Cloth Diaper Wipes and Wipe Solutions- The Perfect Combination- Giveaway Closed

This is our second post in our cloth wipes series. The first post detailed 4 reasons why you should make the switch to cloth diaper wipes and ditch the disposables.

There are two types of cloth wipe solutions: liquid and cube form.

Liquid solutions come in either concentrated or diluted forms and can be used in foaming or spray bottles. Diluted forms can be purchased ready to use. No muss, no fuss.
When purchasing liquid solutions you run the risk of the product leaking during shipping (if you are purchasing online), and they are also heavier to ship. Also without the addition of preservatives (which we don't want added!) these liquid solutions do not have a very long shelf life. Some great brands you can check out for liquid solutions: bumGenius Bottom Cleaner, Northern Essence Natural Wipe Concentrate, and Happy Heiny's.

At our family of shops we carry 2 varieties of cube brands for our customers. Monkey Doodlez and Knickernappies.
Monkey Doodlez SLS Free Wipe Cubes are made in Ontario. They contain lavender and tea tree oil to aid at keeping bacteria and fungus away, aloe vera for their tender bums and are vegetable based, so also safe for vegans.

Knickernappies Baby Bum Drops are made with organic calendula blossoms and aloe vera to help soothe the skin and clear skin irritations. A natural glycerin soap base creates a mild cleansing action, and pure essential oils of lavender and mandarin help to create an aromatic calming atmosphere. Also contains anti-bacterial tea tree essential oil to keep your baby wipes fresh and germ-free.

To use them you simply add 2 cups of hot water (we use boiling water, but you need to plan ahead with this as it needs to cool before you can use it) and stir while the cube dissolves. We mix our batches in a Mason Jar and make a litre at a time. Once you have mixed your solution it is good for a week. We pile our wipes high in an old disposable wipes container and pour the solution over the top of them, so they are ready to use when it is "bum change" time. For outings we like to take dry wipes and put the solution in an old pericare bottle (most hospitals give you one free when you deliver), you can wet wipes as needed and having that extra solution is great for cleaning up sticky messes too!

There are advantages and disadvantages to each form of wipe solution, however once they are prepared, both are in liquid form and they will work in the same manner. To use the solutions, simply add to an old peri bottle, a spritzing or foaming bottle, or directly to your wipes in an old margarine tub, disposable wipes container or wipes warmer. Although some would spray baby, we recommend spraying or wetting your wipes and then using them on baby.
Enjoy the relaxing fragrances from these great wipes solutions.

Want to win a wipes cube trial pack from Natural Parenting Shop?
How to enter: Become a follower of this blog (mandatory to win) then visit Baby's Bottom Line, Natural Parenting Shop or Moms and Bums and tell me what one other item you would purchase besides wipes/wipe solution and why. (you can tell us one item from each site for 3 separate entries).
Entrance Guidelines

-Please, be sure to leave us a way to contact you. You can be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you.

You can also add your email to your comments (ie. info(at)naturalparentingshop(dot)com).
-This contest runs until Friday September 3, 2010 @ 11:59pm EST.
-Winners are chosen using random.org, and notified on Saturday September 4th, winners name will also be posted on Blog and Facebook
-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.
-Participation is open to cloth diaper users in CANADA ONLY!
-How to earn extra entries:
* LIKE Canadian Cloth Diaper Stores on Facebook
* LIKE Natural Parenting Shop on Facebook
* LIKE Moms and Bums on Facebook
* LIKE Baby's Bottom Line on Facebook
* Follow @momsandbums on Twitter
* Follow @ParentingShop on Twitter
* Follow @babysbottomline on Twitter
* Follow @CDN_clothstores on Twitter
* Place the Canadian Cloth Diaper Stores Button on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway. Using @ParentingShop, @momsandbums, @babysbottomline, or @CDN_clothstores in the tweet and link to this GiveAway (You may tweet 2x per day/@ for 1 bonus entry each)
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it for 1 bonus entry per posting).

