As we head into the end of June, one thing is certain: Summer is officially here!
My husband and I recently relocated from Brooklyn, New York, to Erie, Colorado, just outside of Boulder. While there’s a lot of things to explore and adjust to, one of the biggest things for me is being a heck of a lot closer to the sun! Having lived close to sea level my entire life, I was pretty stunned at how quickly I turned from white to red out here.
But whether you’re at a high altitude or splashing in the sea, you need protection from the elements. Read on for my top picks for staying cruelty-free while having fun in the sun!
Best Sunscreen: Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunscreen
There are more and more cruelty-free sunscreens popping up on the market, but my favorite -- and the brand I see most often at different stores -- is Alba Botanica. Whether you want a spray or a tube, Alba Botanica has an option -- and a scent -- to match any need. They offer a range of SPFs and make a lotion gentle enough for baby’s skin. My go-to is the fragrance free spray (linked to above), which stands up to a sweaty all-day hike and never clogs my pores. Prices vary between sizes and types, but the aforementioned spray retails for about $16, though I’ve had no trouble finding it on sale for $10 and under.
Best Facial Sunscreen: Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 50
Kiss My Face also makes a great body sunscreen, but I particularly love them for their face-specific lotion. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I have really sensitive skin. Growing up, I always had to be careful about putting any sunscreen on my face, lest it feel like it was on fire the entire day. This stuff is super lightweight and non-greasy, but surprisingly effective and sweat-resistant. A 2 oz. tube retails for around $14, but I’ve gotten it for as little as $9 or $10.
Best Swimmer’s Shampoo: Aubrey Organics Almond Apricot Swimmer’s Shampoo
Maybe you’re more of pool than an ocean person. As a blonde who swam competitively in high school, I know chlorine can wreck your hair (and turn it an interesting shade of green). When I looked at getting back into lap swimming, I knew I was going to need a swimmer’s shampoo, but I was worried there wasn’t a cruelty-free option on the market. Alas, there is. Not only is it gentle and effective, but it smells delicious. My only complaint is that the formula is a little runny, so you have to be careful when pouring into your hand. This is my first bottle, though, so fingers crossed it’s normally a little more viscous. Do a quick Google search to find your best price -- a 16 oz. bottle will run you about $10 or $11.
Best Insect Repellent: All Terrain Herbal Armor
Forgot your Off! and all those other DEET-loaded brands: This is the best bug repellent I’ve ever used. We first picked this up for a trip to Costa Rica -- we knew we were going to be doing a lot of hiking in the rain forest and wanted to be prepared. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical about the all-natural approach -- I grew up in a time when those chemical-saturated repellents were pretty much the only effective thing on the market, but trust. This stuff stands up to mosquito season in any tropical paradise -- including your backyard. A 4 oz. bottle retails for $9.99. Additional sizes and varieties available.
Best Bug Bite Relief: All Terrain Bite & Sting Soother Spray
Perhaps less surprising after you see how well the repellent works, is the sting soother. There’s always that one sucker that gets through, or, as is more likely with me, bug repellent isn’t all that effective unless you actually put it on. So, for those times when a bug has an unstoppable thirst for human flesh -- or you just got lazy -- this stuff will take the bite right out of that welt. A 2 oz. bottle retails for $7.99.
What's your favorite cruelty-free summer product? Let me know in the comments!
![[AlbaBotanica.com]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55171dd1e4b088ff85753a2d/1440114001345-U5NOCHDF0FENTVJ8CQTN/image-asset.png)
