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisture, Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, and Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer SPF 30.

Note: Vitamin A creams in general are not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing. Also, Retinoids, both prescription and OTC/cosmetic exfoliate the skin, increasing sunburn potential. Use caution when applying and wear a broad spectrum sunscreen daily, SPF 30+.

Some antioxidant serums

Vitamins A, C, and E have antioxidant properties and some coenzymes, such as coenzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid, contain antioxidants. Vitamin-C serums, such as splurge-worthy Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum or best value TruSkin Vitamin C Face Serum, have been shown to help with repair, slowing down the injury process when natural light breaks down skin cells.

Cell Growth Products

Newer technologies are spawning companies like SkinMedica and others to produce creams and lotions that use growth factors to increase collagen production and thicken skin overall. Cell growth factor products, such as SkinMedica’s TNS Recovery Complex may take months to show results.

Skin Care Tips and Tricks

1. Apply sunscreen. Religiously.

Ninety percent of how your skin ages is linked to the sun. Ultraviolet radiation, or sun exposure, is the leading cause of early wrinkles. UV light breaks down the skin’s connective tissue, collagen and elastin fibers, and without the support of this connective tissue, your skin starts to lose strength and flexibility, causing sagging and wrinkling prematurely.

2. Learn about your skin type: oily, acne-prone, normal, dry, sensitive, and mature skin.

This will help you decide how to care for your skin. For example, selecting a cleanser for your skin type:

• For dry, mature skin, try a moisturizing or milky cleanser
• For oily or acne-prone skin, use a salycylic gel or benzoyl peroxide wash (and try not to pop pimples, dermatologists recommend, though most people do)
• For skin with brown spots or melasma, try a brightening wash, such as an alpha hydroxy acid cleanser
• For sensitive and dry skin, try a hydrating, gentle cleanser

3. More is Not Better.

Try not to apply too much product. For example, too much moisturizer can clog pores and only so much can get absorbed by the skin. This is a waste of money on products, as well.

4. Don’t Forget the Patch Test for New Products.

If you are trying a new Retinol, chemical peel, or other skin care product for the first time, don’t forget to start with just a small patch of skin when testing out the product. You can dab a bit on your inner arm to test for redness, irritation, and any type of allergic reaction.

5. Combat Dryness at Night and Don’t Towel Off Completely Before Moisturizing.

After you wash your face, don’t forget to apply a moisturizer to work throughout the night. Also, when you wash your face, don’t towel off completely. Creams work best with a little water to seal in moisture.

6. Fight Dark Spots with Vitamin C (during the day) and Retinoids (at night).

When you see a dark spot, apply vitamin C to brighten right away. Dark spots can be harder to fight as the melanin sinks deeper into the skin. At night, apply a topical retinoid to encourage cell turnover and shed pigment.

7. Try a Mask.

Cream Mask (normal to dry skin) Masks that contain hyaluronic acid will bind to moisture and plump up skin cells, while algae extracts will help tighten and firm.

Clay, Charcoal, or Mud Mask (normal to oily skin) These masks can act as a magnet removing impurities while hydrating without oil.

Gel Mask (dry and sensitive skin) A soothing, cooling gel mask will be infused with collagen and antioxidants for hydrating dull, dry skin.

Sheet Mask (good for all types of skin) These work well when paired with serums for penetration deeper into the skin. Remember not to rinse after using your favorite sheet mask and moisturize afterward to help seal in the contents.

Exfoliating Mask (good for most skin types; however, if you have sensitive skin, try an enzyme mask) These masks help slough off dry, flaky skin cells using hydroxy acids (glycolic acid for normal skin, gentler lactic acid for sensitive skin, salicylic acid for oily skin) and fruit enzymes (pineapple, papaya, etc.) Remember not to leave these masks on too long, and do not apply retinoids after an exfoliating mask, as this may be too harsh.

