It's Worth the Extra Expense, Time and Effort

On occasion I’m asked if it really is worth the extra expense, time and effort it takes to make our all-natural products. Especially when we could easily cut corners, save money and pump out product faster if we went the synthetic/chemical route. There is so much value in what we do, value in not only in the careful craftsmanship and hand-selected all-natural ingredients, but even more important, value in our customer’s experience.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nothing makes my job more rewarding than stories from our fans. They’re a valued reminder that the way we do things is the right way. It warms my heart to read your testimonials and it’s even better when I am able to meet people face-to-face and hear their stories. Our own Todd Anderson suffered from severe Atopic Dermatitis and was on heavy doses of steroids with little improvement before he started using our complete line of products (see Todd’s story in our past blogs). 

Recently, Sherrie shared her experience with us and it is no surprise to me that our products did help her. For more than 15 years we have been providing products to Emerson hospital in Boston who use them on their radiation patients. Our natural alternatives to harsh chemicals work. But Sherrie says it better than I ever could:

Dear Absolutely Natural, 

I have been using your lotions and body oils for several years and have been very pleased with them. Recently, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo radiation therapy. I had to have 33 treatments and they told me that after the first 10-15 treatments I would start experiencing skin damage similar to a very severe sunburn.  

The doctor gave me a couple of different radiation lotions to try and told me to use them and decide which one worked the best for me. After looking at them, I decided to start with the Absolutely Natural Restorative Body lotion, and supplemented it with the Organic Beauty Oil a few times a week. I figured if the symptoms got too bad I could switch to one of the radiation lotions at that point. 

After a couple of weeks in my skin was still looking really good and my doctor asked me which type of lotion I had chosen. I told him about Absolutely Natural and he said that it was working great and to stick with it! By the end of treatment, my skin was fairly red and irritated, I have been finished about a week now and all of the redness has turned to tan! I have believed that Absolutely Natural was a good product for several years, but now I am convinced that it is a great product!!  

Thanks for making such good lotions and oils! 

Sincerely,
Sherrie

Thanks Sherrie for making the effort to reach out and share your story with us. I means so much to my team and I to hear it. 

Best regards,

Charley

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there is good news in the fight against breast cancer.  Survival rates are up.  They are longer in term.  Quality of life measurements are way up.  All the research and attention this cruel disease gets is helping.  A lot.

There is also bad news.  A quarter million women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.  More than 40,000 will die.  Think of 8 women in your life.  Mothers, daughters, sisters, teachers, friends, wives, co-workers … one of them will get breast cancer in her lifetime.   That hits home too many times and more research is needed to reduce that rate and to increase the number of survivors of this disease which now number 2.6 million in the U.S.

That requires funding and that’s where Absolutely Natural is stepping up to help.  We are adding to our widely popular Spa Series with a Cherry Blossom lotion with special pink decoration.  Oriental and sensual, our new lotion captures the delicate essence of Japanese Cherry Blossoms with warm base notes of vanilla and oriental woods; this essence is both warm and exotic.

The lotion itself is awesome with Organic aloe, Shea butter and Mango butter to help heal skin while leaving it smooth and silky. Super anti-oxidants such as Irish Moss (Red Algae Extract-Carrageen), Vitamin D Complex and Organic Green Tea keep skin healthy and are 500 times more potent than Vitamin D alone.  

Other nutrient rich raw materials such as Olive Leaf Extract, African Red Bush and Ginkgo Biloba are carefully selected to make this Restorative Body Lotion incredibly effective for daily use.

Our company will also donate 5% of proceeds to an organization dedicated to Breast Cancer prevention and treatment and one that distributes a majority of their revenues to research for finding a cure for the cause. 

And, we’re not just going to do it for October.  This will be an ongoing project and with the help of our 10’s of thousands of customers, we hope to contribute a significant amount of money to this worthy cause.

Best regards

Charley

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING YOUR SKIN!

The sins of my youth … are finally catching up with me.

No, not those kinds of sins.  I never went through a wild child phase (more like slight mischief at the most), but the “sin” of ignorance.   I grew up in a generation that knew little about the dangers of the sun.  I was one of those that assumed you “had to burn, before you could tan”.  I did nothing to protect my skin in my early years.

