Summer Skin Care

We're just kicking off summer in one of the most beautiful places in the world! 

This season brings all sorts of fun adventures in the sun, whether it's camping, swimming, cycling, paddle boarding, tubing... or just enjoying lounging outside. With all this time under the glorious sun, our skin needs some extra protection!

So let's talk about sunscreen. Did you know that in 2018 it was estimated that between 6,000 to 14,000 tons of sunscreen washes off swimmers into the ocean globally each year? That's not even including fresh water activities. Some sunscreens have ingredients like Oxybenzone and Octinoxate that are harmful for the delicate ecosystem. They can impair growth & photosynthesis in green algae, decrease reproduction in sea urchins & fish, as well as induce bleaching in corals, among other things. Add to that all the plastic (25 to 60 million bottles), and, well... it's not great.

How can we help? The easiest thing to do is cover up with lightweight, breathable fabrics, seek shade, and avoid being out at the hottest times of day. But when that doesn't fit your activity, we can opt for mineral sunscreens in refillable, reusable, or easily recyclable containers. 

We’re very fortunate to have several vendors whose focus is on protecting both your skin & the environment. From Birch Babe to JustSun, A Healthy Beginning to Foster Skin Care, these companies make it easy to enjoy our environment while protecting it - and your skin! 🌎❤️

Sources: Skincare Chemicals and Marine Life (noaa.gov), Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands | SpringerLink, Reef Safe Sunscreen: Our Guide to Ocean-Friendly Sun Protection (oceanicsociety.org)