Thursday, July 1, 2010

I Scream, You Scream

We all scream for sunscreen! The EWG released it's 2010 Sunscreen Guide last month and not a moment too soon. Lest you think that sunscreen is only a summertime product, think again. It should be worn year round because let's face it, you go outside every day, don't you? Did you know that the majority of sun exposure your face receives is from driving? It's true. Mom learned this the hard way when she went for a skincare consultation with a dermatologist. The technician took a 3-d picture of the left side of Mom's face and when Mom asked why the left side and not the entire face the technician explained that the left is exposed to the sun more than the right side because of driving. Who knew?

You guys already know the EWG from the post Mom did last month on beauty products. The EWG Sunscreen Guide is the most comprehensive guide you'll find anywhere. It not only provides you with ratings on sunscreens but also exposes 9 surprising truths about them. I want you to read the truths because the information is really important and will surprise most of you. You can also read the full sunscreen report which includes a letter to the FDA. And don't forget to check out the hall of shame where the EWG exposes products and players that are just wrong for the sunscreen business.

The guide has a list of the best sunscreens or you can search for your sunscreen. Each sunscreen has an overall score in addition to ratings from excellent to low on the following components:


The sunscreen ingredients are listed along with a sunscreen UV absorbance chart. All the other ingredients in the sunscreen are also listed with scores. I think it's great that there's a link to buy each sunscreen right under its picture. You can even tweet a sunscreen or share it on Facebook. How cool is that?

These are the sunscreens that Mom currently has. I say has and not uses because some are not so desirable, like the Burt's Bees. I know, I know, everypug thinks Burt's Bees products are the bomb but apparently this sunscreen doesn't really live up to it's name. It contains, hold onto yourself - fragrance! Yikes! What the heck is Mom doing with this stuff? I can tell you what she's not doing with it and that's using it. The EWG gave this stuff a score of 4 and that's enough to permanently scare her away from it. Sorry Burt's Bees.

But what about the other sunscreens? Mom uses the Kiss My Face stuff religiously, especially the Face Factor. She hadn't always been so religious about using sunscreen on her face until after her accident. The plastic surgeon told her that her incision would definitely scar if it got sunburned so on went the sunscreen and a hat on top of her fro. She's never looked back. The EWG gave Face Factor a rating of 3 which is not great but is okay for now. Unfortunately she just bought 2 containers (before the guide came out) because she remembers it scoring much better last year. She will use it up and then move on to something better. The Kiss My Face Oat Protein sunscreen fared a little worse than its facial counterpart with a score of 4. Bye bye Kiss My Face!

The best news came from Badger. If you aren't familiar with this company you have to check them out. They make a whole host of products for your well-being and they are committed to a safe and healthy environment. Check out their mission statement:


To run a business that is fun, fair and profitable; where money is fuel, not a goal; and where our vision for a healthier world finds expression through the way we work and through the way we treat each other and the people we serve.

I love it! The proof of their mission is in their sunscreen which received a score of 1. YAY! And it's for the body and face so it's what I call one-stop-shopping. The worst ingredient in it is zinc oxide and while this isn't ideal, it receives a score of 4 which isn't that bad.

So often people think that for something to work it has to cost a lot of money. Nothing could be further from the truth with sunscreens. While the Badger sunscreen costs more than the brands you'll find at your local drugstore, it's far less expensive than the brands you'll find at department stores. You may have to go out of your way to find good products but it will be time well spent. Your body will love you for choosing products that won't harm it.

Summer is here and the holiday weekend is almost upon us. Check out the EWG Sunscreen Guide before you hit the stores so that you know what to buy. Educate yourself before you spend your hard earned money on sunscreen. The good stuff is out there once you know what to look for.

Personal note: I am doing much better today. I have been walking pretty good and my laser therapy went very well. The vet even said I'm walking better but stressed that I'm still on "restricted exercise". That means I still get carried around a lot which isn't such a bad thing. Thanks to everyone for sending all those healing vibes. The power of the paw is totally working!


THE PUGLET said...

Great. My human, who never wears makeup and considers anything you put on your face - including sunscreen - to be in the makeup category just learned that all 3 of her sunscreens rank a 7 (avoid!).

It took her ages to finally start wearing the stuff, and now she's bummed about the unlucky #7 ranking. Especially since her skin doctor told her which ones were good. Boo.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Hi Stubby
I don't know if your mom knows how many humans she is helping by sharing this information, but I think the answer is many!
What about pugs? What kind of sun screen do we need?
Stubby, my heart feels better knowing you feel a little better today. But,,, I will keep sending you love and bubbles everyday.

Lilo, The Great Rock Eater said...

Stubby, we're so glad to hear you are feeling better!!! We have been very worried about you!!! We know that you'll be back to your self in no time!! Keep up the good work and thank the momma for so much wonderful information!!



Winston (smilingpug) said...