--- You must be a follower of this blog to win- that is your mandatory entry. You must post a separate comment for each entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---
Congrats to Charlotte, lucky #5

NUTS ABOUT SOAPNUTS- Giveaway Closed

There are so many options out there for laundry now and days. But there is one choice that has been around for centuries long before being “green” was the “in” thing. Soap nuts! They were commonly used in China, India (where they are grown), as well as other parts of Europe. However it is only recently the west has found how great soap nuts are.

Soap nuts are not really a nut at all but a dried fruit of the Ritha (also known as Soap nut berry) plant or . Farmers collect the fruit on the ground and they are then dried. They are paid fair wages for their nuts, helping the sometime lower income farmers. They contain a natural soap called saponin; this is what makes the nut so amazing.


Unlike many other detergents on the market soap nuts are 100% derived from vegetables, yet are still able to provide deep cleaning abilities. These deep cleaning abilities are not compromised with being gentle on fabrics.
Soap nuts are wonderful for washing delicate fibres with. They are also gentle on those who use them being non-allergenic and hypoallergenic.
Great for those who have sensitive skin, eczema and children’s laundry.

What makes them great for cloth diapers is that they are able to leave no residue while cleaning your diapers. They also able remove any residue from previous detergents. People are often alarmed how many suds are in the washer when they first switch over to soap nuts. This is not because soap nuts are high sudsing, it is because they are stripping out the old residue that the previous detergent had left behind.

Using soap nuts on your diapers is easy. If you are doing a hot wash (which I think everyone should do when they wash cloth diapers), its as easy as putting a few nuts in a muslin bag (which the nuts come with) and tying it.
No need to remove the bag during the (cold) rinse. The natural soap is only released in warm or hot water. You can use soap nuts in a regular cold wash cycles by making a liquid. I don’t believe there is an exact science to this but I simply take a handful of nuts and simmer them in a saucepan full or water on the stove for about 20 minutes. I then let it cool, drain and put it in a jar (or a laundry detergent container would work well
also.) I use about ½ a cup in my wash cycle. The soap nuts have a very mild vinegar scent but there is no scent to any clothes that have been laundered.

The beauty about using soap nuts is that they are reusable. When the nut is done it becomes soft and gummy feeling. Being an all natural product they are biodegradable and compostable.

Soap nuts have so many wonderful benefits beyond laundry. You can make home made cleaners with the liquid, it can be used for washing your pet, hair or car. The applications are many.

Want to try them? Win a 50 gram sample package. First go to www.morethanclothdiapers.com and tell me what you would like to try from my site and why. This must be done before any of the other entries count.

Additional entries:
-like more than cloth diapers on face book -like Canadian cloth retailers on face book
-* Follow @CDN_clothstores on Twitter
* Place the Canadian Cloth Diaper Stores Button on your site or Blog
* tell about this give away on face book using @morethanclothdiapers and @ canadianclothretailers
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it for 1 bonus entry per posting

This contest is open for Canadian residents only.

Congratulations to Kimberley, lucky #3!

Cloth Diaper Wipes: 4 great reasons to make the switch

Cloth Diaper Wipes are the Perfect Partner to Cloth Diapers

You'll love using cloth diaper wipes for all the reasons you love your cloth diapers! They're softer on your babies skin, chemical free and will save you money! Need more reasons to make the switch to cloth diaper wipes? Keep reading!

Cloth Diaper Wipes are Softer on your babies skin!

Cloth diaper wipes are made out of soft flannel, fuzzy velour, luxurious sherpa and looped terry.

Cloth diaper wipes pamper your child's tender skin. Disposable wipes can be rough, and are made from plastic pellets and chemicals!

Cloth diaper wipes are also perfect for cleaning up those messy faces, runny noses and sticky fingers! Nothing is too messy for cloth diaper wipes to clean up!

