Enjoying your Sunday? I love Sundays even when they involve chores, which make me feel very organized for the week to come: laundry, sheets/towels laundry, some cleaning. Great way to kick off the week neat.
Matt and I went for a walk (me) / run (him) for an hour this morning. I took this book, which I am totally loving –
And slathered myself in this:
I recently set out on a quest to find a sunscreen that was both safe for my body and relatively inexpensive. My goal was the find the sunscreen with the cheapest price per ounce choosing from only the Environmental Working Group’s list of top-rated, broad spectrum, chemical-free lotion sunscreens. I used to always use sprays, but I have read that they are not the best for the environment, skin or lungs, so I’m moving back to basics with lotions (bonus: lotions smell better!) I also consulted Consumer Reports, but only as a cross-check, since they didn’t review too many of the more natural ones.
I wasn’t looking for the greenest product out there, but rather one that I could apply by the shotglass while at the beach (that’s how much “they” say you need!) and not be spending the equivalent of $15/day to protect my skin, but also one I could feel good about. I also wanted the biggest bottle possible so I wouldn’t be going through a bottle a day, so 8 ounces and up was preferred.
I came up with this list in order of cost:
Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple SPF 50 = $9.87/8 ounces or $1.23/ounce*
CVS Sunblock with Zinc SPF 45 = $5.24/4 ounces or $1.31/ounce [I couldn’t find this one]
Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50 = $8.99/6 ounces or $1.50/ounce
Alba Botanica SPF 45 = $6.88/4 ounces or $1.72/ounce
All Terrain Aquasport SPF 30 = $10.96/3 ounces or $3.65/ounce
Badger Sunscreen SPF 30 = $13.60/3 ounces or $4.53/ounce
*I used Amazon or CVS.com to get my prices. Since I have Amazon Prime, the shipping wouldn’t be a factor, but it would for CVS.com. I went to my local CVS to scout them out and found prices to be much higher in person than on their website so take your math with you or look for sales!
Therefore, I went with the Coppertone Waterbabies Pure & Simple for the max SPF for the lowest price and getting a thumbs up by the EWG. I saw that it was as low as $1/ounce at CVS.com, but when I went to my local store, it was higher than the Amazon price for a two pack, so that’s where I got it. I’ll be on the lookout for sales too!
It applied nice and smoothly this morning, and if I have any drawback it’s that it didn’t all seem to come off in my shower – but perhaps that’s a good thing for water resistance factor!
Matt and I made a wonderful lunch afterwards!
He sliced up our leftover (chilled and conformed) grits and seared them in a pan of butter!
Plus eggs and garden greens!
I added olive oil, honey, salt and nutritional yeast plus some leftover roasted tofu and zucchini.
On the side – the last of last week’s strawberries
And a Bud Light sparkling apple cider diluted with water on ice!
Yum!!
Our doula is coming over shortly, and I have more chores to do!
Roxanne says
QUOTED: And a Bud Light sparkling apple cider diluted with water on ice!
Close your eyes, and take a long sip, you’ll actually taste it! Kath, it won’t be long before you can have “grown up” drinks… just a few more months!
Roxanne says
How come the Bud Light isn’t scratched out like yours? mmmm?
KathEats says
I closed my eyes and imagined one of Matt’s unfiltered Belgian brews instead of Bud 🙂
(No idea why the scratch didn’t follow through!?)
K says
I don’t think that Budweiser is is even as dark as the diluted juice! I am, admittedly, a complete beer snob.
KathEats says
🙂
Khushboo says
I’m amazed by your ability to walk and read…multi-tasking at it’s finest!
Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana says
Thanks for the great review of the sunscreens, definitely have to protect your skin!! With my last pregnancy, I did get some dark spots on my face, and since then I have been extra careful to put on sunscreen daily.
Jessica says
I have that water babies sunscreen and despise it. It goes on , stays on , and does the job, but it gives me a nasty taste in my mouth. How is that even possible? I will never buy it again.
Your lunch looks delicious!
