Posts Tagged sunscreen
O’Neill Rash Guard Shirts for Sun Protection
Even when I’m not using difficult natural sunscreen, I find slathering lotion all over my body about as much fun as repeatedly pulling weeds in the garden. So I wear a sun hat while walking around and will slip into a rash guard shirt if I’m boogie boarding or snorkeling on the coast.
In a moment that made me realize why I like shopping at REI in person sometimes, I asked the sales rep what the difference was between the Body Glove rash guard shirt I was holding in one hand and the less expensive O’Neill one I was holding in the other. “Nothing really,” he replied. “Just buy the one that fits better and looks better.”
This is the third one of these things I’ve owned (see my Body Glove review here) and I was glad to hear that my hunch was the reality. Any brand you pick will do a good job of keeping you from getting sunburned and keeping you from rubbing your skin raw if you surf or ride a boogie board for hours. The Body Glove one I reviewed in the past did the job and looked good; so does this O’Neill version.
These cost a bit more than a regular wicking t-shirt, but not much. This one had a list price of $34 on it and I got it a bit cheaper on sale. Sometimes you can find various models for less than $20 on close-out sales at Sierra Trading Post or Campmor.
So what are you getting exactly? A very stretchy, strong, and fast-drying Nylon/Spandex shirt that feels like a second skin. It offers an SPF sun protection of 50+ for UV rays, so you can spend all day in the water and just have to reapply lotion to the arms and legs. (Or you can buy a long-sleeve version and have even less skin to worry about.) You can’t see it in the photos, but there’s a little tab at the bottom to help you pull it off when it’s wet and clingy.
Naturally these rash guard shirts are lightweight and easy to pack, but be advised that every curve and love handle will show up when you’re wearing one of these, so they’re meant for people in decent physical shape—as in six-pack abs, not a big Joe six-pack gut. (Of course all your kids will care about is the color, so get one for them regardless.)
If you’ve got a really fast connection and lots of time to wait for pages to load, see the whole collection at Oneill.com. Or get your sun protection swim shirt (at what may be a late-summer discount) at your local surf shop or at one of the following:
Search O’Neill swim shirt prices online
Search for rash guard swim shirts at Campmor or Sierra Trading Post
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on August 11th, 2010
Natural Outdoor Products From All Terrain
I had to wait until the heat of summer to try out an array of product samples I got earlier in the year from All Terrain. Most of what they produce is meant to protect you from two menaces: the sun and biting bugs. They do both in an all natural way though, with no DEET in the insect repellent and no wide array of tough-to-pronounce chemicals in the sunscreen.
Some of these products I liked more than others. If the stuff works as well as its chemical counterpart—or close at least—then naturally I’d rather go natural. When there are performance issues, however, using the natural variation is more of a moral or health choice than anything.
Lip Armour Balm – This lip balm was my favorite of the bunch, and a bargain at a list price of $2.59. In this case the product feels (and tastes) better on the lips than the usual petroleum-based alternatives. It’s made of Shea Butter, Vitamin E, hemp seed oil and All Terrain’s proprietary Z-Cote zinc oxide for SPF 25 sun blocking. Great stuff!
Herbal Armour Insect Repellent – My past experience with natural insect repellents has mostly been disappointing, with the results ranging from “not bad if you reapply every half hour” to “bugs thought I was breakfast.” This All Terrain version is the first one I’ve tried that I would consider a fairly good alternative to DEET. The company claims it stays 100% effective for two hours (and 95% for another hour) and while I didn’t scientifically test those claims, the 5-oils repellent didn’t require frequent reapplication to keep the mozzies at bay. Especially if you have kids or sensitive skin, Herbal Armour offers natural protection without a lot of trade-offs. At $7.99 for four ounces or $4.99 for a two-ounce travel size, this is a great value too.
Biodegradable Sunscreen -Unfortunately, it wasn’t a three out of three with the all natural products. “I absolutely hate this sunscreen” was my wife’s reaction after a couple of days using it at the beach and I had zebra stripes on my belly after not rubbing it in uniformly enough one day. I tried all three versions (Terra Sport, Aqua Sport, and Kid Sport) and the results were similar. All were tough to apply without a lot of elbow grease, streaky on the skin, and quick to leave white streaky stains on all three of our bathing suits. These problems aren’t unique to this company, but are issues that plague nearly every brand of natural sunscreen. Without all the binding agents and nanotech wonderstuffs you get with the more popular kinds, and with the tendency of any zinc oxide product to be less-than-transparent, natural sunscreens have a tough comparison battle with the chemical alternatives.