Cloth diaper wipes come in several sizes: 5X7's are the perfect fit for your wipes warmer or recycled disposables box. The larger 8X8 size just needs to be folded in half to fit, but handles bigger messes! Just fill your old disposables box, wipes warmer or even an old margarine container with wipes and add some water or wipes solution, and you're ready to go!

Cloth Diaper Wipes are Easy to use

It is easier to use cloth diaper wipes with cloth diapers than to use disposable wipes. Simply wet your cloth wipe with plain water or cloth wipe solution for a comfortable, effective way to clean up. What do you do with them after they are soiled? Just toss them into the diaper pail with the dirty diaper. No more sorting through that dirty diaper to throw disposable wipes in the garbage! Wash your cloth wipes with your cloth diapers. Cloth diaper wipes will fit in your recycled disposable wipe container, recycled margarine container, or even Tupperware. Cant find a container? No problem! You can also wet your wipes as you need them.

Cloth Diaper Wipes Save you Money

Not only are cloth diaper wipes soft and easy to use, you'll save money by switching from disposable to cloth! When you throw away disposable wipes, you're throwing away your money. Many

families spend over $100.00/month on disposables and wipes! Many disposable wipes are so thin that you need to use two or three at a time - more money being thrown away. Cloth diaper wipes are washed and reused to save money, and will usually last through more than one child. Thick enough to handle the messiest of cloth diaper changes, cloth diaper wipes remain soft wash after wash.

Cloth Diaper Wipes are Chemical Free

Cloth diaper wipes are better for your child's delicate skin than disposable wipes! Cloth diaper wipes are made from natural hemp, cotton and bamboo, and only have the ingredients you add to them. Disposable wipes contain chemical ingredients such as preservatives, surfactants, artificial fragrance and parabens. And those cloth like fibres are actually melted plastic pellets! To learn more about the chemicals that go into them and how disposable wipes are made check out e-notes.

A note about home made wipes solutions and recipes:

You need to use caution when home made wipes solutions call for commercial products (like baby wash or shampoo). Shampoo and Baby Wash manufacturers are not required to list every ingredient contained in their product(s). Unfortunately, many commercial products do leave out the fact that their shampoo or baby wash contains phthalates (as surfactants). Which have the potential to cause reproductive problems/cancers and can be quite toxic. It is highly recommended that you check the ingredients list on any product you intend to use on your little ones delicate skin and research those ingredients.

Stay tuned to our next entry on wipe solutions to buy and home made recipes!

Want to win a wipes variety pack from Natural Parenting Shop?
How to enter: Become a follower of this blog (mandatory to win) then visit Baby's Bottom Line, Natural Parenting Shop or Moms and Bums and tell me what one other item you would purchase besides wipes and why. (you can tell us one item from each site for 3 separate entries).
Entrance Guidelines

-Please, be sure to leave us a way to contact you. You can be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you.

You can also add your email to your comments (ie. info(at)naturalparentingshop(dot)com).
-This contest runs until Friday August 20, 2010 @ 11:59pm EST.
-Winners are chosen using random.org, and notified on Saturday July 24th, winners name will also be posted on Blog and Facebook
-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.
-Participation is open to cloth diaper users in CANADA ONLY!
-How to earn extra entries:
* LIKE Canadian Cloth Diaper Stores on Facebook
* LIKE Natural Parenting Shop on Facebook
* LIKE Moms and Bums on Facebook
* LIKE Baby's Bottom Line on Facebook
* Follow @momsandbums on Twitter
* Follow @ParentingShop on Twitter
* Follow @babysbottomline on Twitter
* Follow @CDN_clothstores on Twitter
* Place the Canadian Cloth Diaper Stores Button on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway. Using @ParentingShop, @momsandbums, @babysbottomline, or @CDN_clothstores in the tweet and link to this GiveAway (You may tweet 2x per day/@ for 1 bonus entry each)
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it for 1 bonus entry per posting).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Contest closed:

winners #70 & 75

Why Use Reusables?

