Posts

The Top 5 Most Important Benefits to Wearing Sunscreen

top 5 most important benefits to wearing sunscreen

 

Whether you’re laying out on the beach or skiing a snowy slope, sunscreen is a necessity for any kind of weather. Brightness from the sun, clouds and even snow can cause long-lasting damage to your skin and even develop into skin cancer, one of the most common types of cancers in the US. To protect your skin from potential damage, keep in mind these top five reasons are the most important benefits to wearing sunscreen.




1. SKIN CANCER

The most important reason to wear sunscreen doesn’t end at just sunburn. Skin cancer is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is greatly reduced through the use of sunscreen. Products like the Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Mist has an SPF 30 degree of protection that can reduce the odds of your days at the beach turning into a life-threatening cancer.

 

person on the beach wearing sunscreen

2. SUNBURN

Aside from skin cancer, UV Rays can also cause uncomfortable and often painful sunburn. The redness and burning sensation may be temporary, but the long-lasting effects of regular sunburns can develop into more serious issues down the line. Sunscreen like the Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 is great to carry with you during months out of the year when you’re regularly spending time outside.




putting on sunscreen benefits of wearing sunscreen

3. PREMATURE AGING

Using skincare products with an SPF is an easy way to prevent premature aging. The glowing skin of your youth can last when you enrich your skin with nutrients that will help it fight off wrinkles and fine lines. UV exposure can greatly increase the aging process, so products like Countersun Daily Sheer Defense For Face SPF 25 can help you reduce the risk.

 

girl with good skin premature aging wearing sunscreen

4. EVEN SKIN TONE

An uneven skin tone is difficult to correct, and sunscreen can help with reducing variations in your complexion. Creams like the Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer work to help mask uneven skin tone in the short term, and heal your complexion in the long term. Fight off dark spots and discoloration by keeping the effects of the sun’s harmful rays in mind.




women wearing tinted moisturizer wearing sunscreen

 

5. HEALTHY SKIN

It’s not just about how your skin looks on the outside. Keeping your skin healthy from the inside out is just as important in maintaining a glowing complexion. Products like the Countersun After Sun Cooling Gel will help to prevent any possible sun damage after exposure, and will soothe and hydrate your skin. Sunscreen also protects your keratin which is a protein known for its essential properties in skin health.

 

girl on beach in bikini healthy skin

REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN

No matter your activities, sunscreen is a necessity for building and maintaining healthy skin. From moisturizers to sprays to lotions, there are a spectrum of options available to fit your preference for sun protection. Countersun’s variety of products are beneficial for both you and the environment, as they are a reef safe company while chemicals from many other sunscreens are known to cause damage to coral reefs. 

Each of these products can enrich your skin with vitamins while also acting as a defense against the sun. For direct exposure, make sure to use at least SPF 30 to increase your protection against harmful UV rays. When you incorporate daily sunscreen use into your skincare routine, your skin can stay healthy and luminous for years to come.

 

coral reef in the ocean reef safe sunscreen




Skin Deep: What You Should Know About Your Health & Beauty Products

what you should know about health beauty products

 

WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT WE PUT ON OUR SKIN?

Your skin should be your best friend. It does so many things for you! It acts as a physical barrier, an immunologic barrier protecting us from pathogens, it helps with temperature regulation, protects us from radiation and helps with injury repair. Here’s what you should know about your health and beauty products.

 

shop with mairead masuda

SKIN ABSORPTION

As amazing as our skin is at protecting us from the external environment, it’s still a porous organ. There are numerous studies that show how highly absorptive skin can be, with the face, armpits and genital region being some of the most permeable areas on the body.

One study from the 80’s showed that while testing the skin’s permeability against tap water, 64% of contaminants were absorbed from the water. This research shed light on the fact that we are absorbing so much more through our skin than what we expected. Yet when it comes to U.S. laws regarding what is and isn’t allowed in our beauty, skincare and personal care products, there haven’t been any changes since 1938. Um, what?

U.S. LAWS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE 1938.




Think about what you apply to your skin on a daily basis. Even people with a very minimal regimen, like myself, will apply several different kinds of health and beauty products every day. Let’s count, shall we?

