Hello, my beautiful beach babes!
Summer officially starts on June 20th. Can you believe it? As most of you know, I live near the beach, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love me some serious beach time during these balmy summer days.
We all know that the sun provides a plethora of health benefits, least of which is helping our bodies manufacture the very vital Vitamin D. But despite all the pluses, there is one big minus: skin cancer. So, we still need to reduce our risk of overexposure to the sun and sunburns. While sunscreen is the go-to remedy, if you have sensitive skin like I do, it can be easier said than done. I’ve personally struggled to find a sunscreen that doesn’t make me break out, have an allergic reaction and/or one that just isn’t full of health-harming chemicals.
We’ve talked a lot about the toxic ingredients in food, and the skincare and cosmetics industry is actually worse. Our skin is our largest organ, and many of us take its ability to shield us from pollutants for granted on a daily basis, by slathering on products full of toxic chemicals. Since the FDA doesn’t regulate skincare products as rigorously as they do pharmaceuticals or food, this loophole allows companies to get away with using a sh#t ton of harmful ingredients that are not permitted, and in some cases are even banned, in other countries. In fact, about half of the sunscreens sold in the U.S. would not even be allowed on the market in Europe! Get with the program, America!
The Environmental Working Group’s 2017 Executive Summary on Sunscreens found that nearly 75 percent of sunscreens didn’t work. Meaning, these sunscreens provide inadequate sun protection or they contained harmful ingredients. Now, the results show that while there have been major improvements over the last decade, the vast majority of sunscreens available for purchase in the U.S. still contain damaging chemicals or fail to offer enough protection against ultraviolet rays.
So what’s a sun-lovin’ girl to do? My best advice is to always be your own advocate! Do some research, read the EWG’s 11th Annual Guide to Sunscreens, and pay attention to the ingredients on the products you use.
To help you find a sunscreen that’s both right for you and good for you, I’ve done a little field work for you. So, without further ado, here are my TOP 5 Natural Sunscreen Brands—they’re organic, made with real non-toxic ingredients, and provide great skin protection both for your face and body. Boom!
Suntegrity Skincare
Coola Suncare
Goddess Garden Organics Facial Natural Sunscreen
Just Skin Food
Kiss My Face
And don’t forget to accessorize this summer too! Bring on that fab fedora, floppy sun hat or baseball cap. And never forget your shades! Make sure your sunglasses have adequate UV protection, and keep them handy at all times when you’re out on the sun. Your eyes will thank you for it!
What’s your favorite suncare product? Let me know in the comments below.
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LOVE + lots of sunshine!
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