Though Summer is approaching its end, it’s definitely not over yet and for many, temps are well up into the hundreds and the sun is beating down while we all try to pack all our remaining to-dos into what’s last of the season.  While many suggest staying out of the sun between prime hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for those of us who enjoy all the outdoor activities that summer brings, that can be difficult - especially with all-day beach trips, fairs, vacation or just yard work.  It’s important to remember to stay protected both from potentially harmful rays and from toxic sunscreens.

Erbaviva recently sent me their SPF 15 to try out and I’ve been using it while on vacation these past few weeks.  It is hands-down one of my favorite sunscreens.  The scent is pleasant, doesn’t turn my skin a pasty white and rubs in nicely.  What’s nice is that this can be used by adults and kids alike so there’s no need to purchase separate products for different family members. Alike conventional sunscreens which use synthetic and toxic ingredients like oxybenzone, Erbaviva uses Titanium Dioxide to coat the sun and shields the suns rays.

What’s the big deal about oxybenzone you ask?  Last year The Center For Disease Control released a study citing the potentially harmful effects of this chemical.  Just check out a portion of the statement here:

CDC: Americans Carry ‘Body Burden’ of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical
CONTACT: EWG Public Affairs, (202) 667-6982
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 25, 2008

WASHINGTON, March 25 – The bodies of nearly all Americans are contaminated with a sunscreen chemical that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A companion study from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine found that the same chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy.  The chemical, oxybenzone, is widely used in sunscreens. Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) analysis of ingredient labels found that nearly 600 sunscreens sold in the U.S. contain oxybenzone, including products by Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat. Although oxybenzone is most common in sunscreen, companies also use the toxic chemical in at least 567 other personal care products, including lip balm, lipstick, moisturizers and fragrance for women.
Oxybenzone was last reviewed for safety in the 1970’s but since then significant new evidence has been published on its toxicity and pervasive exposure. A recent review by the European Union found insufficient data to determine whether oxybenzone in sunscreen is safe for consumers.

“These studies are the latest in a long list of reasons the Food and Drug Administration must thoroughly review the safety of all chemicals used in sunscreens Americans use every day,” said Rebecca Sutton, a scientist with EWG. “FDA must do what it promised 30 years ago: Enact permanent, enforceable federal safety standards for sunscreens so consumers can get the best and safest sun protection.”

EWG research shows that 84 percent of 910 name-brand sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients, like oxybenzone, with significant safety concerns. These products are on the market because FDA has failed to finalize sunscreen safety standards that have been under development since 1979, but has instead issued a series of delays and revisions at the request of the personal care product industry. FDA issued a new draft of the standards last October under pressure from EWG, but continues to delay finalizing the standards at the behest of the regulated industry.

EWG is a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. The group’s research on oxybenzone is available online at http://www.ewg.org/node/26212.

If you knew a guy in the nineties and you were in Junior High, High School or college for that matter, you know that this style of Vans were all the rage.  They’ve made a comeback (or perhaps they never went ‘out’?!) and this time with a new environmentally-conscious makeover.  I’m loving the Men’s Vans Organic S8 shoe in two-tone brown combo, complete with an organic cotton canvas upper and 20% recycled rubber sole while my man prefers these slide-ons in black.

Pack a lunch - save your wallet, your health and your planet! Now you can do just that with LunchBots reusable, stainless steel lunch containers.

Made from the highest quality stainless steel - these rugged yet eye-catching lunch systems take the waste out of packing a lunch. Just think about how many bags it takes to pack a lunch. Now you can eliminate the need for bags while guaranteeing that the food you eat is kept safe. Using this type of lunch system is a great way to manage portion control while keeping everything tidy and away from plastic - which can leach onto your food while it’s waiting to be consumed. Stainless steel keeps food insulated as well, so you can keep things at room temp a little longer than using just a paper bag and since it is so tough, you never have to worry about things getting crushed in your lunch bag.

The LunchBots Uno is designed for a main course and the Duo is partitioned off for snacks or sides - both of them together make one sensible lunch portion. Reviewers are raving about the ease of use and the huge perk of feeding yourself and your family in a non-toxic and eco-friendly way. Another serious perk to owning LunchBots is the conversations you can have with fellow co-workers or other parents about your food storage choice. You can start a mini-revolution in your very own lunchroom! (OK, well at least you can get some people thinking.)

