We know you're probably getting ready to stock up on sun protection for the warmer months—but let’s pause for a second. Because what if we told you that the thing you’re slathering all over your skin might be doing more harm than good?
Your skin isn’t just a barrier—it’s a sponge. Research shows it can absorb up to 60% of what you apply to it. That means every squirt of chemical sunscreen could be loading your system with compounds you’d never willingly eat… yet you're letting them seep directly into your bloodstream.
Let’s break this down, Carnivore style.
1. BREAKING: 80% of Sunscreens Deemed Unsafe for Use in the U.S.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has analyzed over 1,800 sunscreens—and more than 80% were flagged as unsafe for use. Unsafe. That’s not just ineffective. That’s actively harmful.
Most sunscreens on the shelf today contain a slew of endocrine disruptors, penetration enhancers, and potential carcinogens. And they're marketed as "safe" because, well… they haven't been banned yet.
But here’s what’s hiding in the average bottle:
2. What’s in Your Sunscreen? Spoiler: It’s Not Coconut Oil.
Let’s take a peek at a few of the biggest offenders:
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Homosalate: Used to help sunscreen absorb into the skin. Problem is, it brings other toxins along for the ride—and disrupts estrogen levels while it’s at it.
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Benzophenone-3 (aka Oxybenzone): Linked to hormone disruption and cell damage, and it's so toxic it's been banned from coral reef zones.
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Octocrylene: Breaks down into benzophenone, a known carcinogen that accumulates in the body over time.
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4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC): Found in European sunscreens—banned in the US for its estrogenic effects, yet still found in imported skincare.
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Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone): Unstable in sunlight, breaks down into harmful free radicals, and not something you want marinating in your bloodstream.
We're not trying to scare you. Okay, maybe we are a little. But only because we care.
3. "And Then We Told Them…"
...To avoid the sun, fear the sun, hide from the sun—and slather themselves in sunscreen instead.
Sound familiar?
We’ve been sold a backwards narrative: that the sun is dangerous and synthetic chemicals are the saviors. But it turns out, sunlight is one of the most healing forces on the planet—and the further we distance ourselves from it, the sicker we seem to get.
4. Sunscreen Is Up. Melanoma Is Also Up.
If sunscreen was the answer, shouldn’t melanoma rates have plummeted by now?
Here’s the inconvenient truth: melanoma rates have skyrocketed—even as sunscreen use has gone through the roof.
From 1975 to today, melanoma diagnoses have more than tripled.1 Sunscreen usage? At an all-time high. That’s not causation, but it sure makes us want to ask more questions.
5. BREAKING: Scientists Discover Miracle Cure for Almost Every Disease
It’s big. It’s bright. It’s free.
It’s the sun.
Sunlight helps regulate circadian rhythm, supports immune health, boosts serotonin and dopamine, triggers nitric oxide release, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and oh yeah—produces vitamin D that your body can’t make any other way.
We weren’t made to hide from it.
6. Smarter Sun Tips from Carnivore Bar
We’re not saying go fry yourself on the beach for hours. But let’s stop fearing the very thing that gives us life. Try this instead:
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Gradual Exposure: Start with 10–15 minutes a day, especially during off-peak hours.
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Build Up Your Tolerance: Like a workout, skin adapts over time.
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Use Zinc Oxide If Needed: The only mineral sunscreen we don’t have beef with.
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Stop Eating Seed Oils: These unstable fats oxidize in your body, make you more prone to sunburn, and increase cellular inflammation. Want to burn less? Ditch the canola.
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Cover Up, Don’t Slather Up: Long sleeves, hats, and shade still work great without rubbing petrochemicals into your pores.
Final Thoughts
At Carnivore Bar, we believe the most powerful things for your health are usually the simplest. Eat real food. Get real sun. Use your brain.
Sunscreen isn’t off the table entirely—but if you’re going to use it, make sure it’s a clean, non-toxic one. And don’t forget the bigger picture: our ancestors didn’t fear the sun. They lived with it, rose with it, ate under it, and healed under it.
This spring and summer, maybe it’s time to stop rubbing in toxins and start soaking up what nature intended.
We’ll be out there—with some grass-fed beef in hand and the sun on our faces.
Citations:
- Environmental Working Group. “EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens.” ewg.org, https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
- Schlumpf, M., et al. “Endocrine activity and developmental toxicity of cosmetic UV filters—an update.” Toxicology, vol. 205, no. 1–2, 2004, pp. 113–122.
- Krause, M., et al. “Sunscreens: Are They Beneficial for Health? An Overview of Endocrine Disrupting Properties of UV-Filters.” International Journal of Andrology, vol. 35, no. 3, 2012, pp. 424–436.