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We look with excitement towards Summer, anxious to seek reprieve from the routine of work and school. Our adventures often keep us close, exploring the unique facets of the city we call home. Staycations make it feasible for us to enjoy several shorter trips throughout the summer and you’ll often find us basking in the warm Arizona sun or seeking reprieve from that same Summer heat in San Diego. For a family with small children, the ability to pack to one’s content is freeing and makes it more likely that we’ll have everything we need to make the trip memorable for a lifetime.
For children, packing is relatively uncomplicated, provided nothing is forgotten. When it comes to my own items, I’m challenged to find beauty products that fit my personal profile of natural, organic, and generally “better-for-you.” I had seen all-natural and organic beauty products sprinkled throughout my local Walmart, but was pleasantly surprise when my latest beauty product shopping haul resulted in all-natural, organic versions of practically every single item I use on my face and body.
To make it easier, I started from head-to-toe in the hair care aisle. I finally settled on a very affordable shampoo and conditioner for normal to dry hair from Yes to Carrots. A 9.5 ounce bottle retails for just $4.97 and is the lowest priced shampoo and conditioner in the all-natural, organic sector at Walmart. This smaller size is idea for traveling and fits in most larger cosmetic bags as you’ll see below.
As someone with dry hair that is constantly exposed to heat, color, and the elements, this is the ideal shampoo and conditioner combo for me. Carrot Seed Oil and Pomegranate are the key ingredients in this relatively clean, paraben-free line of hair care products.
Admittedly, at the end of the day I can be a bit lazy when it comes to skin care. I loved my latest beauty find, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes. Not only are these ultra-convenient and don’t require any water (camping anyone?), they’re fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. A package of 30 pre-moistened towelettes retails for $5,97 in-stores.
Moisturizing my face is the only other step I actually adhere to regularly, since my mother told me that it helps skin stay youthful looking. Walmart’s Simple line is a favorite of mine because of the absence of artificial perfumes, dyes, parabens and other harsh chemicals. The brand’s Protecting Light Moisturizer is light and doubles as a sunscreen (note that it does contain conventional sunscreen). I like to apply it underneath my makeup for daily protection from the sun.
When we’re on vacation, we relax a number of rules and routines, including the ever-flexible bedtime. However, the one thing we don’t compromise on is a healthy smile. All-natural toothpaste is difficult to find, but one of our long-time favorites is available for adults and children at Walmart. Available in several flavor varieties, with and without fluoride, Tom’s of Maine fights cavities without the addition of artificial sweeteners or dyes. We picked up the Whole Care Spearmint variety for $4.25, which is admittedly higher than conventional toothpaste but we feel like the cleaner ingredient profile is worth the extra investment for a product we use twice a day, every day.
With the summer heat comes incredibly dry lips! Too often, I’m trying to mask that dryness with lipstick when what my lips really need is moisture. I only recently learned of Yes to Coconut’s Naturally Smooth Lip Balm, Aloe, coconut and shea butter provide lasting relief from dryness without parabens, phthalates, and petroleum that characterizes most of the lip balms on the shelves.
One of my favorite indulgences is the use of body wash in place of soap. When I’m traveling via plane, it isn’t easy to tote my Burt’s Bees Fabulously Fresh Body Wash since it exceeds the 4 ounce FAA limit. But this bottle fits nicely into most larger cosmetic bags making it ideal for weekend getaways and staycations. You know that the line is free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and petrochemicals which makes it all the more compelling to make sure you carry with this body wash on your next trip to avoid the more toxic hotel varieties.
While I typically don’t forget to moisturize my face, I often forget the remainder of my body. Earlier this year, I was introduced to SheaMoisture‘s bath and body products and I am loving the brand’s ingredient profile, which avoids parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, DEA, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and synthetic colors. The products are lavish and feel spa-worthy, and with ingredients like mango butter and coffee bean extract, I feel like I’m doing something palliative for my skin.
Finding an all-natural deodorant that actually works is one of my biggest beauty challenges. Tom’s of Maine has been my go-to brand since my teen years, and their new improved, long-lasting formula ensures I am dry and odor-free throughout the day. I picked up their Wild Lavender variety for $4.27 at my local Walmart and the store had at least 3 other varieties. Unlike the majority of deodorants available, Tom’s of Maine is free from aluminum, which many women strive to avoid.
Having had 3 pre-cancerous moles removed in the last year, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to wear sunscreen every single day all-year round. With the safety of traditional sunscreen in question, I typically opt for sunscreens that avoid chemical UV filters like Safe Harbor Natural Suncare’s Mineral Sunscreen. This particular sunscreen has an SPF of 50 and provides protection from UVA and UVB rays.
In addition to the above natural beauty products, I also included BIC’s Soleil Twilight razors for a flawlessly smooth legs, COVERGIRL’s The Supersizer Waterproof mascara (for beach days), and Nail Medic’s Force Field