For most of us, summer fun means spending a lot of time outdoors with activities that expose our skin to sun, salt, bugs, and dirt. With a little help from organic and natural skin care products, you can enjoy the great outdoors without wreaking havoc on your skin and hair.

Here are five suggested beauty tips to keep you glowing in the summer.

1. A sunscreen should be part of your daily outdoor summer routine. Make a wise choice and select a natural sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB sun rays. Both types of rays damage the skin by affecting collagen, and both can cause cancer. Avoid sunscreens with a long list of chemicals, especially para-aminobenzoic acid, also known as PABA. These chemicals are easily absorbed through the skin and cause health problems and also find their way into the environment and damage soil and groundwater.
2. After a day in the sun at the beach or pool, or hiking forest trails, thoroughly cleanse skin and hair with a mild organic foaming cleanser. Look for a cleanser that combines organic and natural ingredients that gently clean while replacing natural oils. Natural ingredients like Clary Sage, Aloe Vera; jojoba, olive or coconut oils; and essential oils will gently cleanse while rejuvenating skin and hair. Coconut oil is especially good for replacing the natural oils in your skin and hair.
3. Nourish and replenish skin with an organic all-over body moisturizer. Organic and natural ingredients like bergamot and litsea essential oils energize and help tone and rejuvenate the skin. A great option for summer is a moisturizer containing lemon or lime essential oils, as a citrus blend is energizing and also works as an insect repellant. Remember to use it on the cuticles of the nails and on the dry skin of the feet!
4. Summer is the time for bare feet and sandals. Show off those toes with an eco-friendly, non-toxic nail polish. Look for water-based polishes that don’t use FD&C colors and have removed the toxic chemical trio of ingredients that include dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene. Water-based polishes are better for your health and the health of the environment.
5. Complete the summer glow with soft, luscious lips. Use a natural lip gloss, without chemicals or parabens. Be sure to read lipstick labels, as many still contain lead, which is a proven neurotoxin. Look for an organic or natural lip gloss enriched with vitamin E, cocoa butter, olive oil, and shea butter. This will provide plenty of moisture preventing chapped lips and also provide a long lasting shine.

This summer, enjoy all that nature has to offer, whether it’s surfing the waves, lounging by the pool, or observing nature from a forest trail. Remember the above tips on organic and natural ways to keep your skin, hair, and the environment healthy.