First off we are so happy you is doing betters. Mum is just catching ups on blogging. We were so worried bouts you. Mum was all leaky and stressed when she reads the posts bouts yous not feeling goods. Mum kept saying that she was easily ables to puts herself in your mommas place and thoughts if that was mes....... Anywho Mum is breathing sighs of reliefs now.

Mum says she likes this post on sunscreen. Mumhas to have sunscreens cuz the guy in the white coat removed a cancerous moles from mum. She is always on the look outs for good sunscreen that is not full of harmful ingredients.

Ohohoh I gots to tell you. Mum found another laundry detergents. It is sold at walmarts and it is part of the green line by walmarts. We don't knows if you can gets the green line in America but here in Canada they have the earth friendly green line and we luvs it. Mum says she thinks that it might be made by 7th generation and sold under green line. Up here in Canada private label for grocery stores is super populars. Big companies will makes the product for the store and label and sell under the stores private label. The green line is part of the great value private label that is walmarts own label. Mum knows this cuz she works at a label printing company. The other days mum worked on a label for trader joes. A big pharmaceutical company in Canada manufactures vitamins for trader joes own label brand. By the ways that label is a good ones. The vitamins are very goods.

Anywho I luvs my blankets washed in the new detergents. I am also Gladstone you feels betters.


Winston (smilingpug) said...

Please cuse my bad typing mistakes, I use mums iPad and it keeps fixing my typing automaticallys and I did not mean to say Gladstone I meant glad to see.

Winstons again

Melissa and Emmitt said...

hi stubby!
we are so gald you are feeling so much better! you are a stron little man i tell ya!

your post is perfect because we are just going out to get sunscreen for the trip and now know what to get.

have a happy 4th!

m & e

Those Elgin Pugs said...

Hey StubbulA!! It's IzZulA!!

I's made yous a picture on's our bloggy!!

We's would have posted a comment earlier on your bloggy, butt Mommy didn't have her reading glasses and she is blind without 'dem!! She left 'dem in 'da car from 'da movies from yesterdays and yous fonts is smalls ands yous words are lots (SNORTS)
But I's told Mommy I would read for hers!!
Josie is blind too!!
Well, doesn't need to be said Mommy needs SPF 100,000 and 'dat Grandpaw had skin cancer so good post!!!!
Mommys dark skinned friends also burns too!! SO ALL peoples need too be carefuls!! but not ha ha ha
'dey (we) just needs to void 'da suns alls togethers...SNORTS

Stubby said...

Hi Puglet! Bummer about your human's sunscreens. There are so many yucky chemicals in most sunscreens so it doesn't surprise me that they scored a 7.

I can believe that a skin doctor told her which ones to buy because most doctors aren't even aware of all the chemicals. You really have to do your research these days to avoid the bad stuff. I guess your human will be doing a little shopping for all new sunscreen!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Tweedles! That's so sweet of you to say that I'm helping so many people with the information I post on my blog. I believe in sharing all I know so that my friends and their friends can be safe.

As for pugs (and other doggies), there are sunscreens on the market but most experts say to avoid them because of their chemical content. If anything, we can use sunscreen designed for babies (even though we're not babies) but I'm not even sure how much we need it. That's a great question and one that I'll have to look into further.

My heart feels better knowing how much you care about me. I'm feeling better every day and the love and bubbles are what are helping me heal. I wouldn't have gotten this far without them so I can't thank you enough, Tweedles.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Lilo! I'm feeling even better today - almost like my old self. My right leg is still a little gimpy but I want to run and play, which of course I can't do. I will continue to rest my angry disc and take my medicine like a good boy.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Winston! I'm really doing better. I'm sorry my posts made your mum leak. You know how mums are, right? They worry and leak and then worry and leak some more. We are their babies and they don't want us to hurt.

Your mum is so smart to always wear sunscreen. I can't believe the man in the white coat removed a cancerous mole from your mum. Is she all better now?

I haven't heard about this green line detergent at Wal Mart but I'm going to look it up. That's very interesting stuff about the private labels. In the states we do have some companies that make stuff for private labels but it's hard to know (or to find out) who is making what.

I'm very curious to know about these Trader Joe vitamins too. You know that Mom is not shopping there anymore because they sell red listed fish, but once they stop (in 2011) she will shop there.

Stubby xoxo

Pee-s: How do you like the ipad? Mom was thinking about getting one but I told her there would be no way I could type on it!

Stubby said...

Hi Melissa & Emmitt! I'm feeling stronger every day! I am a strong little man who is getting antsy sitting around the house. I need to get out but I know I have to heal so relax I will do.

I'm so glad I finally got this post done and just in time for your trip. I'm so excited you're going to Alaska. Mom and Dad went there years ago and loved it.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Izzula! I can't believe your silly mom left her reading glasses in the car - duh! She needs to get a pair for the car, a pair for her purse, and a pair for the house just like my mom.

I know you're mom has very fair skin and that she burns easily so she needs to reapply her sunscreen every few hours. SPF 100,000 just won't work because it's no better than SPF 50. Tell your mom that my mom will go sunscreen shopping with her!

Stubby xoxo