Then as a teenager and young adult, I was introduced to the beaches and worked 12 hour days selling suntan lotion to tourists in Daytona Beach.  I learned a little bit about sun protection and a little bit more about using aloe at night to help heal the skin.  But, I still didn’t know enough.

I really believe my education wasn’t complete until 20 years ago when I started Absolutely Natural.  It was through exhaustive research searching for the best, all natural sun protection, tanning products and after sun aloes, that I really learned about how to protect yourself in the sun; how to enjoy the outdoors and still be responsible; how to get and keep a healthy, safe tan.

I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer last week and tomorrow am going in for surgery.  Now, the great news is that it was caught early and the surgery is outpatient and the chances of it being life threatening are very slim.  

The reason for this blog is twofold.  One, I beg you to use proper products in the sun.  Of course, our sunscreens offer the best protection and are the safest to use but even if you don’t buy ours, make sure you use a physical sunscreen (titanium and/or zinc) and make sure you steer clear of the very high SPF values that chemical sunscreen companies are promoting.

Second, please, please, please visit a dermatologist and get regular check- ups for skin cancer.    Doing a self-check is valuable but the only way to be 100% sure, is to let a professional exam you.   A synopsis of the three types of skin cancer follows:

Three Kinds of Cancer:
The two most common forms are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. They are referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancer. The most dangerous form is melanoma that tends to metastasize throughout the body and can cause death. There are almost 70,000 new cases of melanoma every year.

Basal cell accounts for 90% of new skin cancers and usually begins as a small dome shaped bump. They can appear very dark and are usually irregular shaped. Squamous begins in the squamous cells which are flat, scale-like cells that form the surface of the skin, the hollow organs of the body and the respiratory and digestive tracts. So, squamous can form in any of these tissues. It most frequently appears on the skin as rough, red bumps on the scalp, face, ears and backs of the hands. It can take 10 years for the cancer to invade deeply into the skin and become fully developed squamous cell carcinoma.

The risks for developing any of these cancers include age, UV exposure in tanning beds, therapeutic radiation and most prominently exposure to the sun.

Skin Cancer claims 12,000 lives a year.  Caught early, as mine was, it usually poses little risk.  Let it go too long and you can, unfortunately, be one of the statistics.

Best regards,

Charley

Get ready for Spring

Congratulations! You have survived one of the craziest, coldest, snowiest, wettest and l o n g e s t winters in recent memory. It is relatively safe to start thinking of this spring and wishing for this summer.

As you get your houses, cars and wardrobes ready for the more hospitable weather, add a couple of things to the list: your skin and your psyche!

Of course, that means turning to Absolutely Natural and our incredible array of skin products and wonderful aroma therapy oils for help.

How about a quick trip to the tropics (mentally at least)?
Step 1: Rid Yourself of Winter Skin
Start with either our sugar or salt body scrub to slough away the winter blues and prep for spring and summer. You’ll reveal touchably soft, glowing skin hydrated and ready to play center stage.

Step 2: Pamper & Indulge
Pamper yourself in a long hot shower with our sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner and body wash following up with our nutrient rich lotion. The fruit essence fragrance will take you right to the beach.

Step 3: Fight Persistent Dry Winter Air
For those stubborn areas of winter skin that persist (probably be cause you STILL have the furnace running despite it nearly being April!) quench it with our shea body butters. Available in a variety of natural aromas, if you wish to go tropical pick our classic Mango Body Butter or our Papaya Pineapple.

Step 4: Prep your Pucker
Give your lips a nourishing kiss of the tropics. Toss aside your waxy lip balm and instead use one of our all-natural lip moist therapies. Tropical flavors include Mango and Papaya Pineapple.

Essential Oils & Aroma Therapy:
One of the most popular features of our Absolutely Natural store on Kauai is our oil bar. In Hawaii, our knowledgeable staff assists customers in creating their own custom blends starting with our base oil of fractionated coconut and adding only the finest essential oils to create a tailor-made, distinct fragrance. The final result is oil great for massage, excellent as a super hydrator and skin conditioner, and makes a fantastic oil to add to any hydrotherapy session.

