What's in Your Sunscreen? A Guide to Safe Ingredients
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My Story: How a Bug Bite, a Burn, and My Body's Toxic Load Led to Skin Cancer
Not long ago, I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)—a type of skin cancer. I had been living with this spot on my leg for nearly 10 years. It originally started as a bot fly bite I got while traveling to Brazil for a friend’s wedding. That same trip, I also experienced one of the worst sunburns of my life. I was in my early 20s, and like many of us, I just wanted a golden tan. Instead, I ended up looking like a tomato—red, raw, and incredibly uncomfortable.
At that time, I didn’t know I had Celiac disease, and I’m now in the process of confirming a MTHFR mutation. Pair a bad sunburn with a parasitic bite, a gluten-filled diet, and poor detox pathways, and what you get is the perfect storm of inflammation. That spot never quite went away—it hurt at times, became scaly, and occasionally flared. In the last year, it started to grow and really bother me. Deep down, I knew it was something serious, and after finally getting a biopsy, it was confirmed: skin cancer.
This diagnosis was sobering, but it also reaffirmed why I do what I do—why I write, share, and live out this wellness journey. It fueled my passion to dig deeper into root causes, toxicity, and healing from the inside out.
🧡 I’m not sharing this to scare you.
I’m not here to say “stay out of the sun” or to hide under a hat for the rest of your life. I’m here to help you navigate sun exposure wisely and to empower you with informed, holistic choices. One of the main reasons I write this blog is to help others sift through the chaos of conventional advice and find what truly supports the body.
My Relationship with the Sun: Then vs. Now
I’ve always freckled easily—especially after a sunburn. For a time, I was scared of the sun. I’d stay pale, avoid midday rays, and slather myself in sunscreens, thinking I was being responsible. But that fear of the sun and lack of consistent exposure wasn't helping either. We need sunlight to build vitamin D stores, regulate hormones, and support the immune system.
Now, I aim for a gradual tan, easing into sun exposure with intention, focusing on what I put in my body, what I put on my skin, and when I’m in the sun.
I’ve learned that the **sun is not the enemy—**sunburns are.
Burning damages your skin at a cellular level, especially when your toxic bucket is already full (from seed oils, chemical-laden products, stress, autoimmune disease and poor detox pathways). That’s when skin damage can spiral into disease.
But if we shift our approach—with proper timing, nutrition, and safe sunscreen use—the sun can become a powerful ally in healing, vitality, and even emotional well-being.
The Sun’s Power: Healing or Harmful?
The sun is a life-giving force, filled with profound healing properties for the skin, eyes, and entire body. But like any force of nature, it must be approached with respect and wisdom.
Learn when and how to expose yourself safely
Discover the toxic ingredients hiding in your sunscreen
Choose natural, mineral-based alternatives
Support your skin through whole foods and toxin reduction
Let’s dive into what I’ve learned and how you can protect your skin—naturally and effectively.
Optimal Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer Insights
In the book, "The Healing Sun" by Richard Hobday, PhD, he explains that sun exposure at the right times—and in the right way—can:
Support immune function
Promote vitamin D production
Improve skin resilience
Enhance mood and energy levels
☀️ Best Times for Safe Sun Exposure
Morning (before 11 AM)
Late Afternoon (after 3 PM)
This window allows for safer UV exposure and supports vitamin D without frying your skin.
But What About Skin Cancer?
According to Hobday’s research, strategic, moderate sun exposure has protective benefits when paired with antioxidant-rich foods and safe skincare. It's not the sun alone—but sun + poor diet + toxins that increases the risk.
Hobday sheds light on the nuanced relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer. While excessive sun exposure during peak UV hours can increase the risk of skin cancer, moderate and strategic sun exposure has shown protective benefits.
Hobday highlights the role of vitamin D synthesis, immune modulation, and skin health, advocating for a balanced approach to sun exposure, combined with sun protection measures to support overall well-being.
Protect Yourself from the Inside Out
Here’s what I now practice (and teach my kids too!):
No sunglasses during early sun exposure (your eyes signal your brain to trigger melanin production)
Eat real food, especially antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats
Avoid processed seed oils—they oxidize and make your skin more prone to burning
Cover up when needed: wide-brimmed hats, UV clothing, and intentional shade
The Sunscreen Problem: Ingredients to Avoid
When selecting sunscreen, it's important to scrutinize the ingredients list. Here are some common sunscreen chemicals you should avoid:
🚫 Avoid These Sunscreen Ingredients (Chemical based):
Oxybenzone – endocrine disruptor, affects reproductive health and thyroid function, linked to skin sensitivities and coral bleaching
Octocrylene – breaks down into benzophenone, a possible carcinogen
Octinoxate – hormone-disrupting, toxic to reproduction in animal studies
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate) – may increase skin damage when exposed to sunlight creating free radicals that can increase the risk of skin damage and cancer
Parabens (such as Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben) – mimic estrogen, potentially harmful to reproductive health
Homosalate, Octisalate, Avobenzone – disrupt hormone activity, irritating to skin
Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Siloxanes, Fragrance – linked to allergies, toxicity, and environmental harm
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives – known carcinogens
Butyloctyl Salicylate - affects female hormone receptors and is concerning for pregnant women.
Safer Alternatives: What to Look for Instead (Mineral-Based) Sunscreens
✅ Mineral-Based Sunscreens (Physical blockers):
Zinc Oxide – broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, gentle and non-toxic
Titanium Dioxide – generally safe, though not as broad in UVA range as zinc
Additional Sun Essentials for Optimal Protection:
Wear broad-brimmed hats and UV-protective clothing during peak UV hours (typically 11 AM - 3 PM).
Use sun canopies for added shade when spending time outdoors.
Seek shade intermittently to reduce prolonged sun exposure.
Stay hydrated to maintain healthy skin.
My go to Sunscreens for my Kiddos:
My go to Sunscreens for Teens and Adults:
My go to Tinted Sunscreen for Face:
My Final Thoughts: Embrace the Sun—Wisely
This diagnosis has been a wake-up call. But it’s also helped me become more informed, intentional, and protective—not fearful. The sun has gifts for our bodies. We just have to be smart in how we receive them.
Let’s honor the sun for what it is: a life-giving force that, when paired with the right nutrition and non-toxic products, can enhance—not harm—our health.