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You need to stop using regular sunscreen.
Being outdoors during the summer(and the entire rest of the year…) is one of my favorite things, and the pool is my place to be all season long. The sunshine feels amazing and just completely charges me up! Recently, I was at a baseball game and without thinking about it, wore a racer-back tank top and no sunscreen.
So yeah, my shoulders are super tan, and I have a nice big white stripe down my back.
Tanning is honestly one of my favorite parts of summer. I have a lot of Native American relatives, and when I get out in the sun I can get nice and tan.
Since most of my summers since high school have been spent on the porch or by the lake/pool, the big controversy for me was always… Sunscreen.
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We are all outside doing things from taking hikes, to swimming, or playing outdoor sports, I thought I’d talk a bit about how to keep your skin healthy during these summer months.
Why it Matters
Our skin increases our melanin and skin cells turn over, to protect our skin from sun damage naturally. And we should treat it as kindly as possible
That is how/why we get a tan when we spend too much time in the sun.
Your body has a built-in defense system to deal with all that sunshine. Plus, have you heard of vitamin D? Your body needs that, and our best source of vitamin D is from the sun.
However, giving our skin a little extra protection is not a bad thing.
We need to be careful about what is in the stuff we put on our skin.
Particularly if you are going to be out next to the pool or doing any rafting or ball sports outside, you may want to give these MUCH healthier options a try.
All Natural Sunscreen options
Mineral Sunscreen Guide
You need to be using a good, mineral based sunscreen. If it is mineral or plant based, your body will have a better time adapting to it, instead of leaching toxins into your skin.
Goddess Garden Organics: Everyday Natural Sunscreen
Goddess Garden: Everyday Natural Sunscreen is biodegradable, made with plant-based and mineral ingredients.
Its non-greasy, which is something I love in my facial products, and contains lavender essential oils for a fresh, clean smell.
This sunscreen is good for everyday use and can be used as a facial sunscreen.
The Honest co. Mineral sunscreen
The Honest co. has a lot of really great products, and that includes their sunscreen.
They use a mix of Shea butter and coconut oil to hydrate skin, and without leaving the residue that commercial sunscreens do. Its also non irritating, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin or young babies and children.
With 80 minutes of water resistance, this is a good option for both swimming and water activities like rafting.
Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Spray Sunscreen
Made with Zinc and plant extracts, Babo Botanicals sheer sun spray is a great option for those with sensitive skin. This spray on sunscreen lasts for up to 80 minutes in water, and has been given great reviews on their website.
Read what this product does NOT contain:
“This product is free of: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts, SLS, Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, Dyes, Sodium chloride, Formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA, or most common allergens.
The Product Does Contain Tree Nuts: Coconut and Jojoba”
Mad Hippie: Facial SPF
This fun and funky organic sunscreen is made with Avocado and Carrot seed oils, has vitamin c and e (which work wonders for your skin) and is broad spectrum for all your summer sun needs.
This brand is impressive. On their website you can see the before and after section for their skin care products and the results are pretty cool.
Also, $1 of every web-sale is donated to conservation. Check these guys out for sure, it’s definitely worth it.
Anna’s Apothecary: natural sunscreen salve
This one is from one of my favorite shop’s in Manitou Springs Colorado.
We were visiting there not too long ago, and stopped in to see what kind of things Anna’s Apothecary has.
Looking around for a bit I found the table full of salves, and I just love the hand-made apothecary shop salves. We ended up buying the Sunscreen and Muscle rub, and both of them worked their magic.
The sunscreen is light enough that you don’t feel it too much on your skin while still protecting from getting too much sun.
Supporting local shops is always great, so you should definitely give their website a look around.
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