In the morning I put on some deodorant, moisturizer, a little foundation, concealer (to cover up the sleep deprived mom look), a dusting of eyebrow powder (it’s all about the brows these days) and blush. Later in the day I’ll have a shower and use some soap, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body lotion (if I actually remember) and night time cream.

That’s 12 products in one day. I’ll admit, I definitely don’t wash my hair every day, but even without those items, that’s a minimum of 10 products every single day.

 

girl holding skin what is in my products

THE CHEMICALS IN OUR EVERYDAY PRODUCTS

Now, most people aren’t in the shower thinking “Oooh, I hope I’m absorbing lots of this water because I need to hydrate.” We just drink a glass of water. But when it comes to body and skincare products, we WANT them to be absorbed. Like, “Yes, collagen/peptide/hyaluronic acid magic potion please make your way down to my deepest wrinkle and plump them out!” But what is actually in our personal care products?

Unfortunately, there is a long list of chemicals commonly found in everything from our makeup, to baby bath products, our cleansers, creams, serums, hair products… the list could go on and on. 




A recent study wanted to look at exactly this–what chemicals can be found in common, everyday products and how could they be affecting our body? This study was performed in Italy and it should be noted that there are many chemicals banned from use in the European Union that are not banned in the United States (just something to think about as we delve further into the study).

The researchers examined commonly found rinse-off products (shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, soap), leave-on products (body cream, face cream, deodorant, hand cream, aftershave, sunscreen) and makeup products (lip stick, foundation, lip balm, nail polish) some of which were labeled as organic and for babies or children. 

 

makeup products on counter

 

What they found in a huge percentage of the products were fragrances known to be skin sensitizers which are required to be on labels according to the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, preservatives shown to have harmful effects on human health, as well as other chemicals of concern such as surfactants, UV filters, emulsifiers and other synthetic compounds. Many of these substances are regulated, meaning they need to be in quantities below a certain threshold and/or must be listed on the label.

However, what is not taken into consideration is what the researchers of this study call the “cocktail effect”–the combination of multiple substances found in each of the products used everyday, and the “additive effect”–the addition of the same substances in multiple products, as well as other sources, which can quite quickly put someone over the safety threshold of many chemicals. 




JUST A FEW OF THE SUBSTANCES FOUND WERE:

  • PEGs – which can retain residual impurities from the production process, such as heavy metals
  • Formaldehyde-Releasers – which are responsible for formaldehyde exposure, a known carcinogen, as well as a common reason for contact dermatitis
  • Parabens – A common preservative which has been shown to be an endocrine disrupter by imitating estrogenic activity, which has been linked to cancer of the breast, ovary and testicles

If you want to read the whole article you can find it here. Another excellent book that sheds light on how easily toxins from our everyday products can enter our system is the book Slow Death By Rubber Duck. Their experiments mimicked everyday life and showed that after just a few days of using common household products such as shampoo with phthalates in it, there was a dramatic rise in the levels of phthalates in the body.

Now, I don’t share this information to make you despair, but more to make you aware of what is in our everyday products and how it can affect us negatively. What this book also showed was how quickly levels went down after discontinuing the products and how just being aware and choosing health and beauty products that don’t contain these chemicals can make a huge difference to the toxic burden on our bodies.

 

girl wearing skin care products

 

So how do we go about this? Do we need to throw away all our PCP’s immediately and start making our own shampoo and toothpaste? If you have the time and resources to do that then have at it! But for the rest of us who aren’t so crafty, start small. The next time you run out of one of your products and you’re out shopping for a replacement, download the Think Dirty app and let it help you. The next time you have a question about a product, look it up on the app or scan the barcode of something you already have to get a list of ingredients and a safety rating.

Some of my favorite brands for babies and kids are California Baby and Badger products. Because, let’s face it, as an adult I can choose whether or not I want to use a product with potentially harmful additives, but as a baby, I don’t have that choice!




Lastly, if you’re looking for a place to get a whole range of health and beauty products that have been chosen with the mission to provide safe, sustainably and responsibly-sourced products to everyone from infancy to adulthood, Beautycounter is the perfect stop. You will find everything from their award winning Counter+ No.1 Brightening Facial Oil, sheer lipsticks and sun lotions to baby shampoo that smells like orange vanilla creamsicle without any of the nasty ingredients that we don’t want.