While, we can’t currently custom blend fragrances on our website, we have come up with seven brilliant blends as follows:

• Serenity: Balsam, Tangerine and Ylang-Ylang

• Sensual: Mandarin and Vanilla

• West Indian: Bay Rum and Allspice

• Herbaceous: Patchouli, Vetiver and Juniper Berry

• Refreshing: Ruby Grapefruit and Tangerine

• Energizing: Rosemary Mint

• Enchantment: Jasmine and Neroil

These oils come in 10ml glass bottles and sell for $18-$22, far below market rate for such pure oils. Put a drop or two in a bath or enjoy them in a diffuser or reed diffuser. The aromatherapy “session” is designed to heighten the senses and relax the mind.

Pair one of the blends with our unfragranced oil and enjoy the experience after your “treatment” while using the oil in your daily regimen. You control the amount of fragrance that is right for you.

So, here’s to spring eternal and a nice, long, sunny summer.

Best regards,

Charley

New Year’s Resolutions … Absolutely Natural Style

Year after year it’s always the same thing:
• Lose weight
• Get organized
• Exercise 20 hours a week.

The resolutions usually last less than the time it takes to make them, but I challenge our customers to embark upon an Absolutely Natural Year of Resolutions.

Resolve to do something good for your whole body:
Resolve to use our incredible Organic Oil or Organic Crème daily for a month. You will be amazed at the results. I talked to a man just yesterday who has severe eczema … to the point where he has had no hair on his right arm for years. His wife talked him into using the organic oil everyday and within one month his skin condition improved dramatically and his arm hair had returned! He is absolutely thrilled.

Resolve to reveal more radiant youthful skin:
We recommend your daily “work out” consist of our daily regimen for your face, Facials … the Absolutely Natural five-step facials program. Burn calories morning and night using our cleanser and following with the astringent, toner and then our uplifting daily facial lotion. Two to three times a week you can increase the activity by incorporating our bamboo exfoliator into the mix. Feel the burn? Actually, no you won’t; you’ll only feel the amazing softness, smoothness and enjoy the youthfulness our Facials System promises and delivers.

Resolve this year to eliminate
sulfates, phthalates and parabens from your skin and blood stream:
It’s easy with Absolutely Natural’s new spa products. Choose between our Papaya Pineapple or Cucumber Mint natural fragrances in the personal care products … shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion. The products are moisturizing and a nutrient-rich treat for the skin, hair and scalp.

Resolve to stay hydrated and protected:
This summer keep your skin protected by our natural sunscreens and hydrated by the phenomenal aloe, shea butter, squalane-based lotion in all of our sunscreens and Rosehip Aloe.

Resolve to save the planet’s precious resources:
While enjoying the sun, you can live up to your resolution of helping save the planet as NONE of our products will harm the coral reefs of our precious oceans.

In fact, as the founder and owner of company, I think we should all resolve to improve our skin, our hair, our health and environment by using as many Absolutely Natural products as possible. Of course, this is written with serious tongue-in-cheek intentions. I’m all for exercising, losing weight and all the resolutions so many of us make year in and year out, but the Absolutely Natural 2011 resolutions will be the easiest to stick with.

Happy New Year and thanks for your continued support.

Charley

Winter Brings Harsh Challenge to Your Skin

Brrrrrr! Winter is here in all its fury and as many of you know, that can be bad news for your skin.

With the cold, dry, dry air and wind, (not to mention the harshly dry heat pushed out by your furnace) it can seem impossible to keep skin hydrated and healthy. Before you know it, your skin is itchy, scaly, parched, peeling and sometimes, even cracking. Ouch!

This dry skin can appear everywhere from your hands (which get worse in the winter with our frequent hand washing in flu season), to your elbows, feet, knees and all the way to your face, neck, lips… you name it.

Good news!
However you suffer from dry skin, we have a solution, so long as you are diligent in your regimen. Here’s some guidance…

Shea Butter:
Get deep intensive treatment for cracked hands, elbows and the heels of your feet. Generously apply the Shea a couple of times a day and within a week or so, you will notice a significant improvement. For bad trouble spots such as hands and feet, we recommend a thick application before bed, cover up with socks/gloves to provide the best therapy.

