Is your sunscreen safe and effective?

As the seasons change from hot and steamy to cold and dreary, his means less outdoor workouts or layering/dressing for the conditions. But for a lot of athletes (especially those heading to the Big Island of Kona over the next two weeks), there's still a lot of time left for outdoor training, which means you need to continue to protect your skin. 

Sunscreen is a very important product for overall health. Sunscreen use can help prevent skin cancer by protecting you from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Regardless of age, gender or race, anyone can get skin cancer. Sadly, it's estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Even if you don't burn easily, wearing sunscreen is still important. Sunburn is an immediate reaction, but sun damage occurs over a lifetime. The following information is from the Environmental Working Group:  "Thus, ingredients in sunscreen should be able to withstand powerful UV radiation without losing their effectiveness or forming potentially harmful breakdown products.  Ingredients should not be irritating or cause skin allergies. In a spray sunscreen, it's possible to potentially inhale ingredients, so ingredients must not be harmful to lungs or internal organs. Further, sunscreens commonly include ingredients that act as “penetration enhancers” and help the product adhere to skin. As a result, many sunscreen chemicals are absorbed into the body and can be measured in blood, breast milk and urine samples. Active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters. Each uses a different mechanism for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. These products typically include a combination of two to six of the following active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. A handful of products combine zinc oxide with chemical filters. Laboratory studies indicate that some chemical UV filters may mimic hormones, and physicians report sunscreen-related skin allergies, which raises important questions about unintended human health consequences from frequent sunscreen application." If you are using a chemical-based sunscreen, there's a good chance that it contains oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is one of the most common chemical filters found in chemical sunscreens because it provides UV coverage. While the primary function of oxybenzone is to absorb UV light, research has shown that it is also absorbed by the skin and stays in the human body for an unknown amount of time. Why should you be concerned about this ingredient? The EWG has rated oxybenzone an 8 on their toxicity rating scale, meaning it is one of the most toxic ingredients found in cosmetic products like sunscreen. The EWG and other toxicology experts are concerned about the compound because it has been linked to hormone disruption and has the potential to damage cells that may lead to skin cancer. Another UV-B filter is octinoxate. It can be absorbed rapidly through skin and has been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk. Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function. Octinoxate does not filter from UV-A rays. As it relates to the environment, some states like Hawaii are looking to ban products containing chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate because of concerns to coral reefs relating to coral bleaching. Kona athletes - does your sunscreen contain oxybenzone and octinoxate?? To choose a safe sunscreen, here are some top tips:  Stay up-to-date on all things sunscreen by regularly checking out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and their annual guide to sunscreens.   Make sure your sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays.   SPF 50 or less is recommended. Higher is not better.  People are more likely to use high-SPF products improperly and as a result may expose themselves to more harmful ultraviolet radiation than people relying on products with lower SPF values. Why? SPF factor tells you only how much the sunscreen is blocking the sun’s UVB rays, not the UVA rays. And since UVA rays don’t burn your skin as fast as UVB, you may be staying too long in the sun – without knowing it. So even if you don’t actually notice it on your skin, your skin may be damaged from the UVA rays. Properly applied SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98 percent of UVB rays; SPF 100 blocks 99 percent. When used correctly, sunscreen with SPF values in the range of 30 to 50 will offer adequate sunburn protection, even for people most sensitive to sunburn.   Avoid harmful chemicals. Read labels and choose companies who are committed to health and safety standards. Ingredients such as Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Retinyl palminate should be avoided. Sources:  What's wrong with high SPF? Sunscreen report The problem with vitamin A Coral Reef Safe cosmetics - Octinoxate Most of the information in this blog post above was copied from the sources listed above. BeautyCounter   Because of my outdoor active lifestyle, I'm always on the hunt for a sunscreen that protects my skin from the sun and is free from chemicals. While there are products out there that meet my criteria, the biggest struggle is finding one that is tolerable for sweating, isn't sticky and is effective. My friend Katrine, who is a Beautycounter consultant, reached out to me over a year ago regarding the sun protection line of products from Beautycounter. As a long time friend, I trusted her testimonial and asked her if I could try out some of the products. Of course, she did not ask me to promote the products in any way and I received no compensation to write this review. But when I like something, I want to share it with my followers. Since last April, I have been using the following products: Protect Stick Sunscreen Body Protect All over SFP 30 Protect Stick Sunscreen Face For myself, I have not had any issues with these products in terms of sunburn or feeling like I can't sweat with these products on my body. My favorite is the sunscreen face - it feels like a moisturizer on my skin. I also enjoy the refreshing smell and non-greasy feel. Since I have never been fond of cream-based sunscreens for training because it feels like I am sweating through layers of cream, I haven't had issues wearing the sunscreen cream. The nice thing about the stick is that it's easy to carry/bring with you and it makes sunscreen application very easy with no messy hands (which is a good thing when you are about to ride your bike or eat!). I also liked the size of the face stick, which is small and compact - perfect for traveling or keeping in your jersey or pool bag when you need to reapply. If you are interested in trying out any of the Beautycounter sunscreen products, Katrine would like to offer you a discount (below). I get nothing back in return from your order....I am just looking out for your skin safety. Place your order with this link www.beautycounter.com/katrinestrickland and then email your order confirmation to Katrine at katrinebstrickland@gmail.com. She will then immediately reimburse you via mailed check, PayPal or Venmo (which ever you prefer). I do not make any money from your purchase. Just passing along a great deal. You will receive $25 off any order of $75 or greater (not including tax & shipping). You also do not have to purchase the sunscreen to qualify for this discount. Happy shopping! BeautyCounter

Beautycounter Sunscreen review - free lip balm with purchase!

