I'm a slather some SPF on and get out there and dig kinda lady. Okay, not so much a "lady" per se, considering while the neighbors are taking modest precautions (a bandanna around the neck to prevent the most literal interpretation of being a Southerner "redneck") I'll don in a knee length skirt and cowboy boots to shovel my patch of earth around, meanwhile showing all sorts of leg.
But just because I like a little sunshine on my limbs doesn't mean it's open-season for skin abuse.
1) Raw Beauty Happy Hour hand and body lotion: This lotion contains green tea to help protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. They're a great indie replacement for the Body Shop (now owned by L'Oreal) lotion I used to use. $12.99
2) Natty Girl Phat Lips: Moisturize your lips and then dab on those fresh-from-the-garden cuticles that need a little extra nourishment. I'm a former Burt's Bees addict, but once they were bought out by Clorox, I needed to find a new love. $15
3) Ban Stinky's Pink Sugar Pit Love: I've been looking for a good replacement for the Tom's of Maine deo I used to use. (FYI--despite the "green looking" packaging, Tom's of Maine is now owned by animal testing giant Colgate) One of the best things about gardening is the detoxifying sweat your bound to work up. One of the worst things is that very same anti-social stench. This looks to be just what the stink doctor ordered. $6.44
4) Joyful Girl Naturals Organic Sun Protection: Probably one of the hardest things for me to find is a suitable, organic lotion with sun protection without buying corporate, and if you plan on doing any yard work SPF is a pretty big deal. Joyful Girl Naturals steps up to the task for about $10 less than Estee Lauder's Aveda products; that's enough to make me a Joyful Girl, too! $15.00
5) La Diva Bella Natural Bug Repellant: Another good replacement for the Burt's Bees insect spray I used to depend on, this DEET free combination of essential oils will keep the skeeters skedaddling. $3.00
6) Mama Bomb Coconut Milk Bath Soak: A suitable vegan alternative to a milk bath, especially if you ended up a little pink after a day working in the sun. The coconut milk and oatmeal will soothe your savage skin, and you might be so relaxed you can shrug off all the "Your mama jokes" sure to ensue. $21.00
Take a second to feel good about the skin you're in by protecting it and supporting indie shops, and get out there and grow!
Happy gardening, and until next week, your sweet smelling gardening gal pal~Renee
Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her
brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies
aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.