The reasons to use reusable or cloth diapers are many. This blog post will outline a few of the reasons many families are making the choice to ditch disposable diapers and use reusables.

No matter what you believe regarding the environmental impact of cloth versus disposable diapers, you need to understand that VOLUME is a huge part of the equation. How many disposable diapers would you estimate a baby will go through before he or she potty learns? Let’s start counting….300 in the first month…..250-300 in the second month….all added up for a total of 5000-7000 diapers tossed into the trash! That is a huge amount of garbage! Imagine piling 300 dirty disposables next to your newborn the first month of their life, then another 300 the next month and keep going. Because it is so easy to simply drop a disposable in the garbage and not think about it any further, the cumulative impact of throwing away diapers can be elusive for some parents considering how to diaper their baby. Compare those 5000-7000 disposables with the 30-80 reusable diapers a baby will require, depending on the system being used. That is potentially 6970 fewer diapers to be manufactured, packaged, shipped, etc.!

Over four MILLION disposable diapers are discarded in Canada each day!

The effluents from manufacturing the plastic, pulp and bleached paper for disposable diapers are damaging to the environment. 2.4 million trees in Canada and one billion trees world-wide are used per year to manufacture disposable diapers. In Canada, the manufacture of disposable diapers consumes over 65,500 tonnes of plastic each year.

Most parents using disposable diapers do not dispose of solid waste properly by dumping them into the toilet. The untreated waste placed in landfills by dirty disposable diapers risks contaminating ground water.

Babies have diapers in contact with delicate areas 24 hours a day. Many parents have concerns about chemical exposure from exposure to disposable diapers. A diaper has more prolonged contact with your baby’s skin than anything else in their wardrobe or environment. The fluffy part of disposables is a pulp which is produced by chemically treating wood fibres. The pulp is whitened and softened when it is exposed to either chlorine-based or other bleaching agents. The waterproof part of throw-away diapers is made out of plastic. Disposable diapers are absorbent because they contain tiny beads of a substance called sodium polyacrylate. This chemical turns into gel-like crystals when wet. No long term research has been conducted to study the effect of this chemical on young children. Disposable diapers may also contain dioxins, pthalates, petrolatum, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, inks, perfumes, polyurethane and adhesives. Do you REALLY want any of these chemicals touching your baby's skin?

Purchase and launder your own cloth diapers and save hundreds or thousands of dollars compared to using disposables or a diaper service. When your child has potty learned, you will have diapers left to sell or to use for your next baby. It is possible, using a cloth diapering system of flats or prefolds and covers, to cloth diaper a baby for under $300 total, through to potty learning.

Diapering System	Cost	Notes
Prefolds & Covers	$300-500	Laundering diapers costs less than a dollar per load
One-Size Pockets	$575	24 diapers total
Sized All-in-Ones	$1200	24 small, 20 medium, 16 large
Diaper Service (average cost)	$2800	*assumes potty learning at age 2.5
Disposables	$2200 or more	*assumes potty learning at age 2.5

Camping with More than Cloth Diapers

Every year at this time I get the urge… the urge to go camping! Weather you are a back woods camper or sleeping in an RV you can still use your cloth while camping!

Going camping with children requires a lot more planning (and in my opinion) a lot more work! Gone are the days of relaxing with a book. Now my days are spent planning meals, cleaning (yes can’t escape that) and chasing children from going on the road.

I am die hard about using cloth for our children. Our youngest who is almost a year has never had a disposable product touch his bottom. So it is not a stretch I travel with my cloth. There are a few things I have learned over the past 6 yrs of doing so.

Diaper laundry- I try to have to this caught up before we leave. I have even been know to leave with damp diapers to finish drying on the campsite clothes line. If there are dirty diapers when I leave I leave them in the washer with some water. If I am going for longer that the weekend., I would do a quick hand wash and hang it on the clothes line for when I return.

Wipes- I always being lots of cloth wipes. They are great for wiping more than bums. We always go threw more than expected. Sometimes preschoolers have accidents while traveling just because of stage fright and we use more.

