A Message from Our Intern, Lila
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work at Meadow and Bark is educating future generations about the importance of being informed consumers. We encourage questioning everything and avoiding assumptions. This summer, we had the wonderful opportunity to welcome Lila, a Long Island high school student, into our world. Here's what she has to say so far:
Sunscreen has always been important in my daily routine, especially with brands like Sun Bum, which I’ve relied on for years. But recently, I looked deeper into the list of ingredients of these products, and what I found was shocking.
Like many people, I trusted that if a product was out on the shelves, it must be safe. However, when I began researching the active ingredients in my favorite sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, I was shocked to read about their potential toxicity. These chemicals, while effective at protecting against UVB rays, have been linked to hormone disruption and environmental damage, particularly to coral reefs. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has raised concerns about oxybenzone, acknowledging its ability to penetrate the skin and potentially cause allergic reactions or endocrine disruption.
Endocrine disruption refers to chemicals that interfere with the body's hormonal system, which can lead to a variety of health issues, including, developmental, reproductive, and immune problems. Essentially these chemicals can mimic or block hormones and disrupt the body’s normal functions, leading to negative health effects over time.
This new knowledge made me question not just my sunscreen but all personal care products I use daily. If something as crucial as sunscreen can contain harmful ingredients, what about my moisturizer, shampoo, or makeup? It's a wake-up call to start reading more carefully and to prioritize products with safer, more natural ingredients.
As I continued my research, I also learned the importance of broad-spectrum sunscreen. This term means the product protects against UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and play a significant role in developing skin cancer. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply, contributing to premature aging and also increasing the risk of skin cancer by damaging the DNA in skin cells. Without adequate protection from both, our skin is vulnerable to long-term damage that isn't always visible right away but can have serious consequences over time.
So what's the takeaway from all this? For me, it's about being more mindful and proactive about what I put on my skin. I’ve started looking for sunscreens that use mineral-based ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are safer and provide broad-spectrum protection. This experience has influenced my approach to all personal care products, leading me to seek out brands that prioritize safety, transparency, and environmental responsibility.
The importance of sunscreen can't be overstated, but it’s crucial to choose products that protect not just from the sun, but also from potential harm caused by toxic ingredients. It’s all about finding that balance and making informed choices that are better for our health and planet.
Lila Gallagher