Sun Time

When it comes to that beautiful bright ball in the sky burning 92.96 million miles away, the sun can make us feel so alive and revived. It can also give us the dreaded, unwanted sunburn. But what hurts worse than a sunburn? Skin cancer — and it's probably safe to say, nobody wants that.

Did you know that some sunscreens contain harmful ingredients? Even without the sun's help, they can cause cancer. We all know we need some exposure; it helps assist in formulating vitamin D and, among many other benefits, is an important building block for hormone function.

However, when we combine vitamin D deficiency with harmful ingredients such as oxybenzone — a hormone disruptor not recommended for use on children — it's a wonder why some of us are apprehensive to use such products. Did you know oxybenzone has been banned in many locations worldwide? So why would we rub it all over our bodies, jump into a lake or ocean for a relaxing swim, and continue the vicious cycle of spreading harmful toxins not only to ourselves but also to aquatic habitats and marine life?

Make Your Own Sunscreen

Here's a fun thought — what about making your own sunscreen? Make it a family fun activity, because these ingredients are safe for everyone involved (unless you're allergic to raspberries or almonds).

The individual ingredients are considered low SPF and generally quoted at these levels:

• Almond oil: SPF around 5
• Coconut oil: SPF 4–6
• Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide: SPF 2–20 depending on how much is used
• Red raspberry seed oil: SPF 25–50
• Carrot seed oil: SPF 35–40
• Shea butter: SPF 4–6

Depending on the amount of each ingredient used, the final version will have varied sun protective ability. A simple version for moderate exposure would be coconut oil and shea butter with some zinc oxide or a little raspberry seed and carrot seed oil.

Side note: Recent articles claim that homemade sunscreens are harmful and that a person shouldn't consider making their own. Even though homemade sunscreens don't have the lab testing that conventional ones do, you know what else they don't have — endocrine disruptors and coral-killing compounds.

It comes down to this: Practice safe sun exposure and use common sense. The amount and safety will vary person to person. We recommend doing your own research and talking to a knowledgeable naturopath or dermatologist to figure out what works best for you.

As always, check with your health care professional or dermatologist before using any new products. Take care of your body, and your body will take care of you!