8. Eat the Best Foods for Healthy Skin

• Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel and herring)
• Avocados
• Walnuts
• Sunflower Seeds
• Sweet Potatoes
• Red or Yellow Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes
• Soy
• Dark Chocolate
• Green Tea
• Red Wine (resveratrol)

9. Drink the Right Liquids

Some skin specialists recommend shots of chlorophyll and green juice for healthier skin, while others simply tout the benefits of good, old-fashioned water. Eight glasses a day.

10. Get Enough Rest

Getting your “beauty sleep” is no joke. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn causes inflammation in the skin (acne, eczema, psoriasis.) During sleep, your body also delivers fluids to organs and tissues that need replenishing, while removing excess fluids from other areas. When this process is cut short, fluids remain (explaining the “bags under the eyes” of sleep-deprived people.)

What other skin care tips and tricks would you like to share?

The post What is Your Skin Care Routine? Skin Care Tips and Tricks appeared first on UPKiQ.

In my former profession, you had to choose the right bomb for the right target. The same could be said for a sensible approach to household cleaning. Strive to reduce the “collateral damage” of using overly harsh chemicals on household surfaces, while still achieving overall cleanliness in the home. Blasting your bathroom with ammonia and bleach will certainly get the job done, although not without irritating your skin, eyes, airways, and with prolonged exposure, your nervous system.

Before children, you may have sprayed away at mildew and grime without ever considering the contents of your cleaning products. However, understanding a child’s unique vulnerability to toxins changes everything, and over 150 chemicals found in the home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities.

Fortunately, there is hope. You do not have to give up your health for a clean home. A few non-toxic DIY mixes of common products can deliver more punch than you might expect for minimal cost.

DIY Recipes for Low Cost Green Cleaning Supplies

Green cleaning supplies from the store are definitely more convenient, but for those who want to make their own, try these recipes.

Plain Liquid Soap

These gentle soaps, found at natural food stores such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, are made with natural oils, such as olive, palm, and coconut rather than petroleum or animal based products (e.g., castile soap, made from 100% plant oils, became popular with the Dr. Bronner’s brand).

DIY Recipes/Suggestions for Use

1. Make a citrus scented, all-purpose scrubbing paste with a fresh lemon, baking soda, and a plant-based liquid soap.

Baking Soda

Use baking soda as a non-abrasive scrub or to absorb odors in trashcans and the fridge. Baking soda also combats oil and grease stains.

DIY Recipes/Suggestions for Use

1. Use baking soda and a spray bottle of vinegar together to scrub away the ring around the tub. Leave a box in your bathroom for impromptu cleanings of the tub, toilet, and sink.
2. Sprinkle baking soda in your kitchen sink and scrub.
3. Make it fizz! Pour baking soda and vinegar down a drain to unclog it.
4. Mix 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water to clean nearly all the surfaces in your kitchen: stainless steel appliances, countertops, and more.

Vinegar

100% distilled white vinegar is the strongest form of vinegar for your home. This all-natural cleaner tackles soap scum, dirt, mineral deposits, and creates an environment that inhibits mold, mildew, and bacteria.

DIY Recipes/Suggestions for Use

1. Buy distilled white vinegar in a gallon jug and make spray bottles of concentrated or diluted vinegar for everyday cleaning (but do not use on granite, marble, or porous stone countertops.) Add orange or lemon peels to the bottles to avoid the vinegar smell.
2. Keep a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom to keep your shower curtain free of mildew.
3. Clean out your coffee maker with a solution of half water and half vinegar.
4. For hardwood, vinyl, or tile floors: mix ¼ cup vinegar, 1-gallon warm water, and a few drops of essential oil, if desired. No need to rinse.

Lemon Juice

The acid in lemon juice removes dirt, grease, and rust stains. When mixed with salt or baking soda, it creates an all-natural scouring paste.

