**This post uses Think Dirty and Skin Deep to rate the cleanliness of product’s ingredients: 0 being squeaky clean and 10 being extra dirty.

Hello Greenies,

Summer is nearly at an end, and I’ve been very excited to share with you all the amazing green products I’ve been enjoying so far. At the begining of the summer season I purhcased some new products to test out, as well as some tried and true products. I love the transition into a new season, because a new season brings new products to add into your makeup and skincare regimen. The beginning of each season is also a good time to make that slow transition into green beauty, and a good way to make sure your current green cosmetics are fresh and have not expired. Most green beauty cosmetics have a shorter shelf life, so to ensure the quality toss out last years sunscreens, moisturizers, lip balms, and aloe gels. 

Side note: Some green beauty products will have an expiration date on the packaging, but if you do not see it you can always check their website or contact customer service. The green beauty industry seems to have a much friendlier customer service and I have never had any issues getting the answers I wanted. If you come across a company that claims to be natural but they are not giving you direct answers to your questions, most likely they are trying to hide something. Transparency in a company and its products is what you want to strive for.

With the hot summer sun drying out your hair and skin, you are going to want the best nature can provide. Below are a few of the essentials I feel will give you that healthy summer glow and keep your mermaid cred high.

Schmidt’s Waves Natural Deodorant

First off, let me start by saying Schmidt’s has become one of my favorite natural deodorant brands to use because they smell amazing and they actually work. I’ve tried several natural deodorants and for me, nothing has worked as well as this brand. I think all deodorant companies should just use me during their product testing because if you can cure my stank, you can cure the world’s. 

Instead of using aluminum to block the secretion of sweat (big no no) like in antiperspirants, they use arrowroot powder and baking soda to help absorb moisture under those sweaty pits. I think by now most people know that aluminum is bad for you, and although American Cancer Society denies its link to breast cancer, it is still a known hormone disruptor. Aluminum can mess with the production of estrogen, a hormone in the body that promotes the growth of breast tissue. Whether the breast tissue became cancerous from the aluminum or not, it still is duplicating more estrogen and more of the cancerous cells.  Another study has also shown the link between an increase in aluminum in the breast tissue and breast cancer. Although women without breast cancer still were reported to have aluminum in their tissue, they did show to have an overall lower amount of aluminum. That alone is enough for me.

Now lets talk smell! OMG amazing! Waves is seriously a walk on the beach. One quick swipe to the pit and you’ll be swept away to your favorite beach destination. It is fresh and tropically all at the same time. This one is for sure a summer must have. Whether out in the sun or stuck in the office, wishing you were in the sun, this deodorant screams summer!

And for those of you who have sensitivity to baking soda, try Schmidt’s Coconut Pineapple Sensitive Skin Deodorant; same magical benefits minus the baking soda. So yummy you’ll want to drink it. Schmidt’s pineapple coconut deodorant actually smells like a refreshing, tropical blended drink with a pineapple wedge on the rim and a paper umbrella sitting on top. Hello, Cabana boy!

Captain Blankenship Golden Waves Sea Salt Shimmer Spray

This summer staple is a must for those who like a little extra sparkle in their lives, and because of its natural ingredients list it is great for little girls who want to have a little fun in the sun. This spray adds a slight hold and a whole lot of glitter to your hair, and really shimmers in the sunlight. It is a fun way to dress up, play around, and release your inner mermaid. Try their other colors as well, Rose Gold and Silver Fox, for non-stop fun in the sun.

The Golden Waves Sea Salt spray contains the same ingredients as their original Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray with the addition of golden mica,iron oxides and titanium dioxide to add that beautiful golden color and glittery sparkle. Like the original formula, Golden Waves contains aloe vera to moisturize and protect your hair from harmful UV rays, as well as sea kelp extracts to nourish and add minerals back into those luscious locks.

Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant that has been used in the beauty and health industry for centuries. It has been reported to be used by Egyptian Queens as well as Ancient Greeks and is used widely in Ancient Chinese and Indian wellness. Though aloe can be used in many ways, its make up of some 18-20 amino acids help to absorb and block UV rays and protect against the effects of sun exposure on hair: dry and brittle, loss of shine and texture, and overall hair quality. (¹)

Caribbean Sol Water Resistant Sunscreen SPF 30

Think Dirty rating: 0

Skin Deep rating: NR

The difference between most natural mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens tends to be the thick and heavy white cream that is caused by the active ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide used; Zinc oxide being heavier on the “white cast” scale  than titanium dioxide.

Side note: If you are fine with mineral sunscreens that leave a white cast, this is the best form of sunscreen to use. Its ingredient most likely is made up of non-nano particles which creates a barrier that sits on top of the skin and does not absorb into the skin. Non-nano zinc oxide creates the strongest defense system against UVA protection, a defense system which is inferior in mostly all other sunscreens. Because of this, I like to look for Non-Nano Zinc Oxide as the active ingredient when I am shopping for sunscreens. Or head to EWG.org to check out EWG’s 2019 Guide To Sunscreens on all things chemical and mineral sunscreen related, and download yourself a printable sunscreen buyer’s guide.

Due to the white cast and difficult ability to rub in the lotion, I feel most people abandon the idea of using mineral sunscreen. However, I believe the benefits outweigh the inconvenient application, and if you look hard enough you can find a brand that you like and may not leave as visible as a white cast.

Caribbean Sol is a brand that I feel does a good job at addressing the thick cream and white cast problem. Get this, their lotion glides on like actual lotion and rubs into the skin nicely with no ghostly appearance! And the BIG added benefit for me with Caribbean sol, minus the obvious ingredients that are good for me and my skin, is that their ingredients area also good for the environment! Their 100% biodegradable ingredients means they are coral reef friendly and will not cause coral reef bleaching like ALL chemical sunscreens do. Because of the active chemical ingredients in chemical sunscreens, it is impossible for them to be non-harmful to the ocean, not to mention you!

Caribbean Sol uses zinc oxide as the active ingredient in their sunscreens, and according to their website “No nano-technology is used in the processing of our natural mineral Zinc Oxide.” Along with finding a mineral sunscreen, I feel it’s also important to find a non-nano mineral sunscreen. This means that the particles are not nano, not teeny tiny microscopic that they will soak right into the pores of your skin. This is the reason why most of the mineral sunscreens leave that white cast, because the lotion just sits on the skin and is not absorbed into it.

Super hydrating cucumber extract, aloe vera extract and kukui oil help keep the skin hydrated while also aiding the skin in cooling itself down when exposed to those hot temperatures in the summer months. Other beneficial ingredients like hibiscus and green coffee bean extract help to moisturize and condition the skin. And although it’s not labeled as “fragrance free”, there are no added fragrances, synthetic or natural, to the sunscreen; leaving it with a fresh light scent provided to you only by the ingredients listed above. Most people like that “sunscreen smell”, but I actually appreciate this appealing, non-overwhelming, light scent.

 100% Pure Coconut Whipped Body Butter

Think Dirty rating: 0

Skin Deep rating: NR

100% Pure is an amazing brand, and one of the first green cosmetic lines that started me on this journey. I love using their products because all their cosmetics are colored with fruits, veggies and plant pigments which add even more plant nutrients to their already nutrient dense cosmetics. They use natural fragrances from essential oils; use no fillers to dilute the product; and use more beneficial, nutrient-packed, organic ingredients instead of water- like aloe juice, fermented rice water, tea, and hydrosol (similar to essential oils, but water based distillation). So you know you are getting a high quality, concentrated product. As a whole, the company is dedicated to a more sustainable business model and a purely healthy way of living. Can you tell I like 100% Pure?

Their coconut whipped body butter smells of course like yummy coconut, and is such a rich indulgent lather for the skin. Unlike other thick and creamy butters, this one does NOT leave your skin feeling greasy or oily after. It immediately absorbs into the skin as soon as I rub it on, leaving my thirst quenching skin feeling deeply hydrated. It is amazing how soft and moisturized I feel after applying this body butter. I recommend this one for summer because after a long day at the beach, or just from being out in the sun, my skin begins to feel dry and tight. Applying this right after a nice shower when your skin is still slightly damp helps to seal in the moisture and hydrate your skin. I also like to lather a bunch on my feet and then wear socks at night. During the summer months my feet take a beating from walking on hot beach sand and wearing sandals every day, so this is a great cure to keep those tootsies looking fresh during summer!