At the end of the day, can we avoid all the environmental toxins out there? No. Should it be something that we constantly worry about? Also no! But being aware and taking small steps to cut them out where we can makes a big difference to the burden that your body is under to try and rid itself of these chemicals on a day to day basis.

There are so many wonderful companies out there striving to make better products for us and everyone should know about them because we deserve better. 

 

we deserve better beauty products




10 Techniques to Relax and De-Stress At Home

techniques to relax and de-stress at home

 

Feeling stressed periodically is completely normal, but there are some times where life can throw unexpected challenges your way that are especially hard to deal with. Instead of reaching for junk food or a glass of wine, you can relax and de-stress at home in a number of healthy ways.

The body’s natural reaction to stress triggers hormones and reactions that can put you in a funk. Stressful situations can bother you in the short term, but prolonged stress can lead to health problems like anxiety, high blood pressure and insomnia. Use these helpful techniques to relax and de-stress at home with your loved ones.




 

MEDITATION

One of the most effective ways to relax and de-stress is meditation. It has been practiced for thousands of years, and can help center your mind during overwhelming periods in your life. A Tibetan Singing Bowl Set is a great addition to your home. All you need are a few minutes set aside each day, and you’ll be one step closer to a calmer mental state.

 

meditation sound bowl to relax and de-stress

BEAUTY TREATMENTS

Sometimes all you need to wash your worries away is a little self-care! Treat yourself to a spa day at home with face treatments, hair masks or a mani-pedi to instantly relax and de-stress. This Charcoal face mask is nutrient-rich to help purify the skin and draw out impurities. 

 

beautycounter skin care products

girl getting facial at home to relax and de-stress

CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is an ingredient in the cannabis sativa plant that is known to have therapeutic benefits without psychoactive effects. Research has shown that CBD may play a part in easing ailments like stress, anxiety and depression. Companies like Cheef Botanicals make easy-to-use products like capsule supplements, oil drops to add to food or drinks, and even vegan gummies.

cheef botanicals

girl putting cbd balm on hands to relax and de-stress

ESSENTIAL OILS

Scent is one of the most powerful senses we have, and it can be valuable in creating a calming environment in your home. Essential oils smell great, and are an all-natural remedy that can help boost your mood. 




doterra essential oils on table

EXERCISE

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins–a chemical that circulates throughout your brain to make you feel better. Remembering to get your heart rate up at least once a day can be a huge help in relaxation and de-stressing. 

 

exercise equipment on floor to relax and de-stress

BAKING

One of the reasons we become stressed is because we feel a lack of control. If outside stressors are taking a toll on your mental health, try baking! The controlled and measured aspects of baking can work as a subconscious form of therapy you can focus on, not to mention the end result of having something sweet to eat. 

 

baked cookies on table with whisk and milk

DRINKING TEA

A warm cup of tea includes theanine–an amino acid that is thought to produce calming effects on your nervous system. Make yourself a cup of any of these to relax from head to toe. Turmeric tea helps to reduce inflammation and Matcha Green tea is packed with antioxidants.

 

pouring tea into cup to relax and de-stress

BATH BOMBS

There’s nothing better than sinking into a warm bath after a stressful day. If you’re feeling drained, toss a bath bomb into your tub for an added touch of relief! CBD bath bombs can also increase your wellness with soothing aromatherapy benefits, and finish it off by moisturizing with CBD body lotion.

 

cbd bath bombs to relax and de-stress in bathtub

YOGA

The ancient practice of yoga has been proven to help with relaxation by placing your body in positions that lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and spread a feeling of calmness throughout your body. You can De-Stress with this Yoga Routine for Beginners, or improve your health with these 8 Yoga Poses to Boost Your Immune System.

 

girl doing yoga at home

CLEANING

If you’re feeling antsy, kill two birds with one stone by cleaning your way to relaxation. The satisfaction you get from physically improving your home works wonders for your mental health, not to mention creating a more pleasant, tranquil environment. 

 

cleaning counter at home