Having said all that, I would still use this in sensitive areas like Yucatan cenotes or when snorkeling around protected coral reefs. It’s worth it to put up with a little inconvenience to protect our planet mates. In a swimming pool though? Unless you have sensitive skin, bring on the Banana Boat.
See the full line of All Terrain Natural products and order direct.
All Terrain Herbal Armor Spray Insect Repellent at REI.
Kid’s Herbal Armour at Amazon
Related review:
Beyond Coastal Sun Care Products
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on August 5th, 2010
5 Things I Always Pack – Janna Graber
This month’s guest post of “5 things I always pack” is from Janna Graber, editor of international travel site www.goworldtravel.com and the Colorado uber-site, www.goColorado.com. A travel journalist and video producer, Janna has worked in some 38 countries. She feels completely at home on the road.
1. My “airplane sleeping gear”
Over the years, I’ve developed a routine for sleeping on airplanes, and I always bring the same items with me. First, I travel in comfy clothes (my friends call them my “travel pants,” but they are really just nice looking sweatpants). Then I have a stuffed neck pillow (leopard print, it was all they had on sale at the time), and two inflatable neck pillows. I put one half-inflated pillow behind the small of my back (no back ache then!), and use the two other pillows to keep my head in place while I sleep. Then I have my usual ear plugs, eye mask and lightweight blanket. Sure, I may look ridiculous, but at least I’m fast asleep.
2. My book.
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, and traveling gives me the opportunity to catch up on my favorite authors. I always have a good paperback with me. 
They’re easy to stick in my backpack, and I can get some good reading in whenever I have to sit and wait.
3. My Rhonda Allison sunscreen
Since it comes in 1 oz bottles, this Rhonda Allison sunscreen is perfect for my carry-on. It’s not greasy and is formulated specifically for faces, which means I actually wear it every day. This sunscreen is usually only sold in high-end salons or dermatologists’ offices, but you can find it online for a good price.
4. My cameras
Photographs are the best souvenirs, and they’re also a huge part of our reader experience at Go World Travel and Go Colorado. I always have a good digital camera with me. Right now, I use the Nikon Coolpix S630. I like the 7x zoom it has, as well as its light weight.
If I have the space, I also have my Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder and tripod. (The newer version of this is the Canon VIXIA HV40.) These days, we produce video stories whenever we can.
5. My Samsonite carry-on suitcase
The zipper is on its last legs and one of the wheels is starting to wobble, but I still cling to my favorite Samsonite carry-on suitcase. It has my faded “I love Canada” handle protector, so I can easily locate the suitcase on the luggage belt, and has traveled with me across the world. Someday, I’ll have to break down and buy a new suitcase, but I’m keeping this one as long as I can.
See other 5 Things guest posts
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on April 22nd, 2010
Beyond Coastal Sun Care – Sunscreen, Lip Balm, Face Screen, Moisturizer
I avoid using sunblock that a) smells like a pina colada, b) washes off too quickly while swimming or c) dries my skin out. Beyond Coastal sun care products fit the bill as far as my “don’t” criteria go. In fact, Beyond Coastal sunscreen, lip balm, face screen and moisturizer are chock full of good stuff: natural ingredients like aloe vera, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, safflower oil, green tea and Vitamins A, C & E. And there’s none of the bad stuff: products are fragrance free, petroleum-oil free, paraben free and they’re made with no harsh, drying chemicals.
Another big bonus for folks who do a lot of ocean swimming on their vacations: Beyond Coastal natural formulas won’t harm marine environments. And the sunscreens come in 2.5-oz containers for carry-on travel.