Summer is full of delicious foods, fun-filled vacations, outdoor BBQs, and warm days and nights. Along with all of the fun summer time activities comes the downside of this sunny time of year - one of those being mosquitoes. If you live near  water, you understand the annoyance that these little bugs bring to your life when you’re trying to do some outdoor living. It never ceases to amaze me how such a tiny bug can cause such a reaction in my skin, and I am always looking for ways to relieve the itching and swelling that their bites cause. This summer I looked no further than my (alternative) medicine cabinet to find my secret remedy for those unsightly bumps.  Tea tree oil (Melaleuca Alternafolia) has more uses than I can cover here, but it’s ability to squelch the itch of a bug bite is what’s impressing me lately.  To keep the itch at bay, I dab straight tea tree oil on any bite and the sting is diffused in usually less than a minute.  The good news! Tea tree oil also detracts mosquitoes (they hate the smell).  If you’re looking for a natural way to ward off and heal bites, give tea tree oil a tree (I’ve been using it since I was a kid)!

Anyone who has stood in a checkout aisle in a grocery store knows that the options for chewing gum are impressive. Not only can we pick what flavor we want, but we can pick if we want sugar-free, with flavor crystals or without, long-lasting or, well, short-lasting I suppose.  Unfortunately, the options for a chewing gum that won’t contribute to tooth decay and that don’t contain questionable ingredients are hard to come by. Thanks to Xclear Spry Chewing Gum - the options are growing.

Extensive research has been done on the effects of xylitol in relation to preventing tooth decay and it has been proven over several years to have a significant effect on the reduction of plaque-causing bacteria. Other countries have relied on xylitol not only for their oral hygiene needs but as a substitute for sugar in foods. Still, here in the U.S. we usually have to go to our health food store to find this sugar substitute in products. In study after study, regular use of xylitol gum or toothpaste has been shown to inhibit the growth of plaque and yeast in the mouth.

Although it is hard to come by, Spry Gum is popular amongst dental professionals and health nuts alike. Those in the dental profession love it because they have seen first hand how it’s use has saved both adults and children from tooth decay. Those concerned with their overall health love it because it is a natural substance that doesn’t raise blood sugar levels and reduces bacteria and yeast in the body. Spry gum is said to have long-lasting flavor and reminds some of Chiclets from back in the day because of it’s crunchy outer coating. Each tub of gum contains 100 pieces of gum so it will last quite a long time. With xylitol’s ability to freshen breath while simultaneously fighting tooth decay - you can now multi-task even while chewing your gum!

Summer is all about sunshine, and with summer sunshine comes heat and with heat comes rapid dehydration. Most people know that drinking plenty of pure water is the best way to stay hydrated, but doing so sometimes comes at the cost of using plastic water bottles to carry with us throughout the day. There is a better way!

I have been using Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles for a while now and I am officially a Kanteen convert. They are sturdy, eco-friendly, BPA-free, non-leaching, insulating and convenient. Stainless Steel and aluminum water bottles can be found in many mainstream stores nowadays, from Old Navy to the chain grocery store - I’ve seen them everywhere. However, not all non-plastic water bottles are created equal, so - as always - it’s important to be an informed consumer.

I chose stainless steel because I feel that it’s generally a safer material than aluminum for containing beverages. The stainless steel (18/8) used in Klean Kanteen bottles makes them extremely rugged so they will stand up to years and years of wear with little upkeep. This makes the initial investment a little easier to swallow (no pun intended.) If you haven’t yet made the switch to a non-plastic, non-leaching water bottle to contain your family’s hydration needs - there is no better time than this summer! Now…go drink your water.

Word is Eminem, rapper with a rather (read: very) dirty mouth is a huge fan of Dr. Bronner’s Organic Soap.  Apparently he can’t believe that he can brush his teeth with the very same soap he uses to wash his body with.  Dr. Bronner’s has a huge cult following and it’s no secret why.  The versatile and totally affordable soap has at least 18 different uses and I personally have used it as a body soap, hand soap, laundry soap, dog washing soap and dish soap (I’ve tried brushing my teeth with it, but no thank you).  It’s so very concentrated that a bottle lasts a very long time and everyone from hippies to celebrity makeup artists (i.e. Bobbi Brown) are fans.  (Read that Drew Barrymore and Sandra Bullock are too).  It may be hard to pinpoint exactly what draws people to it ~ it’s versatality, affordability or the crazy ramblings on the side of the bottle.  I tend to think it’s all of the above. 

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Magic All~One Soap has been around for a whopping 60 years!  They fight hard for organic personal care standards and are committed to supporting fair trade initiatives.  The majority of their products are USDA and/or Fair Trade certified.  This is what Dr. Bronner’s says when curious consumers ask a question I hear (and I’m asked) all the time:

What is “Organic” and why is it so great?

