Bob,
Can you comment on why you chose Blood Orange EO for your products? I've been all over the internet trying to learn more about the sun sensitivity factor of this and other essential oils. I'm just getting more confused. Some sites stated that wearing orange oil while in intense sun may cause brown spots! I have Melasma! I definitely don't want any more brown spots. I love, love, love, your products and want to continue using them.
Thanks.

Hi Rebecca, I have been at a number of tradeshows in the last two weeks, so I am a bit tardy in responding to the forum.

We also did a lot of research prior to adding ingredients in our products. There are a couple of points that are important to note.

• Blood Orange is a different origin and process than most of the sweet oranges that are used as tanning enhancements.
  
• We use a very small amount of Blood Orange essential oil in our sunblock and it is refined in a very special way to enhance its healing properties.
  
• The zinc-oxide we use would also block the UV interaction of any citrus oil if we used them in an unrefined way.
  

OK, now comes the lecture

Keys is a sun avoidance company!!! The Skin Cancer Foundation says that 90% of all visible skin aging comes from UVA. We also know that UVA is the radiation spectrum that has been linked to elevated cancer rates. So, we promote wearing a UPF rated big brim hat, UPF/SPF clothing and UV absorbing sunglasses. We suggest using sunblock on your face, neck and hands as well as any other exposed skin.

Also, UV dispersion by the atmosphere is reducing and our burn incidence is higher. We sell a UV meter and I recently was interviewed by a national newspaper about the problem. I took the editor outside, put in the UV index for the day (We were in Washington DC near the White House), his skin type (T2) and a SPF of 30 into the meter. I then asked him to guess at how long he could be exposed to the sun before burning. His guess was two hours. When I showed him the meter, it read 12 minutes.

Also please remember that SPF ratings are for UVB radiation only. We recently were ranked number one by Consumer reports Magazine for the non-waterproof category for our UVA protection. We recently have changed our labels to include the EU 'Star' ranking on our sunblock. Still;, remember that UVA is aging and UVB is burning. It is very complicated and were are working with the FDA to create a new system that offers more information.

Best

Bob

Thanks, Bob. I was hoping you would say something like that about the essential oil!

And, a good lecture never hurt anybody!

The meter looks neat, too! Thank you so-o-o much for sharing your great products with the rest of us.