Organic Beauty Oil:
Apply this daily immediately following your shower or bath to lock in moisture. Our organic blend works excellently as a super hydrator plus you get all the benefits of the antioxidants.

Organic Spa Series Bath and Body Oil:
A great trick with these oils is to apply them while you’re still in the shower. Pump into palms and massage into your skin evenly. Rinse briefly to help the oil cover your skin more evenly. Step out, towel off and you’re ready to go! No chilly, post-shower lotion or oil application needed!

Sugar Scrubs:
One of the newest items we rolled out with our Organic Spa Series are our body scrubs. Sugar scrubs are naturally gentle and won’t irritate skin. Gently massage over your trouble spots… you’ll find as the sugar rinses away, the butters and oils in our formulas provide deeply soothing hydration. Massage and rinse… towel dry and you’re ready to go!

Sulfate-free Body Wash and Shampoos:
Commercial formulas are loaded with synthetic fragrances and sulfates, which can dry and irritate your skin. Using our Sulfate-free formulas is far gentler on skin and avoids stripping vital nutrients.

Lip Moists:
Chapped lips are the worst! Soothe your lips with a nutrient-rich lip butter in any of our 4 varieties. Reapply as needed, the little lip moist pot will slip easily into your pocket or purse.

Best regards,
Charley

Nasty Chemicals for $1000 please Alex...

Let’s play a little Absolutely Natural Jeopardy:

I'll take "Nasty Chemicals for" $1000 please, Alex.

The answer is: What are Parabens, Sodium Laurel, Sodium Laureth and Phthalates?

Buzzzzz … What are three common chemicals that Absolutely Natural has totally eliminated in their new spa line?

Correct!


I always wanted to go on Jeopardy but I’d end up being one of the guys that has $220 at end of the game and the scorn of Alex Trebek. Unless, of course, all the categories were about skincare and suncare.

Most of you have heard about the chemicals referred to above, but don’t know the potential dangers. The run down:

Parabens
Parabens (preservatives in shampoos, lotions and most personal care products) can mimic estrogen in the body. Excess estrogen in the body can increase the risk of breast cancer.

In addition, a study done in 2002 by Dr. S. Oishi in Tokyo concluded that newborn male babies exposed to Parabens “adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system."

A report done by our own EPA, stated that Parabens can mimic your own body’s hormones and can have endocrine-disrupting action when they are rubbed into your body. These disruptors interfere with your endocrine system, your hypothalamus, your ovaries, your thyroid and virtually every system in your body.

Sodium Laurel and Sodium Laureth
These particular sulfates (lathering agents in shampoos and body washes) have been shown to produce eye and/or skin irritation. Research by OSHA and CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association) concludes that Parabens are a known carcinogen (low levels of carcinogen 1,4-dioxane) and irritant.

Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in the making of polyvinyl plastics but are common in personal care products including shampoos and lotions. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to:

• Adverse effects on genital development of male fetuses in utero
• Premature breast development in young girls
• Affects on puberty functions
  

Now I’ll be the first to admit that nothing has positively concluded that these chemicals are the primary cause of these adverse reactions but there is enough evidence to warrant caution. When you consider that anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times more concentrated than an oral dose.

In the words of one of my favorite customers, “Why take the chance?”

Especially when there are great alternatives provided you by Absolutely Natural.

Best regards,

Charley

SPF’s Impact on the Environment

It is estimated that every year 8000 tons of chemicals are deposited on our precious ocean coral reef to disastrous results. These chemicals are choking the life out of our reefs and no one dares to predict what will happen if they die out.

The culprits are not only chemical factories spewing run off into our oceans, greenhouse gases and cruise ships dumping waste. The damaging chemicals come from millions of people innocently playing in the oceans while wearing chemical sunscreens.

The main offenders from these perfectly legal and highly marketed sunscreens are the chemicals used for the sunscreen factor, emulsifiers and preservatives. Some of these ingredients can take months to biodegrade all the while causing damage.

