At thinkbaby and thinksport,
we are continually expanding our mission to provide safe products by
identifying consumer product categories with known human health issues.
Specifically, we target products that contain high levels of hormone
disruptors and carcinogens. We then work with leading scientists
worldwide to create safe alternatives.
The
majority of sunscreens currently on the market are full of questionable
ingredients and known carcinogens. Simply looking at the ingredients
you’ll quickly realize you don’t recognize any of them. Many existing
sunscreens have been brought to market with little concern for their
safety. Not only do ingredients in sunscreen interact with skin, but
data shows after application of lotions, some of the same chemicals can
be detected in the bloodstream. Most people wear sunscreen to reduce the chance of developing cancer, so why apply something that could potentially increase this risk? This question has unfortunately left many people moving away from using sunscreen at all.
How is the thinkbaby and thinksport LIVESTRONG different?
The new sunscreen developed by thinkbaby and thinksport LIVESTRONG
sunscreen is highly effective, falls into the highest category for
water resistance and has a sensible SPF 30+ rating. A quick look on
your local drugstore shelf will show an increasing number of chemical
sunscreens boasting ultra-high SPFs of 60 and greater. An SPF higher
than SPF 30 offers only minimal improvement in sun protection and does
not provide insight into its ability to protect for both UVA and UVB.
Instead, these ultra-high SPFs are inflated through the use of chemical
UV absorbers.
Additionally, thinkbaby and thinksport LIVESTRONG sunscreens utilize average zinc oxide particles greater than 110nm. Kevin Brodwick, founder of thinkbaby and thinksport,
explains why: “We always use the precautionary principle and as we
expect the debate on the safety of nano particles to continue, we asked a
simple question: Does the product have to contain nano particles to be
an effective sunscreen? The answer is, quite simply, ‘no.’ “
How do I use thinkbaby and thinksport LIVESTRONG sunscreen?
Applying thinkbaby/thinksport LIVESTRONG sunscreen
Children over the age of 6 months and anyone who will be exposed to sunlight should use sunscreen.
thinkbaby/thinksport LIVESTRONG
sunscreen is perfect for anyone spending time in the sun, including
pregnant women, children over 6 months, and anyone with sensitive skin.
thinkbaby/thinksport LIVESTRONG
sunscreen is a physical sunscreen which means it works immediately upon
application. It is not necessary to apply 30 minutes before you are
exposed to sunlight as is the case with chemical sunscreens.
Thinkbaby/thinksport sunscreen is classified as “very water resistant.”
This is the FDA’s highest possible rating. It will maintain
its SPF after 80 minutes of water immersion. The Environmental Working
Group recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours.
thinkbaby/thinksport LIVESTRONG
sunscreen is perfect for sensitive skin. We recommend testing on a
small area of the body to ensure that you don't have any sensitivites.
Sunscreens
that claim to be hypo-allergenic are nothing more than marketing hype
in our opinion. As the population's exposure to chemicals has risen,
there has been a direct correlation to things that people become
allergic to. Simply google environmental exposure and allergies to view
some of this research.
Tips for Application
The
new and improved thinkbaby/thinksport formula can be applied easily and
absorbs quickly. Be sure to apply all areas that will be exposed to
sunlight, including behind the ears, neck, hands, feet, and scalp.
Reapply every two hours or more as needed. While the sunscreen applies
very easily, we recommend not spreading it too thin. Otherwise you will
decrease the effectiveness of the sunscreen. Keep in mind that physical
sunscreens work by reflecting sunlight.
What else you might want to know....
The difference between physical and chemical sunscreens
Physical
(or mineral) sunscreens work by protecting the skin with a physical
barrier on top of the skin. Mineral sunscreens contain an active
ingredient of either zinc or titanium oxide. Thinkbaby
sunscreen has the active ingredient of zinc oxide. Chemical sunscreens
penetrate the skin and are absorbed into the blood stream. Active
ingredients such as oxybenzone are found in chemical sunscreens and can act as endocrine disruptors in the body.
The truth about SPF ratings
Thinkbaby/thinksport sunscreen is rated SPF 30+. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends children over 6 months and adults use a sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher. Some
chemical sunscreens advertise SPF ratings as high as 100, however, the
FDA is revisiting their rating system as there is a common misperception
about how SPF ratings work. In short, sunscreens with very high SPF
ratings do not provide better protection. In addition, it’s important to
note that the current SPF rating system does not rate UVA; it only
rates UVB. Dermatologists recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen
that protects against both UVA and UVB exposure.
About nanoparticles
In sunscreen, nano particles refer to 0
micron to 1 microns or 1 to 100 nanometers. We acquire 100> nm size
zno. There is concern within the scientific community that very small
particle sizes may affect biological processes. Nanoparticles can
easily pass through the epidermis and therefore could interact at the
cellular level. To our knowledge there hasn’t been any direct statements
that have concluded what sizes are safe and which are not. But in the
general category of nanoparticles there is concern not just for babies
but their general use. They could have the potential for greater
disruption for infants, whose bodies are going through significant
development. This is the same concern that scientists have in relation
to what harmful chemicals pose on infants. The challenge surrounds on
how to do testing. It certainly wouldn’t be advisable to conduct testing
on babies or animal studies. So they will have to be done on cells to
see their potential to interact and then we’ll have to extrapolate
whether there would be similar concern within our biological systems.
We can only theorize at this point that very small particles could
disrupt cellular mechanisms that are very sensitive. There is not
significant enough research to conclude that nano particles are safe.
You will not find a legitimate researcher to agree that there is enough
knowledge at this point and the testing is complex. We specifically
utilize larger particle zinc oxide.
