You Pinspire Me
It’s hard to ignore all of the warnings about exposure to the sun. Thanks to decades of research, we know that in spite of the many benefits that the sun brings to our lives, it is most definitely not a friend to our bodies. The UVA and UVB rays that it throws out are incredibly dangerous to our eyes and skin.
We all know what we should be doing to protect ourselves: Wear hats, sunglasses, and cover as much skin as possible with light coloured clothing (preferably synthetic). Stay out of the sun as much as possible. Wear sunscreen.
Here’s the thing. I don’t like commercially available sunscreen. I suppose that I subscribe to some granola values, but I am not crunchy granola. However, I think that my mom is pretty smart, and I take a lot of my cues from her. We used sunscreen while I was growing up, but mostly on days when we’d be in full sun all day – track and field days, beach days, etc. – sunscreen wasn’t used on a daily basis. My mom’s mantra regarding skin products has always been, “If you wouldn’t put it in your mouth, are you sure you want to put it on your skin?”
Sunscreen hasn’t been around for that long. We don’t really know the long-term effects of sunscreen on our skin. We know that the ingredients in commercial sunscreen do protect us from the cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays, but at what cost? What kinds of cancers are going to be attributed to sunscreen 10 years from now? Every year, there are Sunscreen Shaming lists that are released that talk about the worst sunscreens on the market
But. We’re a pretty active family! We go to the playground and we go on bike rides. We have picnics in the sun and we play soccer every day. We also live in Southern Ontario, where temperatures on sunny summer days peak between 30-35 degrees. Guys, wearing long sleeves and long pants in that weather is JUST NOT REALISTIC. We wear our hats and take breaks in the shade.
The kids have these UV bracelets (you can find them at Dollarama!) that help them be “sun smart” and know when it’s time to go into the shade for a while.
But still. I know that the sun is dangerous. This is why I was super happy to find this “Bite Me Not” 100% natural sunblock from The Great Canadian Soap Co. when Marya and I were on vacation with our mom in PEI two summers ago! It’s a zinc oxide based sunscreen and bug repellent in one. Currently, the product is missing from their website, but they do have it, I’ve been told, so give them a call. It’s $17.95 for a 250mL jar, and it smells like summer.
They have unscented, Lavender Peppermint, Gardener’s (Lavender, Geranium & Clary Sage), and Coconut Mango sun screen options, as well. Mmm. Sounds so much better than that unmistakable commercial sunscreen odor!
Plus, they have this Ooh So Soothing After Sun mist to help you out on those days when you forgot to reapply the sunscreen in time. I’m going to be adding this one to my next order!
As usual, this Favourites Friday post has not been sponsored, it’s just a chance for us to share some of our favourite products & companies with all y’all!
It’s on the website! I’m about to order!
I misread! You’re right, the Bite-me-Not Sun cream is NOT on the website! But regular is. Will call!