Growing up, I was a lifeguard and a swimmer. In the summer, I spent almost all day, every day in the sun. Thankfully, I take after my dad and my skin browns and rarely burns. My brother, however, took after my mom with his light skin. His body does not like the sun. However, this doesn't mean that I don't still think about sun safety. If anything, as I age (just shy of turning 35 at the end of the month), I am more and more mindful of what I put in and on my body. 

Swimmer turned triathlete, I now race exclusively outside and much of my training is outside. Although I keep my body pretty well covered with tight fitting clothing when I train/race (yay for short sleeve tri tops and tri suits being all the rage these days!), I always consider my exposed skin and the damage that can be done to my skin by the sun when I am out training or racing.

Because of my active lifestyle, I'm always on the hunt for a sunscreen that protects my skin and is free from chemicals. While there are products out there that meet my criteria, the biggest struggle is finding one that is tolerable for sweating, isn't sticky and actually lasts for a long workout or race. 

My friend Katrine, who is a Beautycounter consultant, reached out to me regarding the sun protection line of products that she promotes (and uses on her and her two little ones). As a long time friend, I trusted her testimonial and asked her if I could try out some of the products. Of course, she did not ask me to promote the products in any way and I received no compensation to write this blog. I rarely do product reviews but when I like something, I want to share it with you! 

Since mid-April, I have been trying out the following products: 

Protect Stick Sunscreen Body
Protect All over SFP 30
Protect Stick Sunscreen Face

I used each of these products on separate occasions, but exclusively during workouts (and in St. George for the half Ironman - 5-ish hour event) so that I could really put them to the ultimate test. 

My first impression was the nice smell, which was almost taffy-smelling like. It's very refreshing and has a hint of citrus. Since I have never been fond of cream-based sunscreens for training because it feels like I am sweating through layers of cream, I first tried the stick sunscreen (for face and body). Despite the stick telling me that I needed to reapply every 2 hours, I used the stick for face and body for a few long workouts and was pleasantly surprised that I didn't feel like I was wearing any sunscreen and I didn't get any negative exposure by the sun. The stick made sunscreen application very easy with no messy hands (which is a good thing when you re about to ride your bike!). I also liked the size of the face stick, which is small and compact - perfect for traveling or keeping in your jersey or pool bag if you do need to reapply.

The broad spectrum all over lotion was quick to disappear after rubbing on my exposed body parts (arms and knees). As I mentioned above, I may not be the best tester for sunscreen as I tend to get darker, and not redder, in the summer, but I still care about protecting my skin from sun damage. I will say that I had no signs of sun damage after my long rides and even when racing in hot and dry St. George. For those with light skin (or freckles), Katrine feels you on your sun exposure concerns! But she was confident that the sunscreen works on her and her light-skinned kiddos.

If you are interested in trying out any of the Beautycounter sunscreen products, Katrine would like to offer you a free protect lip balm with any sunscreen purchase of $50 or more. This free gift is great because I know how much athletes love their lip balm!

After placing your order, please contact Katrine HERE to receive your free lip balm.
Any questions, Katrine will be happy to help you out. 

Happy Shopping!

Oh, one more thing!
For the ingredient-conscious athletes out there, Beauty Counter has The Never List which is made up of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals that are never used in their products. This includes the 1,400+ chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern. 

Block Island Organic Sunscreen review (and discount code)

There are a few things that I can not train without on the bike, especially during Ironman training. Spending at least 7 hours (total) outside each weekend, sweating and training my body on the bike and running, means that I get a lot of sun exposure. 

Now I have to thank my dad for my naturally dark skin, unlike my mom and my brother who are a bit on the pale side (thanks Dad!). However, even though I do not burn very easily, I never take advantage of my time in the sun and I always put on some type of sunscreen to protect my skin from UVA and UVB rays. 

SUNSCREEN INFO 

(specifically UVB and UVA, not discussing UVC) 

UVB (B for burning) rays cause sunburns and cancer. UVB rays damage the skin's more superficial epidermal layers.
UVA (A for aging) rays increase skin aging, suppression of immune system and can cause skin damage. UVA contributes to and may even initiate the development of skin cancers. 