Kristin says
I did the same comparison shopping for my own sunscreen lately too! I looked at EWG and prices and just bought a big bottle of the exact same stuff you got a few days ago! I also use Kinesys spray and lotion too –it’s longlasting and non greasy – but the lotion only goes up to SPF 15 which is not enough for me. I totally agree about the waterbabies being waterproof though!! I have to scrub with a washcloth multiple times in the shower to get it off. I also tested it yesterday on a sweaty 4 hour bike ride in the hot sun and it didn’t sweat or melt off at all — it surprisingly stayed kind of powdery.
KathEats says
Glad you reasoned with the same one!
Kerry says
I love doing chores on a sunday too – I love laundry especially because I feel so efficient when its done! Now if only the crinkly clothes would iron themselves too..!
Nikki says
I really liked the Ina May book too, though at points I wondered if her descriptions of labor pains weren’t a bit too “crunchy”–even for this Boulder, CO hippie! I think her attitude about the pain being productive and coming in waves seems really helpful, though I’m not sure that all the mental preparation in the world can _completely_ take away the pain or make labor akin to a really nice body massage!
KathEats says
I love all the mind-body connection stuff. Things like fearing what’s ahead might stall labor and women need to feel safe and supportive. Makes so much sense to me!
Sana says
Do you have an e-reader?
KathEats says
I just read books on the Kindle App on my phone – it’s a big Samsung so the screen is adequate!
susan says
Is this your first meeting with the doula?
We had a doula for our second birth and I now recommend that all of my pregnant friends look into hiring one. She was such a help to my husband and I (ie – I labored at home for about seven hours and she was there to give Nate a break in order to take a shower, she made us something to eat, etc.). Yay for doulas!!
KathEats says
She’s my yoga teacher, so I see her weekly, but first home meeting, yes!
LIsa (bakebikeblog) says
A delicious lunch indeed!
Lexi @ You, Me, & A World to See says
YUM ! I love polenta/grits after they’ve “conformed.” Haha that sounds so funny to say 🙂
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
That lunch looks delicious, you’re really making me miss grits! And I’ll have to check out that sunscreen, I have to wear it all the time and it’s so expensive!
Katie says
Where did you get that straw? Been looking for one just like it to use with my tervis.
Thanks,
Katie
KathEats says
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HWVEKW/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00
lynn @ the actor's diet says
i went thru a sunscreen search when i first moved to LA and quickly went broke. i’ve since switched to drugstore baby’s sunscreen as well!
Dom says
Thanks for posting info about sunscreen. We are almost out of our current brand and I was looking to switch to something that was more economical and effective. Have a great time with your doula!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Never thought about the shotglass/$15 bucks a day phenomenon…great point.
Even better looking tofu and zucchini. I love the peppercorns? or sesame seeds in it. So pretty!
Amanda @flecksofgreen says
What a great idea for the leftover grits! I’ve never seen that before–such a creative idea! Aren’t strawberries just extra juicy this time of year?! I used a few fresh ones to make a strawberry kiwi green smoothie this afternoon..very yummy 🙂
Diane says
We use the same sunscreen! Just from trial and error though, not the reviews.
Fear and being tense definitely can stall a labor. Had it happen to a few friends and they needed an epidural to finally relax.
Lace @ Real Food Quest says
OMG! Love the idea of the seared grits! That sounds absolutely amazing. Looking forward to trying this one. Thanks for the inspiration as always.
Happy Sunday!
Suzanne says
Just a thought….. the sunscreen you show does not have the words Pure and Simple in it. I noticed because I have done the same research and use the Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple on my children. There are actually “regular” Water Babies sunscreens out there also. On EWG the Pure and Simple is rated a 2 while the regular one is rated a 5. I just wanted to let you know because, like me, you sound concerned about what you want to slather on yourself while out in the sun!
KathEats says
Thanks so much – I totally didn’t catch this!!! Big mistake!
Candice says
I noticed this too and was going to point it out. The pure and simple version is not quite as cheap, but it was reasonable at drug store dot com.
KathEats says
It seems to be the same price – hope it goes on as well!
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
That lunch looks amazing!
