1. What Minerals and Chemicals are in Sunscreen? By Kyle Gusho

2. Project Background I’m extremely sensitive to the sun, and to sunscreen, so I’m interested to know what minerals or chemicals are actually used. My goal is to understand if different brands use different ingredients – and if any of those ingredients have been identified to have side effects. The 3 brands I will investigate are: Banana Boat – because it’s popular Coppertone – because it’s popular Thinksport – because it’s recommended by safety advocates

3. Initial Findings In my research I discovered that there are basically 2 types of sunscreen: 1.Chemical based 2.Mineral based I will show in the following slides which brands use which approach, and what is preferred.

4. Brand #1: Banana Boat Banana Boat is a chemical-based lotion that has 5 active sunscreen ingredients: 1.Avobenzone 2.Homosalate 3.Oxybenzone 4.Octisalate 5.Octocrylene WARNING! Oxybenzone is a hormone disrupting chemical which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream. It is the most popular ingredient in chemical based sunscreens and only blocks UVB ray (sun’s good rays that provide vitamin D production), not UVA which are the most free radical damaging rays. Avoid any sunscreen that has this chemical at all costs, especially for children.

5. Brand #2: Coppertone Coppertone lotion uses a combination of chemical and mineral ingredients: AvobenzoneHomosalateOctisalateOctocryleneOxybenzone Zinc oxide WARNING! Oxybenzone is a hormone disrupting chemical which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream. It is the most popular ingredient in chemical based sunscreens and only blocks UVB ray (sun’s good rays that provide vitamin D production), not UVA which are the most free radical damaging rays. Avoid any sunscreen that has this chemical at all costs, especially for children. GOOD NEWS! Zinc Oxide is a mineral that does not penetrate the skin, yet provides good protection against harmful effects of the sun.

6. Brand #3: Thinksport Thinksport has 1 active ingredient: 1.Zinc Oxide Thinksport is free of biologically harmful chemicals: No Avobenzone No Oxybenzone No UV Chemical absorbers GOOD NEWS! Zinc Oxide is a mineral that does not penetrate the skin, yet provides good protection against harmful effects of the sun. MORE GOOD NEWS! No Oxybenzone!

7. Conclusion Most popular sunscreens are chemical based, including Banana Boat and Coppertone Chemical based sunscreens include Oxybenzone. This is a chemical that should be avoided at all costs – especially in children Mineral based sunscreens use Zinc Oxide for protection. The mineral Zinc Oxide provides a safe way to protect your skin from the sun, and also avoids the side effects of chemical based sunscreens.

8. Visual Conclusion ✓

9. Sources http://foodbabe.com/2013/05/05/what-you-need- to-know-before-you-ever-buy-sunscreen-again/ http://foodbabe.com/2013/05/05/what-you-need- to-know-before-you-ever-buy-sunscreen-again/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/157304- coppertone-ingredients/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/157304- coppertone-ingredients/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/152947- banana-boat-lotion-ingredients/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/152947- banana-boat-lotion-ingredients/