I was the recipient of some daily facial sunburn protection from Screen, Inc.

In my life, sun protection is very important. As a red headed, fair skinned woman (who happened to have her first serious sunburn before her first birthday, but I have forgiven my parents) I am high on the “prone to skin cancer” radar. I try to be very diligent about sunscreen (which is why I know Fuller will forgive me for the sunburn he got today), and I take what I buy very seriously.

Recently I read a disturbing article on sunscreen and Oxybenzone contamination.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a new study showing that nearly all Americans are contaminated with oxybenzone, a widely-used sunscreen ingredient. This chemical so far has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage, as well as low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.

Another interesting tidbit from the article:

as sunscreen sales have risen, so has the rate of skin cancers.

It made me think about what I am putting on my (and my family’s) skin in the name of “protection.”

Having recently read this article and then receiving these sunburn protection samples in the mail, the first thing I did was read the active ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Avobenzone. Nope, not names I can really pronounce, but non of them contained oxybenzone. This was a plus in my book.

Then I contemplated the rest of the packaging. There are four different types of Screen, Inc’s sunburn protection. One is for tweens, another for teens, one for women (aka chics), and one for men. While they all contain the same product (though the tween version has a tropical fruit scent that made my stomach turn), the packaging is attractive and written for each audience. I am impressed by the advice written at the bottom: “It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing, and using a sunscreen.” The product doesn’t claim to keep from the UV rays all by itself.

I tried the chicscreen and the tweenyscreen (since it had a different scent). Both products lived up to its non-greasy promise. All the samples I received had an SPF of 16+. Screen, Inc wants to focus on face protection, and using only SPF 16 as part of my daily routine is perfectly fine.

According to the Screen, Inc. website, they have received the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation. Which gives it a bigger thumbs up from me, since they have specific criteria required to obtain that honor.

The big pull of Screen, Inc’s products in the idea found in their tag line: “make it your routine.” They want everyone to put on sunburn protection every day, every two hours or so, just as part of their daily routine. This is a great way to teach children (tweens and teens) the importance of keeping their skin healthy.

I would recommend any of Screen, Inc’s products for daily use.

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