The term “organic” refers to both sustainable farming practices and to products ecologically made from materials produced on certified organic farms. According to federal standards, such products have to be at least 70% organic by non-water, non-salt weight. Organic products not only support sustainable farming, but also farm worker health and ecological processing methods.

Unfortunately, the hollow market-driven needs of some “natural” body care companies are making a mockery of organic principles. Underneath fluffy, feel-good “organic” floral waters and infusions, many “organic” body care products are really just composed of the same synthetic cleansers, conditioners and preservatives found in mainstream products, often in part or wholly derived from petroleum. Culprit companies are inflating organic content by counting ordinary distilled water in “floral water” as organic, a practice which is not allowed under the National Organic Program.

In between San Diego and L.A., you’ll find San Clemente, California ~ a surfer’s town with no lack of board shorts, flip flops and sun~kissed bods.  Locals take surfing seriously.  For some it’s a ritual, for some it’s a religion and others find it is both; and with that comes a deep reverence for the ocean. 

Based in San Clemente, footwear brand Ocean Minded can be found one block from the Pacific Ocean and wants everyone to be just that…mindful of the ocean.  Most of their staff are avid surfers and they strive to protect the Earth’s most precious resources, the oceans, lakes and streams and they coordinate frequent beach clean~up days.  In fact, just two weeks ago they cleaned up 115 pounds of trash from a local beach. 

They look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and make more sustainable footwear, including currently working on a completely glue~free shoe.  (FYI…shoe glue can be one of the most toxic elements in your footwear).  They’ve already taken steps in the right direction by using the following eco~friendly materials and/or processes: 

~Metal free leather and/or suede

 ~Hemp

~Water based glue

~Recycled car tire or recycled rubber outsoles

~Organic cotton lining and/or laces

~Made with recycled Croslite Eco material

When you buy a pair of Ocean Minded sandals or shoes, they’ll donate a portion of the purchase price to the Surfrider Foundation, a non~profit grassroots organization that’s dedicated to the protection of the world’s oceans, beaches and waves through conservation, activism, research and education. 

Did you know your favorite natural sunscreen brand may be already discontinued?!  Due to new recent European regulations that require SPF to be much higher than any mineral sunscreen could provide, brands like Dr. Hauschka and Weleda have decided to discontinue their sunscreen products rather than reformulate with synthetics.  A noble stance on their part, but disappointing nonetheless for those who love their favorite sun protection from these brands. 

There are conflicting opinions and many questions when it comes to the topic of “natural” sunscreens…”is Zinc Oxide better than Titanium Dioxide?”, “is that Titanium Dioxide coated with Dimethicone and is it safe?”, “what about nanoparticles?”….and on and on it goes.  Conventional sunscreens are often loaded with petrochemical, toxic junk and one has to wonder….are we getting cancer from the sun or from our sunscreen, or both? 

A juxtoposed fact is that Americans are severely Vitamin D deficient.  Like plants, we need sunshine, but we also need to use caution because skin cancer is also a big problem.  If you’re trying to wade through your options of safe, natural sunscreen, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website may be a good place to start since they try their best to rate products based on safety. 

The good news is that these regulations don’t affect U.S. brands like California Baby and Badger who both received very low marks in the Skin Deep database.  Erbaviva has also received some really great reviews.  Since Soleo is an Australian based brand, they won’t have to reformulate but word is they are currently experiencing stock issues; perhaps due to increased demand in light of the new European regulations.   

 So, if Dr. Hauschka, Weleda or Lavera are some of your favorite natural sunscreen brands, you’d better stock up before they’re gone! 

“John Masters Organics grew out of my desire to create a luxuy beauty line that treats the earth with respect.  The result is the culmination of the hard work performed by people all over the world.  Their dedication to growing and harvesting organic and wild-crafted ingredients is honored at John Masters Organics.”

-John Masters, part basement alchemist, part organic innovator

Over 20 years ago, John Masters began mixing essential oils and herbs in his kitchen.  Today his salon caters to some of the most green celebs in the first and only clean air salon in New York City.  His product lineup consists of 30 luxury organic products for hair and skin for human and even pets and most recently Treehugger nominated his haircare in their first annual ‘Best Of Green’ Awards. 

Some of my personal favorites include John Masters Organic Rosemary + Peppermint Shampoo; it has a gentle foam and invigorating aroma. My hair is left feeling clean and scalp a bit tingly.  Follow up with the Rosemary + Peppermint Detangler for smooth strands and easy styling.