Summer is almost here and I find summer to be a time where I apply many more products to my skin due to the wonderful fact that I am spending more time outdoors, like:

• sunscreen
• zinc
• insect repellent
• gels or creams for those times when I didn’t use sunscreen or insect repellent!

Over the last few years I have been trying to find toxin-free replacements for the products I use. I have become much more conscious about what I am putting on my and the kids’ skin. So many skin care and beauty products contain chemicals that are known to be carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors.

The David Suzuki Foundation have published “The Dirty Dozen” cosmetic chemicals to avoid which is worth checking out if you haven’t looked into the chemicals that are commonly found in the products we put on our skin.

• BHA and BHT
• Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number
• DEA-related ingredients
• Dibutyl phthalate
• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
• Parabens
• Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)
• PEG compounds
• Petrolatum
• Siloxanes
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• Triclosan

You can even download a 20 pages document they created giving you the details on the chemicals, how they are used, health hazards and regulatory status in Canada where the foundation is based.

I have been purchasing skin care and beauty products from Nourished Life for a number of years now because I know they stock only toxin-free products and I don’t have to worry about reading the ingredient lists to make sure they don’t contain the “Dirty Dozen”.

If you are looking to reduce the toxins in your summer skin care and beauty products, here are some key ones I would highly recommend.

Toxin-free sport sunscreen

I love running and especially love running in sunshine, but want to do it without getting sunburnt. This UV Natural Sports Sunscreen 30+ has been developed for outdoor sports and is sweat and water resistant for up to 3 hours.

It is easy to apply and doesn’t feel greasy on. It is is made in Australia, certified cruelty free and provides both UVA and UVB protection.

Toxin-free zinc cream

I have fair skin and so do our kids. When we spend prolonged periods of time in the water in summer, the only thing that saves our faces is zinc cream! Our daughter in particular needs to use zinc even for shorter periods as she has a habit of continually wiping water of her face when she is in the pool. This means the sunscreen doesn’t protect her for as long, so zinc definitely saves her face from getting burnt.

The Sun & Earth Natural Zinc Tinted All Day Cream is excellent. It is a great colour and feels comfortable on. You can feel you have an extra layer of protection, but it doesn’t feel too thick or annoying. In the photo above I have the zinc on my nose and across my cheeks only.

Toxin free insect repellent

We have a couple of kids that seem to attract mosquitos. They can spend only minutes outside around the time the sun is going down and the end up with multiple bites.

We have found the Lemon Myrtle Fragrances Natural Insect Repellent to work incredibly well and it smells so much better than the standard insect repellents you find. It is made with with Citronella, Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil and Lemon Myrtle Oil.

Toxic free burns and bites gel

There are always times when someone in the family stays in the sun too long, is outdoors with out sun protection or doesn’t apply insect repellent during summer – I wish it didn’t happen but it does.

I have written before about what great quality products Weleda are and the Weleda Burns & Bites Cooling Gel is no exception. It is made with herbal ingredients, including Echinacea, Aloe Vera, Arnica and Nettle. This clever combination helps to soothe sunburnt skin and relieve the itchiness from mosquito bites.

Toxin free baby products

Nourished Life have an extensive range of natural skin care for baby that you should definitely check out if you have a little one. But as many of us head away at summer, this Little Innoscents Summer Travel Pack is a perfect. If you don’t have a little one in your family, it would make a great gift for friends or family who do.

It contains:

• hair and body wash
• moisture rich lotion
• intensive soothing cream
• sun lotion SPF 30

And if you are looking for fabulous toxin free Christmas Gifts for family and friends definitely check out Nourished Life’s Christmas Gifts page – so much goodness to be found there!

Nourished Life toxin-free summer pack giveaway

Thanks to the team at Nourished Life, one lucky reader of Planning with Kids can win a fabulous Nourished Life toxin-free summer pack! The pack contains all the fab products above and is valued at over $115:

Enter below or if you are reading via email and cannot see the form please click here.

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