I was really interested in starting Sun Care Decoded. I've recently been more careful with how I am treating my skin (I can't be in my 20's forever after all...) and really thought that the book would do great things in getting me educated about what the sun does to me.

The writers of this book are not fans of chemical sunscreen. Well, that was a shock to me! I thought everyone was all about traditional sunscreen, but it turns out there is a better, more eco-friendly and skin friendly way. They detail everything from the exact active ingredients in chemical sunscreen, to the history of sunscreen, and that's only chapter one. I really felt like I learned a lot, including how the active ingredients, when they are physical, and not chemical, actually start working immediately, so there's no need to apply the natural type sunscreens 20-30 minutes before sun exposure like most chemical sunscreens need. The question and answer format of the book was easy to follow, if only a bit tedious after a while. This is an information and self-help book, so I wasn't expecting to be riveted to my seat, but I still got a punch of knowledge packed into a book a little over 70 pages. It was really interesting and informative to see the breakdown of the different SPF levels and to understand what percent of chemicals is used in each kind of sunscreen.

This is a pretty good read when you are considering a natural lifestyle. I think it will be hard for the majority of people to kick their use of chemical sunscreen, but at the same time, Sun Care Decoded offers a lot of food for thought, especially for health care workers and others to consider when deciding how to best protect themselves from sun exposure. I am currently looking into finding some natural sunscreen for myself. The thought of chemicals being absorbed into my skin and harming my future children really bothers me. The idea that, on average, women have 12 chemicals floating around their system that come from cosmetics, lotions, and sunscreens, is a big problem and I'm really glad that this book opened my eyes a little bit.

Sun Care Decoded: Answers to Questions You Didn’t Know to Ask, by Michael J. Russ with Peter Zahner is an informative and educational book, which introduces readers to numerous facts pertaining to sunscreen. This book also helps the reader develop self awareness and knowledge of self induced chemical reactions or toxic poisoning when sunscreen is applied to the skin.

Sunscreen on a sunny day is part of a natural routine. Most people put it on and don't think about it again. Is it safe though? Michael J. Russ and Peter Zahner will say no. The authors explain in great detail why most store bought retail sunscreens can be more harmful than helpful. For example: The authors provide in great detail information on inactive ingredients and active ingredients in sunscreen. This is key for the reader to understand which chemicals are harmful and which are not. The authors have provided well researched and cited data pertaining to questions often asked about sunscreen. The authors provide lists of ingredients, active and inactive, with potentially harmful side-effects if absorbed into your skin. This is a very important information, especially when concerning children.

Sun Care Decoded is an amazing and informative read. I now have a better understanding of how sunscreen actually works, and how my skin works as well. I absolutely loved the fact that the authors provided diagrams, statistics, and pictures pertaining to the different types of skin and what ingredients are helpful or harmful according to each type. The amount of information in this book is breathtaking. A must-read for all readers, young and old.