High SPFs Are They For Real?
Let’s take SPF 100 as an example. Technically that would mean that a sunscreen at that level would give you 100 times more protection than wearing no sunscreen. So, if it takes you 20 minutes in the sun before you start to redden, this means, in theory you could enjoy the sun without consequence for 2000 minutes! Ridiculous! The serious issue is that people are exposing themselves to potentially toxic levels of chemicals when they fall for the marketing hype that leads them to believe you need such high SPF numbers.

Most reasonable researchers agree that an SPF 15 is a maximum sunscreen and that anything over an SPF 30 is unnecessary. Because our natural sunscreens reflect UV instead of absorbing it the way chemical sunscreens do, our all-natural higher SPF’s are more than sufficient for all levels of UV exposure.

Absolutely Natural’s SPF and the Environment
Recently, we funded a study done by Dr. Joel Olson from the prestigious Florida Institute of Technology. We are still evaluating Dr. Olson’s findings but one of the outstanding discoveries that came from this study is that Absolutely Natural sunscreens are 80% biodegraded within two weeks. Of course, there are no chemicals in the formulas and there is no adverse effect to our waters or our coral reefs.

Since 1992, we have been on the cutting edge of working with naturals and organics … better for your skin, your health and the future for our children.

Best regards,

Charley

The benefits of all natural

Not too long ago I became aware of just how sensitive the human body can be. Years ago I developed lactose intolerance and lost my gall bladder to a prescription medication. Since then my awareness for what I put into and onto my body has grown considerably. The lesson seems to be, as we as a society solve more of life's annoyances with new pills and products, often we aren't aware of the potential dangers we create at the same time. BPA anyone?

I no longer cook on Teflon coated pans (want to know why? Google "Teflon" and "safety concerns"). You won't find me eating ground beef... ever. Meat, in general, is not something I consume frequently, but if I have to, I prefer free-range, vegetarian-fed sources. I take my shoes off at the door so as not to track in the chemicals sprayed onto neighborhood lawns & ground into my home. And now I'm going one step further, making each and every meal I eat at home from scratch.

I was first inspired to begin this by a brief trip to South Korea back in September. The food there was amazing. So fresh, so good. When I returned home, it was obvious to my taste buds that my food here was laden with preservatives and "flavor-enhancing" chemicals. Here in the US we push the limits of what we consider food. Since when is it ok to have a carton of egg whites that will easily last 2-3 months? Nature makes THE BEST storage container for eggs, not some box manufacturer!

Since early September I've been cooking diligently from scratch. I can't go as far as growing my own vegetables (I have the brownest thumb known), but at least I know better now than I did what I'm putting into my body. I'm not always the best cook, but I get no complaints.


Homemade waffles (waffle-house style)


Homemade buttermilk biscuits

Want recipes? Let me know, maybe I'll start posting some of my better culinary adventures to share.

Do as I say ...

You know the old adage ... do as I say; not as I do.

Obviously I have driven my two sons crazy with that over the years, but now I am telling all the thousands and thousands of people I have trained on the proper way to take care of your skin in the sun and all the tens of thousands of customers over 18 years, the same thing. Do as I say!

I, Charley Richards, owner of Absolutely Natural Sun care (the world's best), got a bad sunburn recently on my face, neck and shoulders. Of course, I have taken a merciless ribbing from just about everyone that knows me with copious offers to "sell me some sunscreen" etc etc. All well deserved.

Circumstances were understandable (at least to me). An enjoyable outing on the boat; I thought she had the sunscreen, she thought he had it, he thought she had it and she was sure I had it. No sunscreen.

The point to this besides a living definition/example of "irony", is a certifiable, testimonial on how incredible our Absolutely Natural aloes are. By Sunday afternoon at 4pm, my face was a glowing red that would put Rudolph's famous nose to shame. The heat coming off me could be felt several inches away from my face. Uncomfortable, of course, but the potential embarrassment was worse. You see, I had a presentation to do in front of a few dozen business leaders gathered in Melbourne from across the Southeast. How much credibility would I have if my face were still in this condition when speech time came around?

Desperate, I turned to the aloes. I applied (smeared) the Pure Aloe w/ Tea Tree on all affected areas and let it sit until it went into the skin. Then I applied (coated) the Rosehip Aloe lotion on immediately afterwards. I repeated this dozens of times over the nexttwo days.

