Sunscreen Review (Part 2): Putting 4 EWG Recommended Sunscreens To The Test!

Congratulations!  You did your homework, looked at the Environmental Working Group’s 2009 Sunscreen Guide, and found a great list of sunscreens that protect you from the sun’s harmful rays (UVA & UVB), and is non-toxic for your body. (See what you should avoid in our PART 1 discussion).

Now here comes the tricky part.  Out of the long list, which one should you get?  To help you out with your decision, I’ve decided to do my own “review” of 4 recommended sunscreens.

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Do you DIG your SIGG?

Two years ago, I purchased my first SIGG bottle, and absolutely adored it. Since then, I took it almost everywhere I went, and gifted it for friends on various occasions.

A growing number of concerned consumers, especially new parents began to turn away from plastic bottles and products that contain BPA, and replace them with stainless steel bottles that were BPA Free. BPA is a chemical with the ability to mimic hormones and several studies have linked BPA to weight gain, abnormalities that can lead to breast and prostate cancer, brain damage, abnormal organ development, and hyperactivity.

SIGG was a popular and recognized brand of safe BPA-free bottles. Or so it seemed, until a letter from SIGG's own Steve Wasik stated that their bottles contained BPA lining. This news came as a shock for all SIGG fans, including myself. Apparently, SIGG was never marketed as a "BPA-free" product but rather a product free from leaching. Wasik apologized in a letter for the lack of clarity about the original SIGG liner.

SIGG Company had known about ways their bottles were being perceived and marketed. They knew the increased in the demand of their products came from a false belief that they were BPA-free. However, they watched as the sales rocketed and did nothing to correct the misconception. SIGG had fooled us all.

SIGG is countering their greenwashing image by offering a voluntary exchange program. Your old SIGG bottles can be exchanged for their newly improved bottles with new EcoCare liner. To exchange, SIGG bottle owners must print out shipping label and return form available online, and bear the cost of shipping to a Brampton address.

This is a huge disappointment for consumers. it's difficult to say when the consumer confidence will recover but the exchange program is a good start. Even better if they had covered the shipping costs.

While I'm getting ready to exchange all 3 SIGG bottles at home, I can't see myself purchasing a SIGG product anytime soon. The damage is done....

Defeat The Skeete

Having a 'Skeeter Syndrome', also known as a mosquito allergy, has resulted in me avoiding the wilderness and loving it from afar. Unlike your typical itchy red bumps, my mosquito bites would swell, blister then bruise. The swelling would cover most of my arms and legs, making it difficult to move my joints and muscles.

So it was a brave decision I made six months ago, when my friends decided to book a camping ground at Sandbanks National Park for a summer weekend. I said YES to go camping for the first time in the last 13 years. In order to survive the weekend, I knew I needed a good insect repellent.

PART 1: THE SEARCH

What is DEET?
The majority of bug repellents contain DEET(also known as diethyl-meta toluamide), a dangerous toluene chemical, which is also used in rubber and plastic cements and paint removers. When a repellent is sprayed, DEET is absorbed through our skin and passes into the blood, which can not only lead to headaches and skin irritations but also to brain swelling in children, anaphylactic shock and low blood pressure.

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My Favorite Stainless Steel Lunch Container

For the eco-minded individual, changing the way you bring your lunch (ie from zip-lock bags to a re-useable container) can make a big impact on the amount of garbage you produce.  With BPA as a major health concern, you probably want to avoid using plastic tupperware.  Glass is a good option, but they tend to be large, heavy, and prone to breaking. 

Last month, I was on a hunt; to find a light, compact, and durable container to replace my glass tupperware for my lunches and snacks on the go.  The solution?  Stainless Steel!

My search brought me to little India, The Big Carrot, and Grassroots in Toronto.  I found some great options on the market, including the Canadian branded Greentainer, as well as other stackable stainless steel containers.  However, the container that caught my (and my girlfriend’s) eye was the Stainless Steel Lunch Box by Zebra Thailand that I found at Grassroots.  The stainless steel container, called the "Camping Pot" on the Zebra Thailand Website, comes with a stainless steel insert that provides 2 levels of food compartments, a lid, and a closing latch that transforms into a pot handle! 

I ended up bringing the Zebra container for a camping trip, and I was the recipient of many envious looks!  The container served as a bowl for my cereal, and kept hot noodles and soup warm for a long time (the “pot” handle allowed me to hold the container without burning my hands, which was a bonus). I also used the insert and lid as plates for my various side dishes.

At a price of $15.99 at Grassroots, this stainless steel container was a great buy, and does exactly what I need it to do.  Definitely no regrets here!