DIY Recipes/Suggestions for Use

1. Use four tablespoons of lemon juice with half a gallon of water instead of Windex on windows and mirrors (add vinegar or soap to remove tougher residues).
2. Polish wood furniture with two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice for a fresh-smelling shine.
3. Use a half of a lemon and salt to clean cutting boards. Wet the surface, sprinkle salt on the board, and then rub half of a lemon on the surface.

Green-Washing of Store Brand Household Cleaners

If you are not a home ingredient mixer, carefully select green cleaning products and beware of “green-washing.” Green-washing is a form of marketing spin or green labeling that companies use to pad their profits and promote their public perception. In the world of household cleaners, the words “green” and “natural” are completely unregulated, and a product with a speck of an organic essential oil can label itself organic. Only foods are certified organic.

Making the cleaning situation even more perilous, current laws do not require household products to list ingredients. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that only 7% of cleaning products adequately disclosed their contents, while 53% of the products under review had lung-damaging ingredients. Several products tested contained poisons and suspected carcinogens, such as formaldehyde (used as a preservative for some citrus, pine, and scented oils), chloroform (this toxic vapor escapes in the fumes of bleach products), and the chemical 1,4-dioxane (a common contaminant in detergents).

If you want to check household cleaning ingredients, search more than 2000 products online on the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning or the U.S. Department of HHS National Institutes of Health Household Products Database.   

Cleaning Products to Avoid or Restrict

Having a baby crawling on your floors, licking windows and mirrors, and pulling up on the rim of your toilet can change your perspective on cleaning products. The following is a list of EWG’s Hall of Shame most toxic household cleaners, which includes most of the cleaning products that I used while growing up.

Consider replacing these products on your shopping list, if you are concerned about chemical exposure:

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Citra-Solv Cleaner and Degreaser, Scrubbing Bubbles Foamer, Mop and Glo Floor Cleaner, DampRid Mildew Stain Remover, Spic and Span Floor Cleaner, Easy-Off/Walmart/CVS Oven Cleaners, Drano Clog Remover, Glade Air Freshener Spray, Air Wick Automatic Air Fresheners, Febreeze Air Effects, Comet Powder, Old English Furniture Polish, Great Value Furniture Polish, Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover, Static Guard spray, Target Up and Up Toilet Bowl Cleaner, and Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Lime and Rust Remover.

Some Well-Reviewed Green Household Cleaners

Brand recommendations (using factors of cost, green ratings, and online reviews):

• Dish-washing Soap: Seventh Generation Free and Clear Dish Liquid ($3 or $18/6-pack), Mrs. Meyers Liquid Dish Soap, Lemon Verbena ($11-13/3-pack)
• Dishwasher Detergent: Method Power Dish Dishwasher Soap Packs ($5-7 for 20 tablets)
• All-Purpose Cleaner: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner ($4), J.R. Watkins All Purpose Cleaner ($6-8 or $25/6-pack)
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Method Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Spearmint ($4)
• Scrubbing Powder: 365 Everyday Value, Baking Soda ($1)
• Food Prep Surfaces: Begley’s Multi Surface Cleaner ($7)(pH neutral for eating and food prep surfaces, made in the USA)
• Countertop Spray: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner ($4), Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner, Streak-Free Household Multi-Surface Spray ($13/2-pack)
• Glass and Window Cleaner: Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner, Streak-Free Household Multi-Surface Spray ($13/2-pack) “The Best All-Purpose Cleaner” – The New York Times
• Laundry Detergent: Kirkland Free and Clear Laundry Detergent from Costco ($16 for 110 loads or $0.14/load) , Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear Unscented ($25 for 106 loads or $0.23/load)

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This article is an introduction to some of the ingredients that are commonly found in cosmetics and personal care products. In summary, I would prioritize green beauty and personal care products for pregnant women, but don’t worry, a mixture of products is likely for everyone. There is no expectation to replace your entire makeup bag and medicine cabinet. However, it helps to be aware when you run out of products and have choices to replenish.