The powerhouse ingredients in this bad boy? Yummies like cocoa, almond and shea butter to moisturize and soften the skin; aloe vera and rose hydrosol to plump and hydrate; vitamin E and argan oil to repair damaged skin; and many other beneficial berries, herbs and flowers.  At $29 for a 3.4 oz tub, I can understand this can be pretty steep. However, if you have a little money to spend on pampering yourself, I guarantee your skin will 100% love you for it! Get what I did there?

Suntegrity Lip CPR SPF 30 in Sunset Coral

Think Dirty rating: NR

Skin Deep rating: 1

Suntegrity’s sunscreen lipstick was voted Best Lip Balm With SPF in EWG’s 2016 Sunscreen Guide, and is personally one of the highest SPF lip colors that I have seen with ingredients that are good for you. The active ingredient is zinc oxide and some of the inactive ingredients are: Konjac root and lip repair lipids which help to fill in all the wrinkles to make your lips look more plump and kissable; shea and cocoa butter which help to keep the lips moisturized; and colored with pure pigments leaving a shimmery color that will make those puckers pop in the sun. Of course you never want to eat your lipstick, but incase you accidentally sneak in a lick or two, you’ll be tasting the sweet taste of Stevia leaf. In all seriousness though, the truth is all lip products are not only absorbed into you skin, but are also being consumed by you (when you lick your lips) and your loved ones (when you kiss them). It is estimated that on average a woman eats about 7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime!(²) Because of this, you want to make sure that the ingredients listed on the label, are those you’d feel safe ingesting.

Ilia Beauty Liquid Light Serum

Think Dirty rating: NR

Skin Deep rating: NR

I’m excited about Ilia’s newly launched Liquid Light Serum that can be used as a multi-tasking tool in your makeup bag. I don’t know about you, but I was all too eager to get my glow on this summer! Ilia’s Liquid Light can so cleverly be mixed in with your liquid foundation to give an overall healthy glow, or applied on top of your makeup to highlight certain areas of your face. This serum is a gel-like consistency made without silicone and feels completely light weight on the skin. Because it is not an oil based highlighter, it is great to use on top of powder foundations as well as liquid and is also suitable for more oily complexions.

When mixed in with foundation, the highlighter will brighten up and give a radiant glow to tired looking skin. Use it in thicker, fuller coverage foundations to help create a more sheer, barely there look. I love trying to pretend that I’m not trying; we all know that I DID NOT wake up like this! Ha! I also love how well this serum blends in  and sits on top of existing makeup leaving a shimmery, dewy glow that is not glittery. You can even add it into the inner corner of your eyelids, which I like to do, and not worry about it collecting in the creases from the oils. And because this is not just a highlighter, but a serum as well, there are added bonuses that help protect the skin; like marine actives which help protect the skin from UV light and damage caused by free radicals, and hydrolyzed algin from algae to help condition the skin while also controling oil production and bacteria build up.

One Love Organic’s Skin Dew Coconut Water Cream

Think Dirty rating: NR

Skin Deep rating: 1

When I daydream of seasides on a tropical beach I imagine myself out in the sun sipping water out of a freshly cut coconut. There is a reason our minds go straight to fresh coconut water when we dream up these relaxing vacations in our minds; because coconut is luxurious and coconut water is deeply hydrating, more hydrating than water. Coconut water is also a great source of antioxidants, amino acids, minerals and enzymes. And guess what? Skin dew is made up of more than 50% coconut water in every tub! It is also paired with aloe vera to hydrate and soothe the skin while Amazonian cupuacu butter deeply penetrates the skin leaving your face feeling moisturized hours after application. Phytic acid from rice as well as Vitamin E help to treat the skin and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

This moisturizer is so lightweight and breathable, which makes it a great moisturizer to use in the AM under makeup. It also absorbs immediately into the skin, allowing it to be a good moisturizer to use in the PM to layer with other skincare products. Its light, creamy texture makes night time routines super refreshing and soothing after a long day outside.  I love this face lotion for both AM and PM application, and especially in the summer when my face is a little dehydrated and needs a little love.