I tested Beyond Coastal products during January trips to Jamaica and Lake Tahoe. Here’s the skinny (retail prices are from GearPipline.com, for the 2.5 oz variety, where applicable):
Daily Active Sunscreen: SPF 15 I used this version of the sunscreen — on my face and body — for walking around town. Like its marketing message promises, the silky lotion goes on smooth and absorbs quickly. It protects against both UVA and UVB rays, just as all the other Beyond Coastal sunblocks do. I like it. $9.99
Active Sunscreen: SPF 30 This is what I used on my face for skiing and snowshoeing on sunny days, and what I put on before playing in the ocean. With the higher SPF, it obviously protects you longer before having to re-apply. Like its sister SPF 15 lotion, it’s non-greasy and fragrance free. $9.99
Natural Sunscreen: SPF 30 My husband rubbed this sunscreen all over his face, arms and chest one day while were in the Caribbean. When I saw him afterward he got a, “Dude. “What’s with the ghost look?” This formula contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxides (the products above do not), so it leaves behind a white sheen unless you rub it in really, really good. It’s the least favorite Beyond Coastal product I sampled (since I’m pale enough as it is), but I’d wear it on a snorkeling trip since the natural ingredients are safe for reefs and marine life. I’d also use this sunscreen on my kids — they don’t care what they look like, and I appreciate the natural ingredients on their sensitive skin. (There is a Beyond Coastal made-for-kids product with extra cocoa butter and shea butter.) $11.99
Natural Lip & Face Screen: SPF 30. This solid product comes in a handy little 1-oz tin. Its active ingredients are also zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and it’s peach-white color and waxy consistency don’t translate very well on the face, since it leaves that white residue behind. I’d only use this product if I were outside skiing under harsh conditions (lots of wind) or planning a day-long excursion on the water and wanted extra protection for my nose, lips and ears. $9.99
Natural Lip Balm: SPF 15. I love, love, love this lip balm. It does have some zinc oxide in it (but no whiteness on my lips!) for natural protection, but it also has a citrus flavor that makes it good enough to eat. The mix of oils, butters and even honey in this product create a consistency super smooth and soothing; I just feel like my lips are uber-protected when I smear this stuff on them. It comes in an oversized .25-oz tube ($4.99), as well as a standard .15-oz tube ($2.99).
After-Sun Moisturizer. I find most tiny-bottle, freebie hotel moisturizers are too runny and they smell too perfumey, so I always pack my own. This product has all sorts of awesome hydrating and nourishing ingredients: Vitamin B5, algae extract, safflower oil and aloe, among others. And it’s thick, but not too thick. Yummy stuff. $9.99
Search this store locator to find Beyond Coastal products in your local neck of the woods. Also check out Backcountry.com, where different combinations of ideal-for-travel trial-size kits are sold.
Related posts:
Posted by Kara in Travel Light on February 12th, 2010
Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion with SPF 15
We’re huge fans of double-duty items here at Practical Travel Gear. If one product can do the work of two, it earns points in our book. We’re all about packing as little as possible.
That’s why I was eager to sample Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion + Sunscreen SPF 15 — moisturizer and sunscreen are two products I always travel with. Plus, living in Colorado’s mountains, at high altitude and in an arid climate, I moisturize and sunscreen my skin all the time. Even in the winter months, I keep SPF on my face when I’m outside — especially on the ski slopes, where snow reflects the sun’s harmful rays.
Skin MD Natural calls this product a “shielding lotion,” rather than a simple moisturizer, because it purports to “enhance the skin’s own natural protective abilities by turning the outer layer of skin into what could be described as a hydrating invisible shield.”
I’ve been using the lotion at home and away for the past couple weeks now, mostly on my face and hands. When applied, the lotion feels silky smooth and it absorbs super quickly — not greasy or oily at all. A huge bonus: it doesn’t smell like sunscreen at all. In fact, the product is completely odorless. It’s also got some nice naturally healing ingredients, like aloe vera, Vitamin E and chamomile.
Unfortunately, this product comes in 4-oz bottles, so it’s not ideal for packing on its own when you only want to carry on. It’s also not cheap: it retails for $25/bottle on the Skin MD Natural website, which does offer special pricing for bulk orders.
Notoriously thrifty, I think that due to its price, I likely wouldn’t purchase this product on my own (I’d been sent review products from the company). That said, there are dozens of testimonials and “before and after” photos on the Skin MD website from users who have suffered from eczema and psoriasis, whose skin improved immensely after using its original flagship product ($18). If you suffer from extremely dry skin, if you wash your hands a lot (say, as a health-care professional, or a mom who does too many dishes by hand), or if you garden a bunch and quickly develop cracked skin from handling soil, you might consider asking for a couple of free samples to see if the shielding lotion works for you. (See the website for details.) There’s also a store locater to find a pharmacy near you — some stores also have samples on hand.
Posted by Kara in Travel Light on December 9th, 2009