Wipe solution- I don’t need to bring nearly as much if I add some to a small spray bottle and just mist and wipe. A small spray bottle will last you several camping trips. (I keep this kind of spray bottle in my diaper bag at all times anyway.)

Liners- If you don’t want badly stained diapers this is the way to go. When poop sits, it stains! Some of my diapers from last summer never came clean despite sunning and (yes I tried a light bleach). it’s a small price to pay for stain free diapers.

Wet bags- I take a large size one for each day of camping. No smells escape from them. Add a few more the swimsuits and super dirty clothes. One can never have too many wet bags!
Bum Bum Balm- I almost never get rashes on my children but if I don’t bring it I would so its like insurance it won’t happen.

Before I leave I pack all my diaper and accessories in a child’s rolling suitcase. Its all in one place ready to go.

I have never had to wash at the campsite before. I am lucky to have a large enough stash I have never needed to. If I did I would have everything ready to throw in the washer and not make a big deal out of it. The public might get freaked out about washing dirty diapers in a public washer. But really its not a big deal. Just act like you are washing regular laundry. Don’t forget to bring your favorite laundry detergent.

Some extras you may not think of are underwear for the preschooler… yes mine are sure to have some accidents. Lots of underwear and wipes make this easier.

Potty- for the preschooler.. Great for in the camper (or tent) helps them get over stage fright. Saves endless trips to the washroom and back.

I have found that its really no bother at all to bring out cloth… it’s a life style for us.
Happy Camping!
Photos taken at Arrowhead Park in Ontario.

Gabriel's Picks #3- FuzziBunz

A quick recap for those whoa re new to Gabriel's picks: Gabriel is the youngest Moms and Bums family member. Born at 34 weeks and 5lbs 3oz, Gabriel needed some special small diapers. Gabriel's Picks goes through some of our favorite preemie and newborn diapers on the market today. In the first edition we discussed Bummis Preemie Prefolds and Super Brite Covers. In the second edition we discussed the new Tini Fit and Easy Fit from Tots Bots. This edition will discuss FuzziBunz® Extra Small and One Size Pocket Cloth Diapers.

FuzziBunz® are pocket diapers made by Mother of Eden. If you are not familiar with pocket diapers, here is a quick rundown for you.

All pocket diapers have the same basic construction: an inside wicking layer (for the "stay-dry" feeling), an absorbent insert and an outside waterproof layer. These layers can be made up of different materials, but in the case of FuzziBunz® they are microfleece, microfibre and PUL (polyurethane laminate- they have taken fabric and laminated it so it is waterproof). These are also the most common materials for pocket diapers.

We love to use pocket diapers when we are out and about for a few reasons, but here are the main two:
1. They are less bulky in the diaper bag, so for a quick trip to the store it means I can throw a couple diapers (one for Gabriel and one for Aubrey) in a small bag and be set. For those of you who are new moms, we once left the house without a diaper bag for a quick trip to the store with our oldest. About 10 minutes into our shopping Kiera decided to have a huge poop, needless to say we have never left the house without a bag again!
2. They go on quicker than prefolds and in one step. If you have ever tried to diaper a squirming baby on one of those fold out changing tables, you know you want something quick and easy!

With an average sizing of 4-12lbs we found the XS FuzziBunz® were a great pocket during those first few months when not much else fit our little man. Gabriel was just over 5lbs when we started using our FuzziBunz®. Even tough the One Size is rated for newborns and not preemies, with the button hole elastics to adjust the sizing, we found it worked just as well as the XS for us. The One Size comes with 2 inserts, one for smaller and one for larger settings. For preemie sizing we used a smaller insert, as the small one that comes with it was just too bulky!
The XS FuzziBunz® differ slightly from the other perfect sized FuzziBunz® in that they do not have the extra row of leg snaps. With a 6'6" dad Gabriel is tall for his age, and at 10lbs 9oz the rise just wasn't long enough anymore, and plumber bum just doesn't mix with breastmilk poops!

