Did you know that I was a lifeguard for almost eight years? It’s true! I basically grew up in my local swimming pool and then worked there for many summers when I became a certified lifeguard. Then in college, I was a certified lifeguarding instructor and taught others how to be lifeguards! Needless to say that I’ve spent most summers exposed to a lot of sun.
I am ecstatic to have found Raw Elements that have certified natural and reef safe sunscreen! It was developed by a beach lifeguard! They have amazing ethics and all-natural ingredients. A lot of their packaging is also zero waste and plastic-free. As a company, they spread awareness about sun-protection and are committed to education and environmental awareness.
Today I’m sharing ten summertime outdoor activities for a great staycation! And no time in the sun is complete without some sun safety. Cute wide-brim hats notwithstanding, I’ve found the perfect zero waste sunscreen for wide spectrum protection.
This post was not sponsored by Raw Elements but I am a part of the Raw Elements affiliate program. This post contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase via one of the links, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only link to products that I know and love. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Raw Elements Review
Y’all! I am obsessed with Raw Elements. Their active sun protector ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide and let me tell you, it’s super effective! I’ve tested their products and they seriously hold up.
You can use my code HF20 for 10% off your Raw Elements order!
Why I Love Raw Elements
- Reef-safe! Sustainable! Cruelty-free!
- Broad-spectrum sun protection with SPF 30
- Safe for all ages and never runs or stings the eyes
- Ultimate water and sweat performance
- Hypo-allergenic with no fragrances, preservatives, or chemicals
- Certified natural and organic ingredients
- Zero waste!
Sunscreen
I’m never leaving the house without my sunscreen tin this summer! A little goes a long way with this sunscreen and it soaks in very similarly to “traditional” liquid/chemical sunscreen. It does not leave a ‘white’ sheen on your skin and has a pleasant smell. I have severe allergies and I’m very sensitive to smell. Anything with fragrance really bothers me; this has no added fragrance just the natural zinc oxide aroma.
Lip Products
Raw Elements does use plastic for their lip products. I make my own lip balm which is great during the winter months but lips can become sunburnt as easily as skin so I need SPF! My lips can get cold sores if they burn. No bueno. I’m not going to compromise my health! Plus I think the rest of what these lip products offer outways the small fact that it’s in plastic.
Tinted Products
I’ve added the Raw Elements tinted moisturizer and their tinted lip balm to my daily skincare regime! (And I’ll definitely have to update my zero waste skincare routine blog post…) A friend of mine is an esthetician and I think she almost fainted when I told her I didn’t wear SPF daily. I mean me! The lifeguard should know better! But if my journey to zero waste has taught me anything, it’s as important what you put on your body as in it.
I wasn’t going to settle for any old product. And now, I don’t have to settle! Both the moisturizer and lip balm have SPF 30. Their tinted moisturizer soaks in beautifully and acts as a nice base for applying makeup. It might be a tad dark for some lighter skin tones but it works for me and I usually put powder on top of it anyway. The lip balm is quite thick but does have a nice natural shade and shimmer to it!
My Raw Elements Favorites
- Face and Body Sunscreen Tin | $19
- Tinted Face Moisturizer Tin | $18
- Pink Lip Shimmer SPF 30 | $6
- Lip Rescue SPF 30 | $6
- Herbal Rescue Lip Balm | $4
Remember you can use my code HF20 to get 10% your Raw Elements order.
10 Outdoor Summer Staycation Ideas
Memorial Day weekend is when my local pool usually opens and it just makes me so sad that I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to swim in chlorine again! But I’ve come up with ten ideas to pretend you’re not ~actually~ in your parent’s backyard. Sometimes it’s about the state of mind rather than the place that can make you feel like you’re on vacation!
- Set-up a beach chair in the yard and (after lathering yourself with sunscreen 😉 ) soak up the sun! You can play some beach/ocean sounds and pretend you’re on the sand.
- Lay your favorite blanket or towel on the grass and have a picnic.
- Sit under an umbrella with a cozy summer book and let the hours fade as you read the day away.
- Cool off by filling a bucket with ice water and soaking your feet. Play your favorite summer hits and do some dancing if you feel keen.
- Take a walk or go for a bike ride.
- Have a photoshoot in the garden or in the yard. Capture you and your family like you would when you’re on vacation!
- Camp in your own backyard (or your parent’s backyard 😉 ).
- Have dinner delivered and eat it outside! Set up a card table and really make a table-scape à la ‘Lady and the Tramp’ set with candles or lanterns and a tablecloth. Decor can really set the mood and make you believe you’re not just a couple yards from home.
- Use a sprinkler and run through it like you did when you were a kid.
- Pretend you’re on a yoga or meditation retreat and practice some mindfulness and/or movement outside.
Take advantage of the nice weather and get outside! I always feel so much lighter after spending a day in the sun rather than inside. Even if it’s just writing this blog post outside in a chair 🙂 It never fails to boost my mood. How do you love to spend time outdoors at home?
Happy Day-
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