Sunscreen?

Just when you think you've got almost everything accounted for - SUMMER-LIKE weather strikes! I work outside about 4-5 hours a day under the Vegas sun, so it's imperative that I wear a good sunscreen during the sunny months. So, when the weather suddenly took a turn to the 80's - I reached for the sunscreen I had on hand...BANANA BOAT? Uh oh.

There weren't any testing-free sunscreens at the local chains, so we visited our trusty Trader Joe's. Sure enough, they carry a house brand of suncreen with 30 SPF - but only in 4 oz. bottles, and it's a little pricey. It seems to work OK - I still managed to get some color but I didn't burn. I find that I need to reapply more often than with other brands.

Not perfect, but great in a pinch!

More product reviews - Deoderant

Deoderant was a tough one. Not too much choice in the aisles of the bigger chain stores. I ended up switching out from Secret - which I'd used for decades - to Tom's of Maine Natural unscented. I have to admit I was a little skeptical after reading the ingredient list (lichen? coriander?), but I have to say this stuff works great. It has a little bit of a scent - but I find it pleasantly crisp and citrusy. My husband tried the Trader Joe's Cotton Deoderant - but didn't have too much success with it to be honest. He's giving the Tom's a try.

All in all - it's taking a little trial and error - but we're successfully achieving our goal of a cruelty free household in a short amount of time!

Some product reviews - Cosmetics

On the cosmetics front, I switched from Suave body lotion to Trader Joe's brand (which was great) and then to the more readily accessible (at most supermarkets and Walmart) St. Ives Collagen Elastin moisturizer (I use this body wash too). Oddly enough, the moisturizer made me have a reaction, so I switched to their Intensive Healing lotion which is hypo-allergenic. All is well since the switch.


Next up: Bubble bath.