The temperature here in Massachusetts has finally hit 80 degrees again, so it actually looks – and feels – like summer! I posted my Summer Bucket List a few days ago, and nearly all of these are outside activities, like the beach, mini golf, etc. For white and pasty fair-skinned people like me (and my entire family), that means one thing: sunscreen.
We went through a LOT of sunscreen in April when we were in Florida, although I apparently forgot to use some on my feet.
But just like I collect hair products and makeup, I have a wide variety of sun care products laying around my bathroom … sprays, lotions, sticks, balms, etc. They all work, to some degree, but I am always on the lookout for new ones, particularly those that include more natural and organic ingredients, considering Buddy’s tendency to break out in some mad eczema on his arms and legs during the summer.
One brand I recently discovered is Ava Anderson Non-Toxic.
The company has a really interesting background: it was founded in 2009 by a 14-year-old girl (Ava) from my home state of Rhode Island who was appalled by the amount of chemicals and toxic ingredients in personal care and beauty products … even those that claim to be “organic” and “natural.” When she realized most consumers (including yours truly) were blissfully unaware of the risks of common brands and how “safe” and “pure” products aren’t always what they seem, she talked to her mom, they looked into creating her own line of products and Ava Anderson Non-Toxic was born.
Check out this cute video interview with Ava. How adorable is she??
They carry products for pretty much everything: skin, hair, face, makeup, baby, home scents and, yes, a whole line of sun care products. I was recently sent products from the avaSUN collection, including SPF moisturizer, lipbalm and their broad spectrum sunscreen that comes complete without any nanoparticles, chemical UV absorbers, parabens, phthalates, synthetic preservatives, fragrance or dyes.
Thanks to the dreary weather this month, we really haven’t been using any sunscreen, but when we have, we really liked the avaSun line. No sunburns for anyone and it didn’t trigger an eczema outbreak like some other products do. The texture of the sunscreen is light, it blends really well and doesn’t have much of a scent, which is nice.
My only concern is that it’s only a 30+ SPF, which for us pale folk might not be enough during the height of the summer. Also, it’s not technically water resistant, so you’ll have to re-apply pretty regularly. But it may be worth the extra hassle, especially if you or your child has sensitive skin, like Buddy, or you are making an effort to stay away from sunscreen (and other products) with potentially harmful chemicals and ingredients.
To celebrate the first day of summer, I am excited to give away an 2.9 oz Ava Anderson sunscreen and her new SunStick (which is so new, I haven’t even tried it!) — a $30.93 value — thanks to my friend Carrie, who is an independent consultant for Ava Anderson Non-Toxic and thought this would be a perfect (and well-timed) giveaway for my readers. And she’s right! Please use the entry form below (and don’t forget about the options for extra entries!)
Good luck and happy summer!
This giveaway ends on July 5. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hrs to respond; otherwise, another winner will be chosen.
Disclosure: I received some of the avaSUN products to facilitate my review but all opinions and text are, as always, my own.
Lisa Brown says
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Lisa Brown says
I would like to try the LOVE fragrance
Sara Hammer says
We are pretty fair-skinned too! Would love to try this sunscreen! 🙂 thanks!!!
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
The coconut lime candle.
Lisa D says
I’ve just started hearing about this Ava Anderson company and would love to try it! Thanks, Jess!
Kim Phillips says
I absolutely love the Ava products which is why I started to rep the line. They work amazing and are totally non toxic! I love educating my friends about toxic chemicals. It is about our future! The chemicals in most personal care and cleaning products are hazardous to our health. They cause everything form rashes to cancer. I don’t want to be a guinea pig so I made the switch to Ava Anderson. Also, don’t be concerned about the SPF. Most of the products on the market contain chemical sunscreens. Zinc oxide is actually a mineral sunblock. So it is not only much safer but actually blocks not screens. It works on my pasty pale skin. The sun sticks are great for little faces too!
Lisa R says
I am on the hunt for a great sunscreen for my daughter. Would love to try out Ava’s!