GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL

03/07/2013

Safe, natural tanning

GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL farmhopping blog — GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL

Today is a beautiful day. Bright and sunny. So sunny, actually, that I caught myself dreaming of being on the beach – a dream I must admit I`ve almost given up on. Not because getting to the beach is impossible, but because for like an eternity it seemed like we had no reason. Yes, so far this spring and summer have not been exactly the best Europe has seen. But today is a beautiful day and it brings the promise of a lovely hot month. With the anticipation of those lazy, endless days laying on the beach it is time to think about protection. Sun protection, that is, please We are responsible people, so are you, obviously, otherwise you wouldn`t have been reading this blog The well-known commercial products are substances no one should be applying on their skin. The human body`s largest organ needs safe protection, not those packed with harmful chemicals sunscreens that expose our precious selves to more toxins than we can imagine. Both petrochemical sunscreens (avobenzone, methoxycinnamate, padimate-o and the like) and physical sunblocks (chemically-reacted synthetics titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) have been found to generate free radicals when exposed to sunlight, which then can attack the nuclei of your skin cells and cause mutations. Mutations as in skin cancer. Furthermore, sunscreen chemicals have been found to pass through the skin and mimic the effects of estrogen, which may disrupt the delicate balance of the body's natural hormones. See what one very useful book, “Sunscreen Photobiology—Molecular, Cellular and Physiological Aspects”, says: “Illumination of titanium dioxide suspensions with sunlight can degrade organic materials and purify drinking water, while illumination with short wave UV kills human cells. This work shows that the distinction between “chemical” sunscreens and “physical” sunscreens, attractive though it may be to those who market them, is not based on any significant difference. Both varieties have the potential to produce reactive species that can attack biological materials (human skin cells) when they are exposed to normal sunlight…What is established is that particles of titanium dioxide as large as 220 nm can enter human cells in culture, and so it seems entirely plausible that if titanium dioxide does pass through skin it could enter cells under the skin (carrying with it the absorbed UVA and UVB radiation and hydroxyl radicals).” So what to do? As always, one shouldn`t overdo it: small amounts of sun are healthy, overexposure is dangerous. Avoid commercially sold products and don`t rely on them to protect you from sunburns but wear loose fitting clothing, a big hat and stay under tree shades. If you absolutely must be directly under the rays, here is a recipe on how to prepare your own, homemade and safe sunscreen. First, a list of oils with natural SPF: Raspberry Seed Oil: SPF of 30-50 Shea Butter: SPF of 6-10 Carrot Seed Oil: SPF levels of 30 Wheat Germ Oil: SPF of 20 Sesame oil, Coconut Oil, Hemp oil, Avocado oil, Soybean, and Peanut Oil: SPF 4-10 What you need:

1/2 cup almond or olive oil
1/4 cup oil blend (a combination of the oils listed above)
1/4 cup beeswax (for waterproof properties)
2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide (a non-nano version that won’t be absorbed into the skin. Very careful not to inhale the powder!)
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 tablespoons shea, mango or cocoa butter
Add about 15 drops of essential oils (but no citrus) if you wish

How to use it: Melt the oils, beeswax, and butters in a double boiler over low heat. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. Allow to cool and add the zinc oxide, vitamin E oil and essential oils. Stir in well and pour into the jar you want to use for storage. Keep in a cool, dry place or in the fridge. Best if used within 6 months. Reapply often when the sun is very heavy or you go for a swim. So, dears, have fun on the beach but please stay safe and healthy, we need you at your best to keep supporting the good causes 

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