Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Bubi Baby Butter

Bubi baby butter is soothing for babes and moms alike. The handmade combination of organic shea butter, coconut oil, calendula, and chamomile leaves skin hydrated during this cold, dry time of year.

The butter is free of petroleum by-products, fragrance, lanolin, and surprisingly, zinc-oxide. I have yet to find a diaper cream that does not have zinc-oxide, including many natural brands. There is debate about the safety of zinc-oxide, so some choose to avoid it. Most commercial creams contain zinc-oxide, as it helps to form a barrier for the skin. Soothing oils can work wonders in comparison to the commercial creams, and certainly won’t generate free-radicals or mess with my kid’s endocrine function!

Bubi’s works and can be used anywhere – parched hands, wind-burned cheeks and dry lips love it.

Nanoparticles in Sunscreen: What They Are & How to Avoid Them

Last summer, there was a lot of talk of nanoparticles after the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and other consumer advocacy groups questioned their safety. Nanoparticles – specifically, those found in sunscreens – are ultra-small particles of zinc and titanium dioxide. Making the particles so small ensures that sunscreen goes on clear instead of remaining opaque, but comprehensive studies had never been done on their potential toxicity and the extent to which they’re absorbed into the skin.

The EWG has since concluded that nanoparticles of zinc and titanium don’t penetrate the skin enough to pose a potential hazard, and their list of recommended sunscreens doesn’t take nanoparticles into account. But, if you want to be on the safe side just in case, you can still avoid nanoparticles in sunscreen. Model Angela Lindvall explains how below:

So, all you have to do is check the ingredient list for ‘nano’, ‘ultrafine’, and also another one not mentioned in the video, ‘micronized’. If your sunscreen doesn’t contain any mention of those, you’re probably in the clear. You can also tell by whether your sunscreen goes on clear or stays white after you apply it. Remember that the biggest sunscreen safety hazards aren’t related to nanoparticles – they’re chemicals, which are not only absorbed by the skin and end up in the blood and organs but aren’t as effective. So, stick with titanium dioxide and zinc.

A few nanoparticle-free sunscreens are Avalon Organics Natural Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 18), Alba Mineral Sunscreens and Lavera SPF 40+ Neutral Sun Block.

For a full explanation of nanoparticles and how the Environmental Working Group rated the sunscreens in their report, see their nanotechnology summary.