In flight to Florida

On my flight from Puerto Rico to Florida I had 3 hours to sit and think about lots of things, starting a blog was one of them. I want to share all the cool things I have learned about surfing. I feel like I am consistently learning new things from new people and really want to share them with others. Just the other day I met a longboarder girl named Lisa. She is a nurse in Santa Barbara and is a wealth of knowledge. In the short time we spoke she told me some really helpful things. The main thing I want to share with other girls who surf is, the harmful ingredients that are in lots of sunscreens. Unfortunately, I just purchased what I thought was a top of the line, super great, sunscreen that cost $50.00! I know, I know, for a tube of sunscreen. Anyhow, I learned that these harmful ingredients in sunscreen are absorbed through our skin and into our bodies. No bueno! She also told me that there are a bunch of sunscreens that clam to be organic and sometimes are not. So the only way to really know is to be aware of the harmful ingredients and check the sunscreens ourselves. Here are some ingredients found in sunscreens that are not good for our skin.

• Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone)
• PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA,
• p-aminobenzoic acid padimate O or Octyl dimethyl PABA)
• Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl, p-methoxycinnamate)
• Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate)
• Avobenzone (butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane; Parsol 1789)
• Digalloyl trioleate
• Menthyl anthranilate
• Propylene Glycol: Called a humectant in cosmetics, it is industrial antifreeze, and the major ingredient in brake and hydraulic fluid. Material Data Sheets on Propylene Glycol warn to avoid skin contact as it is systemic and can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.