3 Easy Tips For Your Safety
Not sure if you remember, but last summer, my family and I traveled cross country for almost two months and then moved to Spain for six months. While that was one epic adventure, I’m VERY excited to stay home this summer and fully enjoy our beautiful mountain town, Telluride, Colorado! Getting outdoors as much as possible is priority number one. I can’t wait to go on some of my favorite hikes!
To gear up for the summer season, I made a few key product changes that I think will benefit you too. These seemingly simple changes can make a big impact!
Tip #1) Polarized Sunglasses
Swapping your regular sunglasses for protective, polarized sunglasses makes a HUGE difference…especially while hiking, walking outdoors, driving, fishing, or whatever your favorite summer activity may be. You will see better and be more protected from the sun. Right now, I walk the dog every day and do a ton of driving because the kids’ schedules are so crazy. (I feel like a taxi driver most days.) During the summer, I also do a lot of hiking. I’m excited to test out all of my new, Maui Jim polarized sunglasses! (See more of my favorite styles below).
Maui Jim Sunglasses
I don’t know about you, but when someone mentioned polarized sunglasses six months ago, I pictured Chris’ very masculine fishing sunglasses. I was so happy to discover Maui Jim’s more feminine and modern options. In the pictures above, I’m wearing the sporty and chic Triton sunglasses above.
The benefits to polarized lenses are:
- They are sun safe blocking out 100% of all harmful UV rays
- You see better! Everything is enhanced, brighter, with more vivid colors
- Less eye fatigue because you can relax the eyes
- Less wrinkling around the eyes – which means less crow’s feet…that’s a BIG win in my book!
- They have the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal as an effective UV filter…did you know 5%-10% of skin cancer is around the eyes??
Shop more by Maui Jim here.
More Sunglasses I’m Loving
Aren’t these SO fun? I love the shape of the Puakenikeni sunglasses in ‘Shiny Gold.’ (They also come in gunmetal and rose gold.) I just took these sunglasses to our most recent lacrosse tournament in Vail and I’ll definitely be wearing these glam and edgy shades all summer!
These are the fab, feminine Lotus sunglasses in Chocolate Fade. I love the flattering, cat-eye shape!
#2) Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen
Another simple change you can make this summer to take better care of yourself…switch chemical sunscreen for mineral-based sunscreen.
In a study published in January 2020 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the research looked at six sunscreen chemicals (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate). All 6 ingredients were absorbed into the bloodstream at significantly higher levels than what the FDA recommends. Study authors admit more research is needed and that their findings do not indicate that sunscreen is unsafe.
However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends avoiding chemical sunscreens with oxybenzone because of concerns that this ingredient may disrupt hormones and cause allergic skin reactions. I made the decision to start using mineral-based sunscreen years ago but if you haven’t, I’m sharing a few of my favorites and some that come highly recommended below so you can make the switch too!
Tip: Always read the ingredients on the bottle or box! If making the switch, look for active ingredients zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.
The glamorous Two Step sunglasses in Tortoise above
#3) Clean Up Your Skincare
The last shift you can make is a little more challenging, but definitely can make an impact… Cleaning up your skincare routine. It’s easy to dismiss ingredients in your products since you may not use that much of each product. But, take a moment to think about all the skincare products you use on any given day: deodorant, moisturizer, eye cream, shower gel, body lotion, etc… and suddenly it DOES add up! You can protect yourself from potentially harmful ingredients by “cleaning up” your skincare routine. You may not know where to start, but don’t worry, I have you covered in this video. If you’re new to clean beauty, I’d also recommend reading this post. DO take advantage of our research and resources so you don’t waste a bunch of time and money trying out different ‘clean’ products.
All of our clean beauty information is posted here.
Have you made any of these changes? Let us know in the comments below!
Huge thank you to Maui Jim for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive some incredible style resources.
Thank you for stopping by!
I only buy bar shampoo, conditioner and body soap. No more plastic bottles for me. Past time to stop polluting the planet with plastic.
That’s wonderful, Emilie! Great tip! ~Erin xo
Fabulous information, thank you Erin. Quick question, love your pink blouse, could you let me know where you found it? Thank you!
You’re welcome, Pat! I’m glad you liked it. Here’s a link to the pink blouse: https://rstyle.me/+459yRW12KQCTQIf4iUS3KA ~Erin xo
I’ve been wearing Supergoop’s sunscreen for quite sometime now because I too heard that chemical sunscreens could be “unsafe” (whatever that means). I’ve also made the switch to polarized sunglasses! I found this qaint little boutique in my town that had the cutest aviators! And as far as clean beauty goes, I absolutely LOVE Caudalie products and have been using them for years! Keep all the tips coming Erin and team! Great job!
It sounds like you are ahead of the game, Amber, that’s wonderful. thanks for the tip on Caudalie, appreciate you. ~Erin xo