Beneficial Products for the Great Outdoors

Looking for some products that will make your next outdoor excursion a little easier or better? Check these out.
environmentally friendly sunscreen
Price: $5.99 +
When adventuring outside, number one thing is to have sunscreen on. Rubber Ducky, whose motto is “just like water off of a duck’s back” has been cruelty-free since 1984 and chemical-free since 2013. The sunscreen, which is formulated and made in the USA, is eight hours water resistant—you can actually see the water bead up and not soak in. However, please be careful, as some of it is tinted- I have never used a tinted sunblock, I don’t use makeup, and I didn’t know there was any such thing. The one that says “for faces” is tinted, and is REALLY tinted. It will turn your face, neck, hands, and anything else you touch a bizarre pinkish-brownish color, and it gets all over anything you touch for the rest of the day. Your clothes, bra, bathing suit, car seats- it’s a literal hot mess if you aren’t expecting it. Which I wasn’t. We all went to put it on our faces- and we then spent the rest of the day trying to get it off ourselves. The clothes did come clean after several treatments and washes in the machine, so at least there is that! I am going to read the labels much more carefully from now on- I always look for SPF, sustainability, reef safety, and to make sure it hasn’t been tested on animals- now I will add to read to make sure it ISN’T tinted, LOL. That’s a mistake I hope to only make once! If you like tinted sunblock, there you go. If you don’t, learn from my stupidity, haha- what a disaster.
pirani cup
Price: $24.95
Nothing beats kicking back in the sunshine and enjoying your favorite beverage and Pirani’s insulated reusable tumblers are the perfect vessel to drink out of.  The only reusable cup you’ll need, Pirani is perfect for hot or cold drinks, Pirani is:
Easily Stackable – perfect for storing or packing on the go
Skinny Walled Triple Insulation – Keeps your drinks at a perfect temperature without a sweaty mess!
Leak-proof and indestructible lid (no sand in your drink), premium quality 18/8 stainless steel, powder-coated finish and lifetime warranty
Dishwasher safe and unbreakable. The “dishwasher safe” part is really great- so many of these types of reusable cups can’t go into the dishwasher, which is pretty inconvenient. Small problems overall, but they keep the item from being used as much as you might otherwise because it’s just not as easy as the rest.
Pirani Life strives to maintain this momentum of sustainability moving forward and pledges to design products that will help reduce single-use plastic. Reducing single use anything is so important.
pre packaged vegan food
Price: $3.99 per pouch
Cooking outdoors? Make it easy with BeanVIVO’s ready-to-eat organic beans in convenient pouches. Pre-cooked, you can heat them up on the campfire stove (or if you’re glamping, microwave) and in no time you can have scrumptious black beans, coconut curry chickpeas, three bean vegan chili, or refried pinto beans. High in protein, these beans are rich in healthy macro and micronutrients. They are chock full of fiber, which helps you feel satisfied while you are on-the-go. My husband really loves these- we all liked them, but he loved them and ordered more already.

Earth Baby Sunscreen and Rubber Ducky Sunscreen – Great Options for the Great Outdoors

Spending the day at the beach? Maybe just outdoors. Spending any amount of time outside means you should likely be wearing at least some amount of sun protection.  It can be hard to find sunscreen that is safe for your little ones (not to mention the planet!) so I wanted to draw your attention to some recent discoveries.

We all know by now that using sunblock is one of the best and easiest ways to protect your skin from sunburn, cancer, premature aging, and quite a few other problems. From babyhood on up- don’t forget the sunscreen.

According to Johns Hopkins, you should use it daily. For your “day-to-day use, pick a sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. If you spend time outdoors, choose a product with SPF 60 or greater. In reality, most people do not use as much sunscreen as they should, and this higher SPF helps compensate. To protect your face, neck, arms and legs, you’ll need about 1 ounce of sunscreen. Squeezed into your hand, 1 ounce of sunscreen is enough to completely cover your palm. So long as the sunscreen is at least SPF 30, water-resistant, broad-spectrum and applied about 15 minutes before going outside, it doesn’t matter in what order you apply your skincare products. Some people find it’s easiest to work with bare skin — before makeup or moisturizer have been added. Find what works best for your routine.”

