With summer fast approaching and vacation travel on the horizon, planning what to pack for your trip is on the top of the to-do list for many travelers. Fortunately, thanks to some of the top organic, natural and eco-friendly bath and body care lines, it's easy to stay green and natural while traveling!
Sun Care:
* If you're traveling with kids, look no further than California Baby (www.californiababy.com). They offer a 2.9 oz. 30SPF fragrance-free sunscreen lotion, a 2.9 oz. 30SPF citronella-scented sunscreen that also guards against bugs and a .5 oz. 30SPF sunblock stick. All three products are below the 3 oz. carryon maximum and are chemical-free. For a quick beachbag throw-in, California Baby also offers a Suncare Basics Tote, with travel sizes of all three products mentioned above as well as Swimmer's Defense shampoo and conditioner, Soothing and Healing after-sun spray, Calming moisturizing cream and a pair of Baby Banz sunglasses for infants (they have an elastic, goggle-like strap).
* Lavera (www.lavera.com) sells organic, Euro-spec sunscreens and sunblocks in travel sizes. Their Organic Sunscreen SPF 20 is offered in a 1.6 oz. size. They also carry larger-sized After Sun Lotion and Sunscreen Spray.
* Old faithful eco-friendly company, Burt's Bees (www.burtsbees.com), has a 3 oz. SPF 30 natural sunscreen, as well as a Lifeguard's Choice natural lip balm, which offers the intense moisturization of the typical Burt's Bees lip balm combined with extra relief from the drying effects of wind, sun, sand and the sea.
Hair Care:
* Cristophe (www.cristophe.com), which you can pick up at your local drugstore, has travel sizes of their paraben-free, cruelty-free shampoos and conditioners. They offer Volumizing and Hydrating lines, as well as larger sizes of their Purely Natural line.
* Lulu Organics (www.luluorganics.com) offers a 1 oz. size of their Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Powder. This is a great product to keep your hair fresh and grease-free when you're not able to wash it, and it smells terrific!
* Your local Target has travel sizes of shampoos, conditioners and hair serums by Giovanni (www.giovannicosmetics.com). Giovanni uses all-natural ingredients and essential oils in its haircare products. Their Tea Tree Invigorating Shampoo and Conditioner set is great for waking you up on those hot, summer mornings in the shower.
Face and Body Care:
* Richmond-based skin and body care company, Jackson Sage (www.jacksonsage.com) offers sample kits for all skin types with travel-size containers of cleanser, micro-scrub, toner, mist and skin cream, all tailored to your skin type. The kit also comes with a recipe book, so you can whip up treats for your face from fruits, veggies and other ingredients you have around the house. Jackson Sage's products are handcrafted in small batches with natural and organic ingredients and contain no artificial colors or fragrances.
* Burt's Bees (www.burtsbees.com) has a Radiance Kit that you can pick up to throw right into your bag. This kit contains travel sizes of the Mini Exfoliating Body Bar, Exfoliating Body Wash, Mini Body Lotion, Day Creme, Night Creme, Eye Creme and a full-size Lip Shimmer. A kit like this really saves space in your bag! If you'll be camping, hiking, or participating in other outdoor activities, the Natural Remedy Outdoor Kit has everything you need: All-in-One Wash, Hand Salve, Healthy Healing Carrot Nutritive Body Lotion, Beeswax Lip Balm, Poison Ivy Soap, Res-Q Ointment, Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar and Therapeutic Bath Crystals, all in convenient 1 oz. sizes. For the guys, the Natural Skin Care for Men Travel Kit contains travel sizes of Cologne, Aftershave, Shave Cream, Bar Soap, Body Wash and Beeswax Lip Balm. And, last but not least, you can grab a Baby Bee Getting Started kit for travel sizes of all-natural baby care essentials, including Apricot Baby Oil (which smells amazing!), Buttermilk Lotion, Shampoo & Wash, Buttermilk Soap, Diaper Ointment, Buttermilk Bath, Dusting Powder and a comb.
* Greek natural/organic company Korres (www.korresusa.com) is introducing the Delta Airlines-inspired Travel Essentials Value Set. Chock full of travel-size body care essentials like Shea Butter lip balm, Basil Lemon shower gel and body milk, Aloe and Soapwort shampoo, Achellia conditioner, White Tea cleanser, Wild Rose 24-Hour moisturizer and Evening Primrose eye cream, the kit is packaged in a clear plastic bag just right for breezing through airport security screenings.
* LUSH (www.lush.com), which has locations in the Orlando and Toronto airports as well as stores at Tyson's Galleria and in Georgetown, will creatively pack your purchases that are larger than 3 oz. into 3 oz. sized containers for stashing in your carry-on. If you'd rather avoid refilling the containers once you land, stick with the bubble bars. These heavenly-scented solids can be crumbled into your bathwater for a ton of frothy bubbles and are purchased and stored in LUSH's bright yellow bags. I recommend The Comforter, Karma, Ice Hotel and Ma Bar. Their soaps are also a great idea for travel, since you can purchase small sizes. Karma, Banana Moon, Miranda and I Should Coco are fresh and yummy-smelling. All LUSH products are made with fresh, organic ingredients and have little to no preservatives and eco-friendly packaging, as well as being cruelty-free.
Wherever your travels take you, try to hit up a local farmers' market if you have time. Visit www.localharvest.org to find one. Farmers' markets often showcase soaps and other bath and body products from local vendors.
Enjoy your travels, and stay green this summer!
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