We have had to adjust the sizing on the One Size a few times and have sized up on the insert to the small that comes with it, but at 12lbs 13oz and 4 months old it is still going strong! Definitely worth every penny! Check out the video below made by FuzziBunz demonstrating the use of their One Size. When you adjust your One Size for the first time be sure to adjust one button at a time! I blame it on sleep deprivation, but this Mama unbuttoned both ends and accidentally pulled the elastic right out! I can say this- replacing the elastics will be a very simple job!
Visit us for great deals on discontinued colors.

Summer, Sun and Sunscreen

Although this is a “cloth diapering” blog, I know that many parents who cloth diaper tend to embrace a more natural approach when it comes to other decisions concerning their children. I thought today, I would stray from diapers a bit and discuss sun safety.

It’s summer and every time we take our tender skinned wee kiddos outside, we consider the implications of the rays emitted by the big glowing orb in the sky. The debates surrounding sunscreen and sun protection rage and many parents are unsure what to do. Do you avoid the sun altogether during the hours of the day when the rays are most dangerous? Can a parent safely lather on the sunscreen to protect their kids? Does sunscreen really protect? Is sunscreen chemically safe? Should a parent allow their child some sun exposure? I definitely cannot answer all of these questions, but will attempt to have a look at the sunscreen issue. I am not a scientist, but what follows includes some of what I have read.

Because I continue to question the safety of sunscreen yet acknowledge the potential harm from prolonged unprotected sun exposure, I advocate for a covering up and reducing the need for sunscreen. My kids are used to heading out in sunny weather with a hat and long sleeves or their NoZone sun suits. They cover up as much as possible, requiring little sunscreen.

Standing in the sunscreen aisle trying to decide which one to buy can be a daunting prospect. When considering a sunscreen what should exactly should a parent look for? Obviously, if it does not protect adequately from the sun’s rays, then it is not worth smearing on your child’s skin, no matter how safe it is. What about that complicated list of ingredients. What do those long words mean? Which ingredients should be avoided and which ones are safe? Are there particular ingredients which provide effective sun protection yet are chemically safe?

The Environmental Working Group provides a list of sunscreen chemicals to avoid. They have recently stated that they can recommend only 8% of 500 sunscreens they reviewed, based on the finding associated with some of the ingredients. They have research excerpts to back up their assertions.

Some Canadian doctors do not agree with the Environmental Working Group’s recommendations. The Canadian Dermatology Association points out that many Canadians are not aware of the dangers of repeated exposure to sunlight. While we worry over the potential carcinogenic effects of sunscreen, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that sunshine too is a carcinogen.

What then is a parent to do? We all must make our own informed choices based on research and review. My choice has been to cover my kids up as much as possible, to apply minimal amounts of sunscreen when necessary, and to use a sunscreen which the EWG rates as effective yet safe. If I need to shop for sunscreen, I actually take a copy of the rather complicated chart shown below, with me to the store. I then look up individual ingredients from sunscreen labels. It's a bit of a labourious process, but important.

This is a copy of the Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen chemical chart. Not included in the chart, but discussed in their essay on the subject, is a form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate which the Environmental Working Group states data from an FDA study indicate that when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions (NTP 2009).

· Human exposure – resulting from sunscreen chemicals penetrating skin and reaching sensitive organs or hormone receptors

· Hormone activity – which can impact the regulation of the reproductive, nervous, thyroid and immune systems, particularly if exposures occur during pregnancy or childhood.

· Other toxicity concerns—including sun-related skin allergy, effects on skin and breakdown products

No ingredient is without concerns; EWG’s rating system for sunscreens takes into account the range of concerns and differences in the weight of the evidence for each active ingredient.

