Just this past week, I had the opportunity to have a question and answer session with two of my favourite individuals. I must admit, I use the term favourite often, because I don't tend to speak of things unless I can offer praise. My intention is to share this list of favorites in bite size amounts.
The two I am describing came into my life right as the nanoparticle question arrived in the industry. All of a sudden there was controversy over which type of sunscreen to use and which coverage was the best. After researching a bit, I concluded the chemical sunblocks that often hide as octyl and oxi derivatives aren't so good for our bodies or the water, that supposedly they are formulated to stand up against. This fact left me stunned. How could I begin to have a conscious about what I am washing down the drain, or feeding the fishes? There has been numerous data compiled about the impact it's having on coral reefs. And Zinc being a mineral gets utilized by the skin, and ultimately also ends up in the environment, but luckily it is an element, it's not a toxin. So mineral it is, and nanoparticle? or micronized? I am perfectly okay with using it. The way it's explained by someone who knows far more about me is by likening the molecule to a carpet, and when it's used in it's regular size and form there are many gaps between molecules. This space allows light to get in and penetrate, hence the melanoma or darkened moles, or whatever. By using the smaller particle size, it's actually still pretty big, but it doesn't have the gaps the others do, providing more safety.
I mentioned this simply because of Keys skincare founders Bob Root and Wendy Steele. In fact, Wendy had skin cancer and needed something that worked for her fair skin, that didn't leave her looking like she had rubbed a bunch of (un)petroleum jelly on her. Arriving upon the perfect consistency of zinc based UVA and UVB physical blockers, they formulated solar rx. The process underwent significant research and much effort. http://keys-soap.com/
Bob is a master. I want to say he's an engineer. What I like most about him is that he doesn't come from a place of profitability with his concepts. He's about providing safe and effective alternatives and working to make them more mainstream. I find so much significance in the intention-- his wife, and saving her life, and making her happy.
I love this story, because again, it's the communion of two individuals with a similar goal-passion creating a sense of tangibility for consumers.
We chatted briefly about how the industry is moving so quickly. I've wanted to contribute to a book he's working on, or at least motivate him to publish it. It's shaky ground to expose evidence that supposed natural products aren't so much.
What I love about Keys is the efficacy, the technology, the innovation, the smart and the practical. It's also the only thing that works for some serious skin ailments, the most serious i've ever encountered.
One of the products was formulated for the rescue dogs after 9/11. I remember reading an article about the shoes being provided for the dogs for the mission, to protect their paws. I was incredibly touched at this story, and also the ability to have such a testimony of ethics and ability to assist at the most critical moment.
What I wanted to mention was this rigmarole of passing on of chemicals. I think about this with disposable bottles too. When our recycling facilities are full, they are shipped away, to someplace that has the room, occasionally they'll be tossed in the ocean. I hear there is even plastic in space. Again, I don't want to be a downer. Apparently when bigger companies determine it's time to clean up their act, they have a tendency to ship their "dirty" goods around until they find a population that does not have strict regulations, or does not have the intelligent discernment. I didn't write this entry to be negative.
Having pure and clean products is an educational effort, that many do not have the afforded luxury of worrying about. When formulators go above and beyond with the engineering of fantastic machinery, production, rigorous testing and the highest purity standards I am in awe.
When shopping for sunblock, Check out http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1 and the database for safe cosmetics. It's not the end all be all, in terns of safety because it does have a few flaws, but it's a start.
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