Sunscreen

What’s the buzz about sunscreen? A new study by the Environmental Working Group found that four out of five sunscreen products either don’t offer adequate sun protection or contain harmful ingredients. The FDA has yet to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards, which means many sun care products on the market offer varying degrees of protection, and not all of them are good for you. Bask in the sun worry-free this summer by using sunscreen you can trust has the right stuff—like all-natural ingredients that aren’t absorbed into your skin—and avoid potentially harmful chemicals.

You can find our selection of Burt’s Bees products here.

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Conventional Sunscreen

Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free SPF 30

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Do the math

Conventional sunscreens can cost anywhere from $8 and up. It takes about 30 minutes for your skin to absorb this kind of sunscreen in order for it to block ultraviolet radiation effectively.

One 3.5 fl. Oz. bottle is $15.00 and offers instant sun protection. It’s 100% natural.

Pros

The synthetic compounds found in chemical sunscreens provide protection by absorbing ultraviolet radiation. Because this kind of sunscreen penetrates the skin, it has the ability to protect more layers of skin (like collagen fibers and deeper tissues) against the aging effects of UVA rays, and the sunburn and tanning effects of UVB rays. (But note: One in seven sunscreens do not protect against UVA rays.)

The main ingredient in Burt's Bees sunscreen is titanium dioxide, which acts as a physical blocker (it is not absorbed by your skin), reflecting a broad spectrum of the sun’s harmful rays (UVA and UVB). This non-whitening sunscreen is all natural, so it’s not only good for you but it’s good for the earth, too.

Cons

Most synthetic sunscreens include chemicals like octinoxate and oxybenzone. These chemicals can seep into your skin and potentially alter how your body processes the sun’s rays, or disrupt your body’s normal hormone balance. Plus, many of the ingredients in synthetic sunscreens are not biodegradable, and may have harmful environmental effects when worn in the water or discarded into landfills.

Burt's Bees SPF is a little more expensive than conventional brands; however, while some chemical-based sunscreens are cheaper, Burt’s Bees SPF offers the value of immediate broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection that won’t harm the environment. Added bonus: 10% of proceeds from purchases on the Burt’s Bees website are pledged to selected “well-being” partners.

The Big Picture

Wearing sunscreen is a vital part of protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. But you don’t just apply a synthetic sunscreen, your body absorbs it. You wouldn’t want to ingest chemicals, so why should let them get under your skin—or into the environment?

This sunscreen offers the right kind of sun protection without putting potentially harmful chemicals into your body or the environment. Burt’s Bees is the leader in natural personal care, offering not only products (like its SPF) that are good for your well-being, but also business practices that are good for the earth, such as using recycled or recyclable material for all of its packaging. So you know what you’re getting in every bottle is as sweet as honey.

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