Sharing our absolute favorites for this season of long sunny days, ample bugs, and picnics with friends.
Rose
Alaffia Kids Bubble Bath - Lemon Lavender
While we may not associate bubble baths with summer, kids are usually coming home at the end of the day covered in dirt, sunscreen, bug spray, and probably other things that we don't want to know about. Ending the day with a bath to relax and mellow out is so nice, or is just a solid way to kill some time on those long summer days. This is truly the best bubble bath, and I have tried many. A little goes a long way to have mountains of bubbles to splash around in and it has a lovely and subtle scent. And while certainly not recommended, my kiddos have inadvertently eaten a lot of Alaffia bubbles and they seem to be doing just fine. :)
Gabi D
When looking for something refreshing on my face I really enjoy Indie Lee’s COQ-10 toner. Indie Lee combines aloe, chamomile, cucumber, and COQ-10 to keep the skin moist, reduce sun damage, and works with all skin types. It’s super soothing and smells like summer! I highly recommend getting our travel kit, which includes a miniature version of the toner, and keep it in your bag. Give your face a refresher in the middle of the day!
Amber
Relaxus Scalp Massage Shampoo Brush
Cool showers are my favorite way to beat the heat in the summer, and they're even better with the aid of this shampoo brush. Its long nubs gently massage your scalp, increasing blood flow and clearing away buildup, and it feels incredible when paired with a refreshing tea tree or mint shampoo (shoutout to Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat, another favorite of mine). It also has the (perhaps dubious) distinction of looking almost identical to the brush I use on my cat--maybe cats are on to something, though, because this brush feels aaah-mazing.
Allison
Rishi Tea - Blueberry Hibiscus
This blend of rooibos, hibiscus flowers, elderberries, blueberries & schisandra berries from Rishi Tea & Botanicals is a refreshing beverage for balmy summer afternoons. My favorite way to enjoy this tea is iced with a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon! Brew it hot and chill it or let it steep in your fridge overnight - cold brew isn't just for coffee!
Brenden
Badger Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream - SPF 40 Protect Land + Sea
Summer in the city means you need sunscreen in your bag at all times. I go for the Badger SPF 40 Sport Mineral Sunscreen with Clear Zinc. When using this you get great lasting protection, but never forgot to reapply often! The best part about this product is the clear zinc, which leaves minimal to no white cast on the skin. Come in to our stores, pick it up and have a great summer!
Alina
Fat and the Moon Dry Shampoo - Lavender Cocoa
This is absolutely the best dry shampoo I have ever tried, and is truly a life saver in these sweaty months! It has minimal, natural ingredients and absorbs oils so well while not leaving a funky residue. I have dark brown hair and since this has cocoa powder in it, it leaves no white/grey cast that I am used to from other dry shampoos - and it leaves your hair smelling oh so delish!
Emily
Jade Leaf Matcha - Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha
I've recently been taking a break from coffee for the sake of my stomach (sigh), and found that the next best thing to give me that necessary morning boost is a delicious matcha latte! Matcha has both naturally occurring caffeine and the amino acid L-Theanine which supports a balanced, calm energy. To make, I sift a teaspoon of Jade Leaf's organic ceremonial grade matcha into my favorite ceramic bowl, pour 3oz of 180º water, whisk it with all the 7 o'clock energy I can muster, and then pour a healthy dash of oat milk over the top. As the temperature has started to rise, I've been enjoying it over ice with a little maple syrup. Yum!
Sally
Wildly Organic - Chocolate Syrup
Made with only 2 Certified Fairtrade ingredients: Organic raw agave nectar, organic raw cacao powder!
This yummy chocolate syrup is processed without heat. It is thick, rich and actually more like chocolate fudge. Warm it up and drizzle it on ice cream - like Alec's organic Tahitian Vanilla Bean ice cream made with pasture raised milk from a Verified Regenerative farm or Jeni's Brown Butter Almond Brittle ice cream made with grass grazed milk,or sprinkle some Let's Do Organic Confetti Sprinkles on top (all these can be found in or near our Freezer Case). Bring on the Summer.