Sunscreen chemical	Percent of U.S. sunscreens containing it	Exposure (skin penetration and biomonitoring)	Toxicity concerns
Sunscreens with highest concern for human exposure and toxicity
4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC)	FDA approval pending	Limited skin penetration (1%) in vivo 1-3. Detected in European mothers’ milk at low parts per billion levels 4	Strong evidence of hormone disruption 5-7; 8 9 10; thyroid effects 5; behavioral alterations in female rats 11
Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone)	60%	1-9% absorbed according to in vivo skin studies 1, 2, 12, 13; detected in volunteers’ urine 14, 15 and in European mothers’ milk 4. Present in 96% of Americans’ urine 16, 17; higher maternal exposures are associated with a decrease in birth weight for girls and an increase in boys 18	Hormone disruption 19-22; reproductive effects and altered organ weights in chronic feeding studies 23. High rates of photo-allergy 24.
3-Benzylidene camphor	FDA approval pending		Hormone disruption 8; in vivoeffects—behavior and estrous cycling 11
Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC)	40%	Limited skin penetration in vivo <1% 12, urine 1, 2, 14 and in European mothers’ milk at low parts per billion levels.4	Multiple estrogenic effects 5, 6, 19; 21. Thyroid hormone reductions 25; and hormone-mediated immune effects.26Moderate rates of skin allergy. {Rodriguez, 2006 #2683}
Padimate O	1.0%	Limited skin penetration.27 Detected in European mothers’ milk at low parts per billion levels.4	Estrogenic effects 19, 28 8. Damages DNA 29: causes allergic reactions in some people.
Sunscreens with moderate concern for human exposure and toxicity
Octocrylene	49%	Limited skin penetration in vivo 27. Detected in European mothers’ milk.4	Slight to moderate skin irritation.30
Ensulizole	1.2%	Skin penetration measured in vivo, documented concentrations in urine.31	Occasional photoallergic reactions reported.32, 33
Homosalate	45%	Limited skin penetration in vivo <1% 12. Not detected in European mothers’ milk.4	Limited evidence of hormone disruption.8, 19, 22, 28. Toxic metabolites 34
Sulisobenzone (Benzophenone-4)	0.2%	Skin penetration measured 35, estimated at 1%.36	Limited evidence of hormone disruption.37
Zinc Oxide	29%	Very limited skin penetration.38 Estimated at 0.4% in volunteers for nano- and conventional partical sizes. Unknown whether it is in elemental (harmless) or insoluble particle form (toxicologically harmful)39	No photoallergy or hormone disruption. Skin cell study found zinc nanoparticles provoked oxidative stress and DNA damage 40. Coatings may reduce skin reactivity. Zinc inhalation causes lung inflammation.41
Titanium Dioxide	28%	Very limited skin penetration 38: penetration of hairless mouse skin 42: no skin penetration in min-pigs 43.	No photoallergy or hormone disruption. Probable carcinogen when inhaled 44. Inhaled nanoparticles reach organs, cross placenta and enter brain.45-47 Skin damage in vitro48.
Sunscreens with lowest concern for human exposure and toxicity
Avobenzone	50%	Limited skin penetration in vivo 27; and in vitro (0.8%) 3, 49	No evidence of photoallergy or hormone disruption.
Mexoryl SX	Limited approval (4 formulations); broader FDA approval pending	Limited skin penetration in vivo (0.16%).50	No evidence of hormone disruption. Rarely reported skin allergy, more often in children.51
Octisalate	59%	Limited skin penetration in vivo <1%.12 andin vitro (~0.5%).52	Rarely, allergic contact dermatitis.53
Tinosorb M	FDA approval pending	Low skin penetration measured in vitro.54	No in vitro hormone effects. Did not stimulate uterotrophic activityin vivo.55 Allergic reactions uncommon.56
Tinosorb S	FDA approval pending		No in vitro hormone effects; did not stimulate uterotrophic activity.55

4 other ingredients approved in the United States are almost never used in sunscreen, and poorly studied: Menthyl Anthranilate, Benzophenone-8, PABA and Trolamine salicylate