Essential Oil Sunscreen for a Day at the Beach

Statistics are showing that we’re still slow to get the message that it’s vitally important to slip on sunnies, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat.  Such simple things to do but slopping on sunscreen still seems to be a drag to many of us.   And a day at the beach can be potentially very damaging to our health based on this.

Some camps believe it’s better to let the skin get time in the sun for overall health and wellness.  If that’s you, fair enough but please be very, very sensible about the length of time you spend out there and what time of day you’re soaking up some rays.  Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is helpful, too, as the antioxidants are thought to help counter some of the harmful effects of the UVA and UVB rays when you’re exposed.  Make sure you do plenty of research on this subject from reputable sources.

Certainly for vitamin D levels, sunshine is wonderful.  But again, you only need a small amount – 5 to 10 minutes seems the average mentioned by the experts on the subject – then wise to grab that wide-brimmed hat and cover up with clothing that has good sun protection built into it.  Light, sheer and flimsy garments look beautiful but don’t kid yourself into thinking they are anything more than that when it comes to protecting you from the sun’s rays.

Based on the evidence that prevention is better than cure and a little sun goes a long way, let’s talk about sunscreens.

Often they include potentially hazardous perfumes and other additives.  Also, sunscreens that work via chemically activated ingredients are under a questionable cloud as to the potential long-term toxicity of those ingredients.

Here’s a list of common dubious ingredients in sunscreens: parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, PABA, avobenzone, oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate, and 1,4-dioxane, UV chemical absorbers, artificial colours and synthetic fragrances.

But Young Living Mineral Sunscreen Lotion is zinc oxide-based and includes absolutely none of the above potential dodgies.

The thing I especially love about Young Living Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF50 is that it’s not just ‘not harmful’ for you, but it’s actually something you can feel good about applying!  This lovely cream is infused with plant-based ingredients along with mineral-based ones, and it smells divine thanks to the genuinely pure Young Living essential oils it’s infused with.  You don’t have to sacrifice fragrance and easy application in order to protect your skin from the sun naturally!

The essential oils included in this formulation are beautiful for nurturing the skin and supporting its appearance:

• helichrysum
• lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• myrrh
• cistus (labdanum)
• ylang ylang
• carrot seed
• frankincense

Truth be told, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic when I ordered it because I’ve never before loved the feeling of zinc oxide-based sunscreens on my skin.   But being a loyal Young Living member, I wanted to give it a try and I’m glad I did, because it’s wonderful!  Somehow in the way they’ve formulated it, it rubs in pretty easily, given it’s a 22% zinc non-nano oxide formulation.  Unscrew the entire lid if you’re more of a hare than tortoise when it comes to applying sunscreen and it will come out of the tube more easily.

Dermatologist-tested, Young Living Mineral Sunscreen Lotion feels comfortable and non-greasy on the skin.  Compared to other zinc oxide sunscreens I’ve used, it cleanses off easily when you’re in the shower, yet it’s water resistant and stayed on superbly through all my activities.  I had sand clinging to me right up until I hit the shower, but I kind of liked the beach souvenir!  And my skin felt nice and smooth after I cleansed it off.

Another huge tick for me was that it’s reef friendly!  Our oceans and their inhabitants and ecosystems need as much help as we can give them.  It’s easy to think our sunscreens are a mere drop in the ocean, but when you add it all up along with the strain they are under from plastic and all kinds of other pollutants and spills: let’s choose reef friendly, I say!

Now, today’s post isn’t entirely about sunscreen.  Here are 3 more handy Young Living products to toss in your tote or backpack when you’re having a day at the beach.

1. Young Living Lavaderm™ Cooling Mist is absolutely wonderful if you’ve had to walk on hot sand longer than your bare feet feel comfie doing!  Sit down, put up those feet and spray them generously until they are dampened by the spray.  Allow them to dry off naturally and spritz again as needed until they feel cool and refreshed.  Also, if you didn’t apply your sunscreen evenly or generously enough, Lavaderm™ will help your post-sun skin to feel cool and refreshed likewise.  Re-apply as needed.

2. Young Living Purification™ is awesome as an insect repellent and feels cleansing for your skin if your toe has got up close and personal with a bit of driftwood on the beach (apply neat from the bottle in that case).  Add several drops to your favourite skin toner until the mix smells beautifully fragrant (experiment with quantities but try 10-15 drops in a 100mL spray bottle of toner as a baseline) and spray on exposed skin (avoid your eyes and the insides of your ears!) as a bug deterrent.

3. Young Living Stress Away™ Roll-on smells like summer with its gorgeous lime and vanilla pure essential oils in a coconut oil base.  It also includes lavender and cedarwood (super relaxing), copaiba and ocotea (also super relaxing!)  Make sure you leave your cares behind and don’t spend your day at the beach distracted by any niggling worries or tensions.  Stress Away™ will help to ensure you make the most of your getaway!

Essential oils are potent, so as always, please follow directions on the bottle and the usual guidelines for safe use of authentic essential oils.

Please ensure you are choosing a brand with complete transparency from seed to seal, such as Young Living.  You can learn in this short video why we only ever recommend and choose Young Living oils and love them so much!

Enjoy the good oil daily.

The information on this site does not constitute advice. Please consult with your health practitioner. When using any of the products mentioned throughout this site, please be sure to read the labels and follow their suggestions for safe use. We make commissions from sales via many of the products we recommend but we only suggest products we genuinely enjoy and want you to benefit from.  Product image used with permission © Young Living Essential Oils.