Rachel L. says
I grew up in LA, so I was at the beach all the time during the summer, and water babies was the only sunscreen we used. To this day it is one of my favorite smells in the world, and it takes me right back to the beach as a kid. I sometimes buy a bottle just so I have it at home to smell! 🙂
Brittany says
I spy Twin Oaks herbed tofu! Love that stuff. 🙂
Anna says
It looks like the Waterbabies in your picture and Waterbabies Pure & Simple are two different things. I’d hate for all your research to go to waste!
http://www.coppertone.com/coppertone/products/WaterBABIES/index.jspa
KathEats says
oh my gosh…..I had no idea!! You have a good eye. Yes, I totally bought the wrong one. Guf. This does have the chemical oxybenzone. Might still use this and then buy the right kind, or give these two to Matt/Karen. I’m not terrrrribly concerned about it, but thank you so much for pointing it out.
Bianca says
SEARED GRITS! Madame, you are a genius. No doubt your little one will be a culinary mastermind. Tangentially, I first had grits quite recently. I didn’t know what they were. “What is a grit?” I asked. Little did I know my mind would be blown.
Angel7 says
I would have chose the Coppertone Water Babies Pure & Simple Sunscreen as well. It is best that it does not come off easily in the shower, because that shows that it is really water resistant.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Ma Fea says
Thanks for doing the research and math for us, Kath, with or without the “Pure and Simple” error. I appreciate the fact that I didn’t have to think it through myself!!
Juliet Grossman says
We use a similar sunscreen in that same line but the one in the green (blue-green?) container. I’ve also tried the one that is in a white & blue container. I’ve found all of them to be good and never had any irritation or bad reactions from them for any of the family. One sunscreen that I’ve repeatedly had problems with is Banana Boat. It just doesn’t work! I don’t know if it doesn’t have the same staying power or what. By the way I’ve read the same thing about you as sprays — not good to inhale. Oh and also….Coppertone makes a “faces” one that is okay but the Neutrogena Dry Touch is the best I’ve ever found. Bonus is–Costco! (Costco has Coppertone but only the sprays, darn it.)
Hannah says
Thank you for the very helpful sunscreen link! I choose Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50 (pale girl here). Always love your posts!
Liz says
Thanks for doing the research for us, Kath! I’ve always been terrible about wearing sunscreen because I have very tough skin that pretty much never burns (only been burnt 2 times in 30 years), but I know that doesn’t mean sunscreen is unnecessary. So, your easy to follow list will make it easy for me to get started with a sunscreen routine 😉
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Lunch looks great!
Jane says
Please do a video of how on earth you read and walk! I just can’t wrap my head around the mechanics of it (or maybe I’m just a huge klutz)… I’d love to try it, but am afraid I’d be hit by a car immediately… I’m bad enough texting and walking!
KathEats says
I used to have a video on it! It’s no longer online. I walk on sidewalks, not in traffic, and look up every few steps.
Roxanne says
I read and walk too, I use my peripheral vision, to “watch” what is around me…
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I love how you have farm fresh butter! I bet it tastes amazing. I really want to start finding more locally produced foods in my area – do you have any tips for how to find and connect with local farms? I would love to see a post about it! 🙂
KathEats says
Go to the farmer’s market – that’s the easiest and #1. We also have a few good smaller natural stores that carry a lot of local products (and so does our Whole Foods). It’s pretty hard to go to the farms themselves though
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
She’s right on farmer’s markets being #1. Through the farmer’s market booths, you’ll get more connections to where their products are sold. Look for co-ops in your area as well! If you let me know what area you live in, I could help you find some 🙂 Feel free to email me! everylittlethingblog at gmail.
Kelly says
I love that you are reading Ina May. I am not a huge hippy or anything, just a regular person that tries to live as naturally as I can, but I found the book a great way to “reframe” how you think about the pain of contractions, etc. and it reminds you that it is normal and OK. It’s a state of health (with pain), not sickness, which is a hard thing to remember when in the hospital, but it can be done! I look forward to hearing what you think about the book!
Cait's Plate says
Such a creative way to serve leftover grits!
Monica says
Love that book! I found it to be so empowering, and thought of it often throughout my labor and delivery. It was refreshing to be reminded through personal stories that childbirth is a natural process our bodies are built to do.
Coreen says
I just bought Alba facial sunscreen and have been using it for a few weeks. I am very happy with it and will be looking to buy other types of Alba sunscreen.