The American Cancer Society recommends to use a Broad Spectrum sunscreen which blocks UV radiation with a SPF greater than 30 and to reapply for continuous protection.
The U.S. FDA has recently changed labeling rules to help consumers better understand sunscreen products and how to best use them. 

According to Skincancer.org, there are currently 17 active ingredient approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens. These filters fall into two broad categories - Chemical and Physical.
Most UV filters are chemical which means they form a thin, protective film on the surface of the skin and absorb the UV radiation before it penetrates the skin. The physical sunscreens are insoluble particles that reflect UV away from the skin. 

The most common sunscreens contain chemical filters like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate whereas mineral-based sunscreens contain zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide. 

Titanium Oxide and Zinc Oxide are used alone or in combination with other inactive ingredients to protect against both UVB and UVA rays and are broad spectrum. 

A sunscreen's efficacy is measured by its SPF (sun protection factor) and this indicates how long it will take for UVB rays to redden skin with using the sunscreen compared to how long skin would redden without the product. SPF is not the amount of protection necessarily. 

An SPF 15 sunscreen screens 93% of the sun's UVB rays, SPF 30 protects against 97% and SPF 50 protects against 98%. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a SPF of 15 or higher is necessary for adequate protection. 

Believe it or not but there are actually a few household items that have a natural SPF:
Almond oil, coconut oil, zinc oxide, shea butter, red raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil!

As you know, there are many sunscreen products on the market to protect your skin but many of them contain ingredients that may protect you from the sun but may not be very safe for your skin as they can disrupt hormones, cause skin irritations and may be toxic in other ways. 

Because I am not a dermatologist or your primary care physician, I am not comfortable telling you what sunscreens you should use or not use. When it comes to food, I have a license to cover me in that area. 

However, when it comes to sunscreens, I prefer a mineral based sunscreen and one that is comfortable on my skin. If I am spraying/rubbing sunscreen on my skin before a workout or race, I not only want it to protect my skin from the sun's beautiful, yet harmful rays but I also want it to be breathable and comfortable when I am sweating. I hear very often that athletes do not wear sunscreen because they feel it is not "airy" on the skin, they feel like they have a layer of lotion on their skin that makes them feel like they can not cool the body in the heat through sweating and because they feel they do not need it. 

Well, to answer the last part, you do need to wear sunscreen and it is possible to find a sunscreen that feels good on the skin. Although sun exposure at some length is healthy for the skin for vitamin D absorption, it is important that athletes take precautions to protect the skin for we also compromise our immune system thanks to hours and hours of heart beating, muscle contracting, body-part moving working out and racing on a daily/weekly basis. Wear your sunscreen when training for there's no need to damage the body any more so than we are already doing with long or intense exercise routine. 

I was recently contacted by Block Island Organic Sunscreen a few months ago to try one of their products. I was not asked to write a review or provide a giveaway and I was not paid to write a post.

Since I am always up for trying something new (only if I believe in the product or if it is safe and there is good research on the use of it), I was looking forward to trying a new sunscreen to add to my training accessory list. 

I did not write about this product right away because I wanted to truly test it out in training and with IMWI on the horizon after just racing in IM Austria in June, I have had plenty of long weekend workouts to try out this mineral sunscreen, which is fragarance free and is a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protective sunscreen (and synthetic ingredient free). 

Although this sunscreen only has around 40 minutes of water resistance, I can say that I have had no issues with this sunscreen on my skin for long bike rides and runs. Although I am always hesitant to rubbing white lotion on my skin for the fear of it being thick on my body when I am working out and sweating (or skin irritation), this lotion felt more like a soothing cream and didn't leave any bad smells or greasy, thick residue. You do have to rub it in a little as it is not a spray but I had no issues spending a few seconds rubbing this sunscreen on my face without irritations or on my exposed body parts. 

After trying this sunscreen out a few times, I am very comfortable writing this review and recommending this product to my readers.

Because I want to make sure you are protecting your skin when you are training, Block Island Organic Sunscreen has provided me with a discount code of 20% off your order by using the code TRIMARNI at checkout. This discount only runs until 8/24 so be sure to take advantage before your next race or long training session. 

Also, to stay on the topic of UVA and UVB protection, did you know that clothing and sunglasses can protect you from the skin? 

If my dad (Dr. Rakes - optometrist and former Optometric Physician of the VA Clinic of New Port Richey) was still here, I know he would be proud to read that I am recommending all of you to invest in a quality pair of sunglasses to not only protect your eyes from debris but also from UV rays. As an Oakley Women ambassador, you know I love my Oakley glasses because they are comfortable and safe for my eyes. I do not trust any other sunglass lens on my face except Oakley because I have seen how they make and test their sunglasses and why they are the best sunglassses out there for active bodies (disclaimer: I have been wearing Oakleys way before I became an ambassador as Karel turned me on to Oakley's when we were dating - he wouldn't let me wear anything else :)
Oakley glasses are made with Plutonite which filters out 100% of all UV rays and harmful blue light up to 400 nm.
Learn more HERE for Oakley's incredible technology.