Sunscreen guide for families to stay healthy this summer.
I used to think all sunscreen was created equal.
Now I know better.
First, if you didn’t know, sunscreen is considered and over-the-counter drug.
We need sunscreen in order to prevent the negative effects of being overly exposed to the sun’s rays (UVB and UVA), like malignant melanoma.
We also definitely need sunshine. It gives us Vitamin D which is essential for overall health and wellbeing.
Vitamin D reduces inflammation, controls infections, regulates our mood, give us energy, syncs up our circadian rhythm, and give us the nutrients that we need for for healthy bones and muscles.
Our skin and bodies can only handle so much sun exposure though.
Here is a guide on the appropriate amount of sun exposure you should get according to your skin type.
Note: It should always be early in the morning and when UV Index is low. Avoid too much sun exposure in the middle of the day.
You can check your weather app on your phone to give you an accurate reading for the UV rays throughout the day.
Sunscreen Guide For Families
There are 2 different types of sunscreens: mineral (physical) and chemical.
Here is a simple guide on the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens.
You will ultimately choose what is better for your family.
Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral (physical sunscreen) works by physically shielding you from the UVB and UVA rays.
It just sits on top of your skin and scatters the UV rays.
Mineral sunscreen stands for two different active ingredients:
The reason people don’t like it as much is because it is chalkier than chemical sunscreen. You also have to reapply every 2 hours, as it is not very water resistant.
Although many brands are now coming out with water resistant mineral sunscreens.
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreen does not shield you from UV rays. Instead, it absorbs the UV rays before it hits your skin.
It does not stop at being just absorbed by your skin. Studies have shown that these chemicals will be absorbed and go into your systemic circulation.
For example, octyl methoxycinnamate, also known as octinoxate, was found in blood plasma, breastmilk, urine, and was linked to disrupting the endocrine system.
Reminder, the endocrine system is the glands and organs that make hormones that are released directly to the blood. It is responsible for your body’s growth, tissue functions, metabolism, mood and your ability to sleep.
Pretty important. Especially for our children who are in growing every single day.
It can also cause skin irritation.
Here are the main UV filters that you will find in chemical sunscreen:
- Octinoxate
- Avobenzone
- Oxybenzone
- Octisalate
- Octocrylene
- Homosalate
The main reason people like chemical sunscreen is because it goes on smoothly without leaving a white chalky trail.
So knowing all of this, which one would you choose?
Favorite Brands
If you ever have a doubt, check out EWG’s website. It will tell you how nontoxic or toxic a product is.
A side note – avoid spray sunscreen and powder sunscreen as well. They are known to be highly toxic.
Reminder – do not buy the spray version. Even from
Don’t ever feel like you have been doing things wrong as a parent. We do not know what we don’t know.
My blog is to help you feel more empowered to make better choices moving forward.
We are all doing the best we can with the knowledge that we have.
Are you ready to start living your life differently?
Tired of paying the price of all the stress and putting yourself and your health last?
There is a way out.
That other way out is through a health coach. Your own personal coach that will look at all areas of your life, to see how you can make changes.
Changes that will create long-lasting results.
These changes come from looking at nutrition, self-care, movement, and daily habits.
As your coach we will work on a step-by-step plan together on reaching all of your health goals and then leaving you empowered to continue making changes on your own.
If you are ready to start living well and say goodbye to the stress and burnout that has you surviving instead of thriving – contact me now.
Let’s Chat
If you live in the U.S. – remember you can still stay relatively healthy even on holiday weekends. It is so much better that way, that way when you get back to your routine, you can still feel good.
One way, is to eat vegetables first. Try to always remember that. Eat some raw cucumbers, carrots, broccoli. Then get to the rest of your plate. It helps stabilize your blood sugar, it releases digestive enzymes, and it gives you nutrients that your body needs.
Go for lots of walks too. Get your body moving.
Life Update
I recently went to my first bible study. A women’s bible study group.
A little background about me: I grew up Catholic. I even went to an all-girls Catholic school. Despite having so much religion growing up, I didn’t connect to it at all. I had a terrible experience with it. Nobody I knew was nice. It was all about shame and always correcting.
My family is also “very religious.” Yet do terrible things at the same time. So in my mind, it was such a cop out. To be holy yet behind closed doors they were very unholy.
The other day, I had an epiphany that I needed to take my family to church. I wanted my children to have a base of some sort of religion so they never feel alone. My facialist is this beautiful mom who has a beautiful family. I have been so inspired by the way her family and marriage work. Anytime I asked her more questions about how she does certain things, she always referenced her church.
I finally gave in and asked her where she goes. Now, our whole family attends as well!
My son has been all about it too. He keeps singing the songs, and asking me about the bible and Jesus.
I know we made the right choice.
Then long story short, my neighbor happens to go to the same church. She asked if I wanted to join the bible study that was being hosted at her house.
I went and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t know what to expect and I was uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, only because this is something I have never done and never thought I would do.
Anyway, the moral of this story is – always stay open to new possibilities. You miss them if you are stuck in old habitual patterns and aren’t open to what life can bring you.
Get uncomfortable. I used to run away from getting uncomfortable. Now I know it’s just a sign that I am going in the right direction.
Funny how things happen.
Do you have any stories about getting uncomfortable and it changing your life in the most magical way? If so, share below!
See you next week!
Alejandra at Living Well Co.