All sunscreens are not created equal. In case you didn't know, there are two types of sunscreen- chemical and physical. Check out my short video to learn more and be sure to scroll down to see the safe and effective sunscreens I do recommend.

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Chemical sunscreens are pretty much a super toxic cocktail of ingredients (including PABA and oxybenzone) that can at best irritate skin and at worst disrupt your hormones. Sure, they rub in nicely and don't leave any white residue, but the fact that they sink into your skin and then literally absorb the sun's UVA and UVB rays leaves me feeling uneasy.

So, as you can probably tell by now, I am a fan of physical sunscreens. Physical sunscreens are mineral based and use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to create a layer that sits on your skin and blocks harmful rays. I will admit, some leave you look pretty pasty, but we've come a long way and there are better formulas out there that do the job without making you look like Snow White. Here are a few of my favorites:

If you have read or seen Eat Pray Love, you are well acquainted with Elizabeth Gilbert. A talented writer with a well defined voice that makes you feel as though you are in her inner circle and she is sharing her most intimate thoughts with only you. Her new book, Big Magic, is more of the same- deep realizations shared in her signature humorous dialog with some heavy hitting truths that are soul resonating.

BOOK REVIEW

Big Magic feels and reads like a TED Talk- which will either annoy or inspire you, and probably do both. And the inspiration part is worth it. From the beginning Gilbert takes us on a journey to explore and explain her creative process using stories and analogies. The stories illustrate her theory of Big Magic and how it works. She shares her experiences with ideas (big and small) that seem to visit her and ask to co-create. If she is open and ready- bam! they become a team and start to work to bring whatever that idea is into material being. If not, the idea moves on to someone else- still seeking to be created. It is a beautiful way of seeing the world and our role to co-create with ideas of inspiration. It also helps to show us we are not meant to attach to just one idea, but to remain open to many ideas and stay in creative flow throughout our lives in participation with them.

A must-read for creatives types, Big Magic uplifts with stories of success and guides us through the trials of fear and failure to a powerful place of understanding.

BEAUTY REVIEW

Off on Spring Break? This book is a great companion read. Short chapters and lots of fun stories strung together with Gilbert's wise realizations. Just be sure to pack a bottle of water and some sunscreen because you may get pulled in while at the beach and lose track of time. Here are my suggestions for safe and effective sunscreens:

THE HONEST COMPANY SUNSCREEN SPRAY SPF 30 ($13.95)

SUNTEGRITY BODY SPF 30 ($36.00)

SUN BUM SPF 30 FACE STICK (14.99)

COOLA BABY SPF 50 UNSCENTED SUNSCREEN MOISTURIZER ($36.00)