Government Regulation of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Many consumers might be surprised to discover the FDA does not review the safety of cosmetics and personal care products before they go to market, other than color additives. Instead, the agency has authorized the industry to police itself through a Cosmetics Ingredient Review (CIR) panel. To note, this panel has declared just 11 ingredients as unsafe since it was established in 1976, and its recommendations for restricting personal care ingredients are not binding to companies. In contrast, the European Union has banned over 1,400 ingredients from use in cosmetics and personal care products, primarily for being carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction.

What does this mean for Americans? Well, in the same way that Mars, based in McLean, VA, markets M&M candies with artificial dyes in the U.S. (dyes linked to hyperactivity), while using vegetable and plant-based dyes for M&M’s in Europe, American beauty companies make same-label cosmetics that are safer overseas than the products sold to customers back home. Talk about irritating!

To help you think about some of these issues, here is a list of some of the worst chemical offenders in beauty and personal care.

Antibacterials (triclosan)

What is it? Triclosan is consistently under scrutiny with the FDA over potential long-term health risks, such as unanticipated hormone effects and contributions to increasingly resistant bacteria. Triclosan also may contaminate the environment. After triclosan is washed down drains, it is converted to dioxin when exposed to sunlight and water. It can also combine with chlorine in tap water to make chloroform, a probable carcinogen.³⁴

Where do I find it? Triclosan is found in toothpaste, soaps, and hand sanitizers, such as Colgate Total toothpaste, Softsoap liquid hand soap, Dial liquid soap and bars, Clearasil Daily Face Wash, and Bath & Body Works antibacterial soaps.

How do I minimize or avoid it? Use natural soaps without the antibacterial label. Try a natural toothpaste, such as Tom’s of Maine or The Natural Dentist.

Coal Tar

What is it? Coal tar is a thick brown or black liquid that forms as a by-product when coal is processed. Since coal tar has been used in soaps and shampoos for the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases for over a century, it has been grandfathered into the OTC system. Coal tar is known to increase skin sensitivity to sunlight, and it is also found in hair dyes and lotions.

Where do I find it? Dyes with a coal tar base are used in dandruff shampoos (Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo, Psoriatrax Anti-Dandruff Tar Shampoo), permanent hair dyes (salon and drugstore dyes made by Loreal, Revlon, Clairol, and others), mouthwash (FD&C Green 3), and toothpaste (FD&C Blue). The EU banned coal tar in 2004. Much of the evidence linking hair dyes with cancer has come from studies of salon workers.

How do I avoid or minimize it? Check labels on hair dyes, skin creams, and dandruff shampoos. Look for these ingredients: Coal tar solution, tar, coal, carbo-cort, coal tar solution USP, crude coal tar, estar, impervotar, KC 261, lavatar, picis carbonis, naphtha, high solvent naphtha, naphtha distillate, benzin B70, and petroleum benzin.

Diethanolamine (DEA)

What is it? Diethanolamine (DEA) is a chemical that can adversely affect hormones and cell functioning and development. The EU has banned DEA in cosmetics.

Where do I find it? DEA is used in shampoos and soaps to increase lather. Ethanolamines are also found in lotions, shaving creams, ointments, eyeliners, mascaras, blush, foundations, and sunscreens.

How do I avoid or minimize it? Avoid labels with MEA, TEA, and DEA and anything that ends in–ethanolamine. Worry less about mascaras with DEA and more about lotions that remain on the skin and shampoos lathered in close proximity to your brain.

1,4-Dioxane

What is it? 1,4-dioxane is a carcinogenic byproduct of a process called ethoxylation, which is a shortcut companies take to make soaps and shampoos milder and less irritating to the skin. 1,4-dioxane is on the state of California’s list of chemicals known to cause cancer, and it is banned for use in cosmetics in Canada. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimates that 97% of hair relaxers, 57% of baby soaps, and 22% of the more than 25,000 products in the Skin Deep database may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane.

Where do I find it? 1,4-dioxane is found in products that make suds, like shampoo, bubble bath, and liquid soap.

