Sunscreen, Revisited

Summertime is almost upon us! Hot temperatures and fun in the sun! That also means more sunscreen, and for a person allergic to Balsam of Peru, that can also sometimes mean a choice between protecting your skin against the sun using products that contain Balsam of Peru or frying. Not good choices!

I talked about sunscreen, last year, and I've come across some products along the way. So, let's revisit the issue of sunscreen. Everybody needs it, every day and especially in the summertime sun.

Here are some sunscreen products that I've found to be BOP-free:

http://www.vmvhypoallergenics.com/creammmy-rich-intensive-moisture-milk-15-for-dry-skin-sample-1.html

http://www.vmvhypoallergenics.com/armada-post-procedure-barrier-cream-51.html

http://www.imageskincare.com/collections/prevention

Now, let me state, the above three products are PRICEY! I have not used the first two, personally, but their ingredient lists do seem to be okay to use with a BOP allergy. However, I do want to note that I've used Image Skincare Daily Defense Matte Moisturizer SPF30 personally, with great success and no flare-ups. My only complaint with the Image Skincare Daily Defense Matte Moisturizer SPF30 is that you need to really rub it in and let it soak into the skin before going into the water. Otherwise, it'll come right off as soon as you get into the water.

Quite by accident, I came across Banana Boat Natural Reflect Sunscreen Lotion Kids SPF 50+. Guess what? It's doesn't contain BOP AND it's economical at $11/4 oz.! I happened to buy some of this on sale, for my daughter to use. While slathering it onto her skin, I looked at the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn't seem to contain BOP/benzoates/fragrance. YAYAY! I also like that it's naturally-derived and sourced. My only complaint about Banana Boat Natural Reflect Sunscreen Lotion Kids SPF 50+ is that it can appear chalky on darker skins. Otherwise, Banana Boat Natural Reflect Sunscreen Lotion Kids SPF 50+ is a win for those suffering from an allergy to Balsam of Peru and/or benzoates!

Sunscreen

Summer temperatures are upon us and with an upcoming vacation to the Carribbean, my thoughts have been focused on packing, the beach and sun protection. Specifically, sunscreen. Besides fragrance being a big no-no to those of us with sensitive skin (and almost every single one smells fruity, coconut-y, tropical, etc., etc.), sunscreen without the use of BOP and/or benzoates is near-impossible to find!


Did you know Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, SPF 70 contains 6% Oxybenzone? Did you know that Vanicream Sunscreen contains Alkyl Benzoate? Beware of the term "AVO" in the indredient list- it translates to avobenzone, another type of benzoate.


After doing a little research on the internet, I did come up with the following information:


-Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide are natural sunblocks. Not only would this be worth looking into if you are allergic to BOP/benzoates, but it might be a good alternative if you are afraid of those scary reports floating around about mass-produced, chemically-charged sunscreen products mimicking estrogen in young girls and causing cancer in others. Just saying...


-While I have not personally tried these products, I did find that Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive, SPF 30 and Fallene Face Cotz Water-Resistant Sun Protection claim to be free of fragrance, hypo-allergenic and appear to be free of benzoates.


Other than that, may I suggest, a wide-brimmed hat, shade, sunglasses and limited sun exposure for your next outdoor adventure, this summer....?!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving has come and gone. After getting my hand in pretty good condition, I wanted to be *somewhat* good in order to maintain it.

The following items that I ate were BOP free:

-Turkey

-Stuffing (bread, eggs, potatoes, onions, celery)

-Hard boiled eggs

-Cheese

-Dinner Roll

The next list of items that I ate (it was Thanksgiving, after all!) did have some BOP:

-Sweet Potato casserole (cinnamon)

-Pumpkin Roll (cinnamon)

-Ravioli and Meatballs (tomato sauce)

Like every good holiday meal, I probably ate more than I should, but I definitely enjoyed myself. I only ate a little bit off the "no-no" list and I did not have any alcohol (fermentation process can really bother BOP allergies).

Halloween- BOP style

Chocolate! Candy! Chocolate! Candy! What is a girl (suffering from a BOP allergy) to do during this Halloween, candy, sugar- laden season?!

Sadly, chocolate is out of the question. *sigh*

All I can really say about this is READ those labels and study them hard! Some fruit-flavored candies may be okay as long as they are not citrus-y. However, watch out for citric acid and/or the use of lemon juice in fruit-flavored candies.

So, may I suggest popping up some popcorn on the stove for an alternative to the Halloween festivities? Do like the Irish and sprinkle a little sugar on the popcorn for something sweet (think kettle corn). Or, toast some pumpkin seeds from Mr. Jack-O-Lantern and season with salt for something crunchy. If you are feeling really daring, a nice pumpkin mousse (sans cinnamon) with a dollop of fresh whipped cream (that way you can omit the use of vanilla) would be divine!

Happy Haunting!

Fourth of July Menu Recap

When dealing with a BOP allergy there are a lot of things you CAN'T eat. However, the purpose of this blog is to point out things that you CAN eat and still avoid BOP. So, when celebrating America's Independence Day, indulge in the following:

-Hamburgers (sans ketchup, mustard, pickles and tomatoes- load up on onions, sprouts, cucumbers, garlic, cheese).
-Tossed Salad dressed with garlic salt and olive oil.
-Bean salad with olive oil and no vinegar.
-Macaroni salad made without mustard or vinegar.
-Fresh Fruit and cream
-Corn Chips, Tortillas, Pretzels
-Pies, crisps and cobblers tend to be okay as long as they are free of vanilla and cinnamon.