Babo Botanicals After Sun Gel

Think Dirty rating: NR

Skin Deep rating: NR

As mentioned before, aloe vera is used widely in the wellness and skincare industry and is no doubt a long used and trusted ingredient for after sun care. Its makeup of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants makes it a good source of healing and rebuilding for the skin’s cells. Aloe vera’s inner jelly layer is also made up of 99% water! This high water contest, as well as other vitamins and lipids, makes it the perfect hydrating agent. When also paired with hydrating green tea extract and hyaluronic acid, Babo’s sun gel leaves skin feeling amazing.

My skin tends to feel dry and itchy a lot during the summer; both from the the sun and those pesky mosquitoes that always attack me. Seriously, my poor toddler and I get so many red welts from mosquito bites. I’m constantly trying to find some healthy preventive and itching care remedies.  Babo’s gel seems to help relieve some of that itch. Witch hazel gives it that refreshing and soothing feeling, and if you want even more cooling keep it in the fridge for especially hot sunburned skin. Then top it all off with the sweet smell of green tea, a touch of cucumber and refreshing eucalyptus and you got yourself a fully indulgent, soothing gel. It’s amazing how even just the smell of something can calm and refresh your mind and body.

Suntegrity’s Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen

and Primer SPF 30

Think Dirty rating: NR

Skin Deep rating: 1

So this last item I was a bit reluctant to add to the list, because to be honest I don’t really use face lotion with SPF all that much. I know, I know, let me hear the lectures of how you get wrinkles and sunspots and you need to take care of the delicate skin of your face. I totally get it! And guys, I’m sure I will say this a hundred times, there are many areas where I also need to improve! Improvement and growth is not just about buying the products, but changing your mindset and your daily routines. I personally find it hard to spend money on a lotion that I have to apply every 2 hours when I wear a face full of makeup. I’m obviously NOT going to want to reapply sunblock over my makeup. And by the time I finish getting ready, get my kids ready and head out the door it’s already been 2 hours and I have to reapply again!! So I need to find a change in my SPF routine that works for me. Sidebar: If you have any suggestions, throw them my way.

If you have my issue some of the things I will do at times is use a tinted SPF, like Suntegrity’s SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer, to maybe give some coverage and protection throughout the day. You can easily reapply the tinted SPF throughout the day if that is all you are wearing. Or if wanting more coverage and you are wearing a full face of makeup then you can use Ilia’s Radiant Translucent Powder SPF 20. This is a powdered sun protection with a built in brush. This is a good solution with safe ingredients. I just personally like to be extra careful with loose powders that you inhale when applying to your face. And EWG says you need to be especially careful when applying Zinc Oxide in powder form, because the lung has a hard time clearing out these nano-particles which can leach into the bloodstream and maybe eventually cause lung damage. So the translucent powder may be something to use occasionally for special occasions and not daily. I am also currently using a fuller coverage liquid foundation with SPF. 14e Cosmetics Aloe Nourish Foundation SPF 23 is a medium coverage that dries to a matte finish.

So, back to Suntegrity’s 3 in 1 lotion. A  lot of you out there may not be ready to switch foundations. I get it. Sometimes, once you find the perfect one it is hard to venture out. So that’s why I think this moisturizer, primer, SPF combo is a good transition for those of you looking for sunscreen protection. I do use this primer occasionally and it is really good quality. It has a light citrus scent and rubs in easily into the skin. If there is any white cast, which I don’t really notice, it absorbs into the skin after a minute or so. The consistency of the lotion is very light, not greasy or tacky, but very smooth on the surface of the skin. SPF protection comes from non-nano zinc oxide; and moisturized and hydrated by hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, aloe vera, and cucumber. This truly is a great product… I may start using it more!

Now what do you guys think? Any products that you are interested in trying, or perhaps green summer products of your own that you’d like to recommend? Let me know! I’d love to hear from you!

As always Greenies, thank you and spread the love!

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