How do I avoid or minimize it? 1,4-dioxane should not be in cosmetics and personal care products certified under the USDA National Organic program. Avoid labels with sodium laureth sulfate (use a sulfate-free shampoo) and ingredients written as “PEG,” “-xynol,” “ceteareth,” and “oleth.”

Formaldehyde

What is it? Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen that can be added to products as an ingredient or released from formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs).

Where do I find it? Formaldehyde is found in products such as baby bath soap, nail polish, and hair dyes, as a contaminant or a break-down product. Vulnerable groups are infants, salon workers, and nail salon workers.

How do I avoid or minimize it? Avoid labels with formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol (bromopol). Look for “toxic-trio-free” nail polish (formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP). Avoid keratin-based hair straighteners in hair salons, such as Brazilian Blowout. These products were found to contain up to 12% formaldehyde.

Fragrance and phthalates

• What is it? These endocrine disruptors mimic the action of our natural hormones, and they can cause reproductive and developmental harm.

• Where do I find it? Phthalates are often hidden under the term “fragrance” in beauty products. Look for phthalates, such as dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), in hair spray, perfumes, deodorant, nail polish, and almost anything with fragrance.

• How do I avoid or minimize it? Use fragrance-free products.

Lead and mercury

What is it? Lead is responsible for making color lipsticks last. The longer it lasts, the more lead it contains. Also, the FDA generally does not allow mercury in drugs or cosmetics; although, mercury has been found in excessive levels in many beauty and skin products made overseas and sold in local ethnic stores.   

Where do I find it? Brands of lipstick or lip-gloss, such as Clinique, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Lancôme, are found to be lead positive. Lead can also show up in products that have hydrated silica, such as toothpaste. Mercury has been found in soaps, cosmetics, and skin care products in stores that tend to cater to Latino, African-American, Asian, and Middle Eastern communities.  

How do I avoid or minimize it? Choose organic or natural cosmetics that do not contain lead and mercury.

Parabens

What is it? Parabens are common preservatives that prevent bacteria growth. Parabens became controversial due to their weak estrogenic effects in animals studies. Estrogen disruption is linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues.

Where do I find it? Parabens are found in about 85% of cosmetics.

How do I avoid or minimize it? Check for methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and isobutyl- paraben. Choose paraben-free brands, such as Burt’s Bees, Aveda, Dr. Hauschka, and Josie Maran Cosmetics.

Petroleum distillates (PDs)

What is it? Petroleum distillates are hydrocarbon solvents made from crude oil. They are used as inexpensive moisturizers in cosmetics and personal care products. The EU restricts or prohibits petroleum distillates as possible human carcinogens.

Where do I find it? PDs are found in mascara, eye shadow, foundation, wart remover, and foot-odor powder.

How do I avoid or minimize it? Check for the terms “petroleum” or “liquid paraffin” in products.

P-Phenylenediamine (PPD)

• What is it? P-Phenylenediamine is widely used as a dye, and it is associated with allergic reactions.

• Where do I find it? PPD can be found in 307 hair coloring and bleaching products in EWG’s Skin Deep database. PPD can cause irritation and damage to the nervous system and lungs.

• How do I minimize or avoid it? Scan a product’s barcode with the Skin Deep mobile app before purchasing home hair coloring products.

Hydroquinone

• What is it? Hydroquinone, banned from cosmetics in the EU, is one of the most toxic ingredients still used in personal care products today, with links to cancer, organ toxicity, allergies, and immune system toxicity.
• Where do I find it? Hydroquinone is found in skin lighteners, facial and skin cleansers, facial moisturizers (under-eye treatments), hair conditioners, and nail glue.
• How do I minimize or avoid it? Hydroquinone is heavily marketed for spot correction and to women of color in skin lighteners. Avoid labels with hydroquinone, tocopheral acetate, tocopheral, tocopheral linoleate, and other ingredients with the root “toco.”

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