Healthy Living
Today I’m excited to tell you about another natural sunscreen: Kabana Organic Skincare!
I was really excited to try Kabana because it is one of the top rated sunscreens in the EWG SkinDeep Database for 2012! The EWG website states that all of their top-rated sunscreens:
“…contain the minerals zinc or titanium. They are the right choices for people who want the best UVA protection without any chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor. None of the products contain oxybenzone or vitamin A, and none are sprayed or powdered.” (source)
That definitely fits the description of the type of sunscreen I want my family to use!
Kabana actually sent me four different versions of their sunscreen to review. I will briefly review each one, but for starters I’d like to give you some of the reasons I truly LOVED using this sunscreen:
- Kabana Skincare products are made with organic ingredients
- Kabana discloses all their ingredients on their labels–and there aren’t a bazillion ingredients to sort through. In fact, there are only 6-9 ingredients per sunscreen–depending on the type. And I can pronounce and understand what the ingredients are!
- Their sunscreens are baby safe. I liked not having to use a separate sunscreen for my girls.
- Kabana contains non-nano zinc oxide*
- This sunscreen moisturizers as it protects.
- It is designed for those highly-sensitive to sunburn (ahem…like redheads!).
- Kabana is NOT a petrochemical sunscreen. According to their website: “Petrochemical sunscreens penetrate the skin, resulting in bioaccumulation and systemic exposure. They often end up in your or your children’s blood, and can accumulate in fat deposits. These compounds are toxic in themselves and will do direct DNA damage over time. Many of them also mimic estrogen in our bodies, which is associated with numerous diseases, including cancer and early puberty in young girls…..Using petrochemical sunscreens trades UV-induced damage for chemical-induced damage.”
- Kabana makes their SPF testing data publicly available. I love doing business with a company who is up front about their practices!
*If you are unsure why some of these things are important, click on the links to read more about the potential dangers of some of these ingredients if they had been included. For a list of potentially harmful ingredients to avoid in sunscreens, see this article.*
The first Kabana sunscreen I tried was their Green Screen D Organic SPF 35 Original. I was impressed with that each ounce of this sunscreen contains 400 IUs of vitamin D! The vitamin D3 is one of only 6 ingredients in this sunscreen:
- 25% non-nano Zinc Oxide
- Eldorado Springs Artesian Spring Water
- Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Certified Organic Beeswax
- Vegetable Vitamin E (non-gmo from sunflower seeds)
- Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol, 400IU/ounce sunscreen)
The consistency of this sunscreen was thick and did make my skin look a bit white, which is common with zinc oxide-based skincare products (like diaper rash cream). However, the whiteness seemed to fade, and I did not get burned while using wearing it!
The next Kabana sunscreen I tried was their Green Screen Organic SPF 20 Original. I found this version very similar to the SPF 35, but it seemed to rub in better (no lingering “whiteness”). We did not burn while using this version either. There are only 8 ingredients:
- 25% non-nano Zinc Oxide
- Eldorado Springs Artesian Water
- Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Certified Organic Jojoba Oil
- Vegetable Glycerine
- Organic Shea Butter
- Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF (cetearyl alcohol & polysorbate 60 from soybeans)
- Vegetable Vitamin E (non-gmo from sunflower seeds)
The next version I tried was the Green Screen Organic SPF 22 Tinted-Nude. I probably liked this version the best–and used it the most. The tinted sunscreens are perfect for women to use in place of make-up (foundation) on their faces. That’s how I used it at least!
I will say that it’s important to wait for this version to set/dry before dressing. Otherwise, it will rub off and possibly stain clothing. My husband used this sunscreen on a really hot day, and when he sweated the sunscreen bled onto and stained his shirt.
The tinted nude formula only contains one additional ingredient–iron oxide, which is the same biomineral that makes blood look red.
The final version I tried was the Green Screen Organic SPF 22 Tinted-Bronze. This formula is basically the same as the tinted-nude version (even the ingredients are the same), but the tinting is darker. I didn’t use this one very much for obvious reasons–I’m a fair-skinned redhead. 😉 But it would be the perfect formula for ladies–or men–who are darker complected. Both of the tinted formulas are perfect for covering up blemishes, etc.
You can purchase any of Kabana’s products directly from their website. I will say that the prices are a little steep compared to drugstore-brand sunscreens, etc., but very few (if any) sunscreens on the market today can boast all that Kabana Skincare offers.
                                                                           Image by mislav-m
Don’s miss a post in this series!
Sunscreen vs. Sun Exposure: Risks & Benefits
How to Minimize the Risks of Too Much Sun Exposure While Maximizing the Sun’s Benefits
**Disclaimer: I am not in any way, shape or form a medical professional. I am simply a mom who loves to research. Please conduct your own research and consult with your trusted health professional before making any decisions regarding your health. This blog is for entertainment purposes only.
*I have included affiliate links in this post. I was not compensated in any way for this post, but I did receive free products to review.
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Leigh Ann Privett
I was shocked to realize that 60 to 80% of petrochemicals are absorbed internally. I know that I have avoided petrolium products due to reactions I get on my skin but because of being a redhead, did not avoid them in sunscreen. Just thought I “had” to use it! Glad to know there are options!!
Sarah Bailey
It’s scary how much petroleum are in the common sun screens we use – regretting what I sent with my daughter to camp this summer.
Rachel
I didn’t know the rational behind why people say that sunburns in childhood are worse then sunburns in adulthood. I guess I never understood that the risk for cancer is that your cells get a wrong or damaged message and carry that on. I had known that about internal cancers, but never processed that for skin cancer. The more often that happens, the more risk. And add to that that children’s skin is also growing not just replacing and I can understand the reason there is an increased risk.
Chelle
This sounds like great stuff!
Missy
I didn’t realize that my sunscreen contains petrochemicals!
Elsie
The tinted versions sound interesting. We just bought a bottle of regular sunscreen earlier this summer, but I’ll keep these in mind! I wonder what the product shelf life is. Supposedly regular sunscreens are less potent after a year or two.
martine
The dangor of petroleum
Brooke
I learned about how important it is for children not to get sunburn!
Lexie Naturals
I found all the information on nano particles and micron-sized particles interesting.
Susie
I didn’t realize all the junk that was in commercial sunscreens. Not surpassing considering all the junk they put in everything else. 🙂
Steph
I couldn’t believe the amount of petrochemicals in spray sunscreens! My husband, no matter how much I insist still gets his hands on spray sunscreens sometimes. I will have to show him the picture of the man who got burned while grilling from the spray sunscreen!!
Rebekah
It only takes 1 rogue cell to become a killer. This is why avoiding sunburn at any age is important, but extremely important to protect our youngsters with high quality zinc oxide sunscreens.
Sandy
I’m allergic to most commercial chemical sunscreens, so I can only wear sunscreen with titanium dioxide/zinc oxide. I didn’t know that there were still dangers in “natural” sunscreen like nano particles! So that was definitely an eye opener for me.