Ideal Bite

Can anyone recommend a paraben-free sunscreen good for acne-prone skin? This, I have found, is a toughie.

Cat: I use Alba Botanica sunscreen - it's paraben free and not greasy at all: http://www.albabotanica.com/?id=72&pid=137 Cindi: I'd be careful with The Body Shop, I've found lots of their products with parabens/additives. They've been bought out by L'Oreal (need I say more?)

I was really pumped when I got today's tip, about paraben-free cosmetics. However, when I went to check out Cargo's Plant Love lipsticks, I read the ingredients and they are NOT paraben-free. Their packaging is really cool, but I actually think its a little misleading to include this product in a tip about paraben-free cosmetics when, in fact, they contain paraben.

Thanks for removing Cargo's lipsticks from the list! ;)

Re: The Body Shop - yes, I recently was browsing around in one during an airport layover and was quite shocked to see that everything I picked up had parabens in it! I had thought they were such an earth-friendly company, and was really disappointed. Plus it meant I couldn't sample anything (makes for a boring layover). :( Hey, here is a question I've been really hoping you'll tackle at some point: what does one do with paraben-laced items given with love by an unsuspecting family member? I received a big ol' thing of body butter for Xmas (and through the years have gotten many other products) with parabens in it. I don't want to use it, obviously. I don't want to regift it, because that's like saying here, friend, you can have my breast cancer. I don't want to put it in a landfill. And it would have been exceedingly rude to reject the gift outright (and still would be not taken well by this aunt for me to try to explain things now...that's just not being a nice receiver). So what does one do?? I don't have room for useless beauty products to sit on my shelves. I think this is a least of several evils scenario (oooohhhh, that would make an awesome theme week - lesser of evils!). I would really really appreciate your wisdom and that of the other posters! What would you do? Throw it out? Regift? Or suck it up and use it?

Just curious as to why Aveda isn't listed. I thought the entire company was eco-friendly?

Just curious as to why Aveda isn't listed? I thought their entire company was about sustainability and eco-friendliness.

Corinne - Great question! I have the same problem myself! I was a HUGE Body Shop fan for years and years. I don't think they are the same since being sold.:( I was really upset when I heard that. And even Aveda, which I also loved, is owned by Estee Lauder.:(

Well, I have a friend who is also a cosmetics fan, and no matter HOW many times I tell her I won't wear stuff with parabens, she ALWAYS gets me some. She sent me that Cargo Plant Love lipstick last week and said, "I know, it has parabens, but it's a really fun producct! Please try it!" And, of course, I didn't. But obviously, no matter how many times I tell her how harmful this stuff is, she continues to buy it and use it - so when I do get cosmetics as gifts that I won't wear, I DO give them to her, because it's obviously not important to her. Apart from that, sometimes I will try to return them to the store they came from...

For environmental and vegetarian reasons, I also try to avoid lanolin in cosmetics, as it's extracted from sheep wool and so much energy, water, and other resources are required for wool production. In addition to parabens, lanolin is another ingredient commonly found in cosmetics, like the Cargo lipsticks. Lately, I've been using "Hemp Organic Lip Tints" from Colorganics.net. They are both paraben- and lanolin-free!