Yes! Summer is almost here and the weather is definitely warming up! And when the sun is out, the skin is out. That means we need to take measures and make sure our skin is well protected from the glorious - but unfortunately, damaging - rays of the sun.

We know that wearing a protective hat/clothing and applying sunscreen during the day are important preventative measures to make sure our families’ skin does not get burned. But did you know SPF only measures protection from UVB rays, which are the rays that cause sunburn?  And it doesn't protect the skin 100% - per the Skin Cancer Foundation, an SPF 15 protects 93% and an SPF 30 protects 97% from damaging UVB rays. Also, SPF doesn't protect the skin from UVA, which are the main rays that cause tanning and actually penetrates the skin deeper than UVB rays. For best protection against UVA and UVB, a broad spectrum SPF sunscreen of 15 or higher with zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide as the active ingredient is recommended.

It only takes up to about 20 minutes (sometimes as little as 5 minutes) of unprotected skin in the sun to cause a sunburn and -  as well intended as we are  - sometimes circumstances make it difficult to reapply sunscreen after two hours and many don't actually apply enough sunscreen to give proper protection.

So what can we do to make sure we protect our kids' skin while they are having fun in the sun all summer long? Considering staying indoors all summer long is NOT an option (how boring!), we suggest making sure you add a protective and restorative treatment product to your child's skin that contains plenty of antioxidants, vitamins and soothing ingredients such as our Cucumber + Grape Baby Oil. This product was strategically formulated with the following premium fruit and vegetable oils to work synergistically and help boost skin protection and soothing:

Cucumber Seed Oil. Cold-pressed cucumber seed oil is rich in moisturizing omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, tocopherols and phytosterols that soothe, protect and replenish skin moisture balance.

Cranberry Seed Oil. This oil is exceptionally restorative and moisturizing due to its unique balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids and is also known to have the highest level of tocotrienols (a form of vitamin E) than any other fruit or vegetable oil.

 

Avocado Oil. Rich in vitamins, minerals, oleic acid and essential fatty acids, this nutritious oil has the ability to deeply penetrate skin and provide excellent skin softening and moisturizing benefits.

Look at all of these amazing fruit and veggie ingredients! As you can see, the Cucumber + Grape Baby Oil is so much more than a massage oil for baby - it's a true treatment product that can help replenish your child's skin and provide soothing and healing properties as well.

Here is a tip: also apply the Cucumber + Grape Baby Oil before sunscreen for a smoother application and feel good knowing you are adding on an extra layer of protection with all of the essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants!

Allyson Owens - Founder of Pleni Naturals - recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Cassidy Randall, Director of Marketing and Business Development for MADE SAFE. Watch below!

Creating a non-toxic home has been so important to me; especially since having kids. My eyes are now wide open to the thousands of chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis. It's completely overwhelming to learn/spend hours researching if a product is truly safe from harmful chemicals. I am so grateful for the amazing Amy Ziff, founder of the non-profit MADE SAFE for making it easy for consumers to know if a product is well, made safe and without nasty toxins!  MADE SAFE is the first non-toxic seal that screens products we use on a daily basis in our homes from personal care to baby products to household items and beyond! Amy's goal with MADE SAFE is to change the way products we use everyday are made for the better so we can all lead healthier lives! A little bit more about Amy:

Tell us a little about your story and why you started MADE SAFE?

I started Made Safe because I'm the Mom of twins who, when they were born, were allergic to seemingly everything! Even things I didn't know you could be allergic to, from creams to diapers to baby wash the hospital sent me home with, even a breast feeding pillow I used! At first I started trying to figure out what they were allergic to and stop their reactions, but what I ultimately learned was that the things we surround ourselves with on a daily basis can be filled with a multitude of harmful chemicals that impact our health and well-being. I also learned that the more you avoided these toxins, the more likely you were to increase your health and well-being. It seemed kind of obvious that a person would want to avoid carcinogenic ingredients as well as other ingredients linked to decreased neurological performance, fertility issues later in life, even obesity and diabetes ­– especially where kids are concerned. While I thought there must be someone guarding store shelves from toxic products, I learned that - in fact -  there is no single entity or agency responsible for doing that. I thought it was high time that changed, so I decided to do something about it. And that's when Made Safe was born. 

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far with the MADE SAFE seal? 

There have been so many! We are very proud to be working with so many incredible brands, offering healthy solutions to concerned parents, and fostering change for the way products are being made in this country and around the world. 

What has been your biggest challenge? 

Our biggest challenge is to get the word out about our work when we have virtually no marketing budget. (Hint, spread the word to those you love so they can buy healthy products.) 

Tell us about your TEDx Talk!

I was invited to give a TEDx talk this year and it was one of the most intimidating things I've ever been asked to do! But the opportunity was awesome, and it was incredibly rewarding to share the MADE SAFE vision for a safe and sustainable future. [Watch for yourself and learn how you can help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX_cF3gSERY]

What would be the first, most important baby product to switch, for a family new to transitioning to a nontoxic lifestyle?

I would say the most important thing to do is to make your next purchase nontoxic – that means whatever you have on your shopping list, see if you can find a nontoxic version. Since you're reading this we know you're already using some great bath and body products from Pleni – check out www.madesafe.org for another purchase.  

What does the future hold for MADE SAFE?

The future is bright! There's a lot going on behind the scenes that I can't talk about yet… But what I can say is we expect this to be a very exciting year! Stay tuned for more products, education and opportunities to help you create a healthy world for your family. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well, and subscribe to our email newsletter to hear all the news first! 

What are some favorite veggies in your home and how do you prepare them for your family?