Of course, always speak to a dermatologist or other doctor for best advice- I’m just passing on general information.

reef safe sunscreen

Committed to using certified organic fruit and vegetable-based ingredients, Earth Baby’s products are non-toxic, gentle, and effective on baby skin, hair, and body. Earth Baby products provide immediate moisturization and superior hydration, emollient oils and vitamins with a time-controlled release, and dramatically reduced need for high levels of UV filters.  It doesn’t feel greasy when you put it on, or leave a lingering slippery feeling. It has no unpleasant odor, and I didn’t mind using it on my face (I’m pretty picky about that).   It is safe for the ocean, and cruelty free.

Crafted in a reef-friendly formulation using non-nano Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, our sunscreen makes the great outdoors safer giving the best possible protection against harmful UVA/UVB rays.  Packed with German Chamomile, shea butter and mango, our nourishing sunscreen is gentle enough for the most sensitive young skin.

Formulated Safe + FriendlyTM in California

  • Reef-Friendly, Photostable
  • Non-Nano, Non-Phototoxic, Non-Toxic
  • Reduced Whitening Effect, Water Resistant (40 min)
  • Certified Organic & Natural Ingredients*
  • Hypoallergenic, Non-sensitizing, Non-irritating
  • No Artificial Dyes
  • Essential Oils used for Scent
  • Preservative Free
  • No Animal Derived ingredients, No Animal Testing
  • Clinically Tested
  • Pediatrician & Dermatologist Tested
  • FREE of: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, Mineral Oil, Propylene glycol, DEA, MEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Triethanolamine, Petrolatum, Lanolin
Price: $14.00
If you would like another option, we like Rubber Ducky.
cruelty free sunblock
Price: $8.99 +
When adventuring outside, number one thing is to have sunscreen on. Rubber Ducky, whose motto is “just like water off of a duck’s back” has been cruelty-free since 1984 and chemical-free since 2013. The sunscreen, which is formulated and made in the USA, is eight hours water resistant—you can actually see the water bead up and not soak in. It also won’t “sweat” in the eyes, freeing you from irritation and making it perfect for hiking in the sun.
  • Oil Free, Oxybenzone/Octinoxate free, Paraben Free,  Gluten Free, Non-GMO
  • Clear Application
  • Stays on in Water
  • TSA – OK to Fly
  • Biodegradable
  • Reef Safe
  • Up to 8 hours of wear
  • Cruelty Free

The sunblock is a brownish color, though it applies clear and with no tint. It smells differently then most do- a king of patchouli scent or something like that. It’s not your typical coconut, or “sunscreen” smell.  It was a bit surprising, but my husband especially liked the smell of Rubber Ducky. He used it before taking the dog out on her “doggy splash day” and fun run at a local  waterpark, and he didn’t burn at all by the end of the day, so that’s a decent endorsement. It stayed on through sweat and water spraying/splashing, and he didn’t need to reapply.

puppy pool party

Lets Go Exploring

 

Summer is the perfect time to head out and play for the kids. I have a few really fun ideas for ways to encourage the kids to explore nature, to engage in dramatic play, and to keep their skin protected while soaking up the summer sun!

In order to go exploring you have to get their safely first. Mifold is small, compact, and you can take it anywhere! Instead of lifting the child up it brings the seat belt down. Making it safe and comfortable for them to ride. Imagine the places you can go exploring without having to have a big bulky booster seat around.

Sunblocz is my favorite option for very water resistant sun protection for the entire family. This is a 100% all natural option that has SPF 50+ and is safe for the entire family. It has no artificial fragrances and is full of antioxidants for a great choice in sun protection this summer.

After applying sunblock, it is time to head out and explore. The Haba Terra Kids Binoculars is a really fun way to encourage kids to enjoy nature with no frills, apps, alerts or screens! These are durable and effective for young explorers with the power to magnify 4x. I love that these come with a bag and a handy strap to keep them close for all kinds of summer explorations!

After a day of adventure, it is time to fire up the grill. The new sprouts grill it set by Learning Resources is a fun way to serve up a helping of imaginative play for the youngest chefs! This set includes all of the ingredients they need for a dramatic play BBQ! I love that this set includes fine motor play with a tasty helping of fun. The set includes 22 durable pieces including a grill, serving tools, steak, cheese and veggies to name a few.

If you have a favorite option for summer play, I would love to hear about it in a comment to inspire our future play sessions!