Immediately the heat left my face and other areas. And, slowly, the red turned to my version of brown (as a red head of Irish descent, my "tan" is sort of a reddish one to begin with). By Tuesday morning (fewer than 48 hours after my folly), I looked healthy and my version of "tan" instead of like someone who needed to go to the emergency room.

I DO NOT suggest you try this at home as I am a professional (yea, a professional that doesn't bring sunscreen on a boat outing in Florida!).

At any rate, I always try turning a negative into a positive and thus the story of the face saving aloes (double entendre intended) .

Best regards,

Charley

Truth in Advertising: mis-leading use of the term "Natural" in branding is being widely abused

Unfortunately, marketing perception does not usually match ingredient reality for skincare products. Sprinkling a few natural ingredients into a "chemical stew" does not make the stew "natural." In response to join the "green revolution" many of the large companies now put the word "Natural" and other attractive buzzwords on the front of their labels, referring in truth to single ingredients, however, not to the entire product formula as they want you to perceive. It is good to have independent, 3rd party reviews of product formulations & we applaud the efforts of organizations such as the Environmental Working Group to uncover the hypocrisies and inclusion of potentially toxic ingredients in formulas by manufacturers in my previous post.

Our customers purchase from us based upon quality, integrity, proven benefits and the fact that our products' value rises as you read our ingredients, opposite to industry norm. Of course, the real "proof" comes from using such superior formulations and experiencing firsthand the benefits they provide. Since 1992, our company has grown by word-of-mouth from such experiences as we do not advertise.

Most consumers buy based on familiarity(exposure to marketing machines), price and front label claims. As an example, I've shared the ingredient list below for an SPF product from a so called "naturals" line by one of the largest consumer product manufacturers in the world. They spend millions of dollars on television and magazine ads attempting to create a natural, wholesome image for this brand's line of products....you be the judge.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (2.4%), Oxybenzone (5%)
Inactive Ingredients: BHT, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Cholecalciferol, Diethylhexyl 2,6 Naphthalate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract (soybean), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, PEG 100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Squalane, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum

This is just one example, but typical of most mass marketed lines. It is dishonest & shameful, in my opinion, to aggressively imply through marketing & front package labeling that a product with ingredients listed above be actively promoted as "natural." We're grateful for the educated "label readers" who comprise our customer base and promise to continue to deliver the finest formulations of natural ingredients we can for the benefit of your skin & health!

60% of Sunscreens Don't Protect Adequately & Contain Toxic Ingredients

Should you be scared? Not if you're using our products at Absolutely Natural!

These statistics come from the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) 2009 Study.

I'll attach a link at the end of this post to a report posted on WebMD, regarding their thoughts on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) study.

I have my own opinions of the criteria used by the EWG to rate sunscreens and will be sharing many thoughts in coming posts. In general, I believe each of the following quotes found within the WebMD article hold merit:

Jane Houlihan, EWG, Senior VP for Research:

"I'd give the industry a C minus. They have moved from a D to a C-minus in my book."

Sandra Read, MD, a Washington, D.C., Dermatologist and member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology:

"Using sunscreen correctly, using the right sunscreen for your exposure and skin type, and reapplying every two hours is crucial."

Henry Lim, MD, Chairman of the department of dermatology at Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit. Member of the photobiology committee of the Skin Cancer Foundation and chairman of the Council on Science and Research of the American Academy of Dermatology.

"Some points are definitely correct. But, he adds, this report has somewhat of an alarmist tone.''

MY THOUGHTS
From the perspective of Absolutely Natural and our suncare products in comparison to the chemically laden products typically found on merchant's shelves:

• We applaud the efforts of the EWG to serve as a consumer watchdog group regarding the safety of suncare and other consumer products. They definitely have helped raise awareness of potential toxic dangers from various chemical ingredients commonly used in sunscreens.
• We created the first 100% natural suncare line in 1992 for the sole purpose of removing chemical sunscreens, parabens, petro-chemicals and other ingredients we viewed as non-desirable for our customers.
  

Proud to be 100% Natural since 1992!

RESOURCES
Article Link from WebMD summarizing the Environmental Working Group's 2009 Suncare Report and from where I sourced quotes from the various individuals noted in my post.