Keilah
Yoto & Claire Haitian Black Castor oil
I am a huge fan of anything castor oil and my favorite one has to be Haitian castor oil. The smell is absolutely devine with an overall nutty scent with undertones of sweet goodness. The benefits of castor oil are numerous, I personally use this castor oil to deeply moisturize and soften my skin, hair and scalp. It is rich in omega's 6 & 9, ricinoleic acid, vitamin E all things that help with wound healing as well as tending to angry skin. Castor oil also is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, so it is perfect after sun care especially mixed with some aloe vera gel to further cool down any irritations. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Sofia
Patagonia Provisions Lemon Caper Mackerel
PLEASE try this! Eat it with a cracker, in pasta, with rice, on a hot dog..you'll love it on everything! I look forward to making my way through all the tinned fish flavors, and fully anticipate loving all of them, but starting with this one was a SOLID choice. Patagonia Provisions works with local fisherman who fish using traditional methods, and by choosing Mackerel, you are taking pressure off some of the overfished species, like Tuna! Tinned fish for life :)
Gabi C
Ursa Major Spray Deodorant - Hinoki
As the weather is heating up, now is the perfect time to switch from my favorite Little Seed Farm Deodorant Cream (Blue Tansy if you're wondering...), to a spray! It's super lightweight and lasts throughout the day. It's also the perfect size to throw in your bag for a roadtrip or weekend getaway.
Caleb
Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream
I love the sun. I always feels better when I spend time outside with the sun of my face but it means I need to take extra good care of my skin. So, in addition to using a clean mineral based SPF if I'm working in the garden or spending the day at the beach, Ursa Major's Golden Hour Recovery Cream is my go-to daily moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated and nourished all summer long.
Aria
Mad Hippie Sheer Tint Sun Serum
This has been my FAVORITE new product. It’s a mineral SPF that blends into the skin so soft and smooth and NOT GREASY! I repeat not greasy. I’m not a person who enjoys wearing a super heavy foundation in the hot weather; however a light coverage is much appreciated so that I can still feel my best. This is just the perfect base for the summer time. Not to mention that its vegan and cruelty free. I can’t recommend it enough!
Molly
Omsom Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ Starter Pack (3ct Sauce + Recipe)
This is my first summer with a grill at home and I'm SO excited to use Omsom for all of my grilled proteins! I've tried several of the Omsom flavors and the Lemongrass BBQ is my current favorite. Great on chicken, shrimp, pork AND tofu, but really the possibilities are endless. It's the perfect combination of savory, tangy, and a little sweet. I like to use half of the packet as a marinade and reserve the rest to glaze at the end. Pair it with a bowl of rice and some fresh veggies and you've got a delicious and easy meal!
Vicki
Fred Soll's Resin Incense - Sweet Frankincense
This brand sells the BEST quality incense. They roll the sticks in real resin, and you see the actual pieces of frankincense on the sticks. They also burn for the longest of times, and you can snuff one out so you can use it more than once. They do require longer exposure to fire to get it to burn, compared to most traditional incense out there. I love burning incense outside in the summer time (in a holder, and not in the dirt. NEVER put an incense stick in dry dirt, it burns the dirt... don't ask how I know).
Dev
Death Valley Nail Polish - Plump Haunches
Nothing screams summer to me like freshly mowed grass on a balmy day, and now you can wear the same vibe right on your nails. It probably won't make your haunches any plumper, but it will make your fingernails look stylish and fantastic, and isn't that just as important at the end of the day?
Shannon
Mad Hippie - Daily Protective SPF
Every summer morning when I was a kid, my siblings and I would line up in the living room so, one by one, my dad could cake on our 80+ SPF sunblock for the day. I hated the feeling of SPF so much that once I got older, I often neglected my sun care, even though my skin is very fair and I burn fast! In the past few years, I have really started caring more about preventing sun damage and learning what the best products are to protect my skin. It is so important to reapply your SPF especially during the summer! I love this product because, even though it is zinc oxide based, it isn't too thick in the same way other mineral SPF's are. This serum blends in so fast! I use this product in my every day morning skincare routine throughout the year, but in the summertime I start my day with something thicker, like Badger - SPF 50 Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Tin, and then use this to easily reapply throughout the day!
Mike
Portland Syrup Co - Lavender Syrup
I love drinking in summer. Hot, cold, it's all good to me, but I get tired of things if I'm constantly pouring them down my gullet in the hotter months. Fortunately, I've found this lavender syrup to add to my toolkit, so to speak, when snazzing up drinks! No matter what you're making, be it some kind of tea, a mocktail for lunch, or a nightcap, lavender is an excellent option for adding that summer sun to your drinks. Bonus: it only takes a splash! Sure, you CAN drink straight from the bottle, and it MIGHT be delicious... but you don't have to.