The holiday edit

Holiday season is upon us, and we know the last thing you want to do is worry about the environment during your leisure time. Let Natural Collection take the strain. We’ve got a selection of ethical holiday supplies – stock up now and you can put your mind at rest for the remainder of the summer.

Sunscreen

With the British summer on the way out, you’re probably looking for a holiday destination that’ll keep those sunny vibes going. The environmental impact of sunscreen is a complex matter with a lot of factors to consider, so we like to offer a wide range of choices.

Odyskin sunscreen is organic, microbead free and fully vegan. Meanwhile Alba Botanica is fragrance free and mineral-based, making it an environmentally friendly option. Or you could try Green People’s sun cream, with the knowledge that 10% of their profits go to UK charities, including the Marine Conservation Society. All these options are free from parabens, SLS, triclosan and palm oil and have no animal testing involved in their production.

Protection doesn’t stop once you’re out of the sun – it also helps to soothe and nourish your skin afterwards with aftersun lotion. Aloe Pura employ the moisturising power of aloe vera, avocado oil and witch hazel, while Dr Hauschka’s aftersun uses anthyllis, ice plant, almond oil and rose wax.

Insect repellent

Unfortunately, where there’s sun, there’s often mosquitos. The tell-tale whine of a mosquito can ruin your holiday in one fell swoop, so make sure you’re adequately prepared. Insect repellents can vary in effectiveness, though, and the synthetic ones often contain toxic chemicals that can harm both your skin and the environment – not the ideal thing to bring to a foreign country.

Let Incognito come to your rescue with their wide-ranging variety of all-natural ways to beat the bugs. Their basic insect repellent comes as a spray or a roll-on, and also has a gentler child-friendly form. If you’d rather have it as a set of incense sticks or even a bar of soap, those options are available too.

Shampoo

Anyone who’s had a shampoo bottle burst in their luggage can attest to how annoying it is, so why not go for a shampoo bar instead? They last longer, take up less space, and there’s no plastic bottles to worry about.

Our favourites include Green People’s eucalyptus & mint, Alter/Native’s coconut and argan oil, Faith in Nature’s dragon fruit, and Friendly Soap’s lavender & geranium. Friendly Soap have you covered for conditioner in bar form, too. If you really need to travel light, try one of Alter/Native’s all-in-one soap bars – good for your hair, your body, and even clothes and dishes!

Children

Travelling with kids? You might face a few extra challenges – but you probably don’t need us to tell you that. Keeping them out of the sun is an impossible task, so sunscreen is essential, but adult sunscreen might end up irritating their skin. We recommend a child-friendly version like Alba Botanica’s baby sunscreen lotion, Green People’s scent free sun lotion or Sol De Ibiza’s organic mineral cream.

A bottle of Green People organic children's sun cream on the beach

With luggage space at a premium, maybe you’re reluctant to bring kid-friendly versions of items that are already taking up space in your bag. Green People’s travel-size children’s range can help lighten the load. Their bath & shower body wash and shampoo are both available in smaller 50ml bottles, as is their lotion & after sun.

And the rest…

Even the most unlikely items can have sustainable eco-friendly alternatives. You’ve probably never thought of making a wash bag from decommissioned firehoses and old parachutes, but Elvis & Kresse have. Plus they’re donating 50% of the profits to the Fire Fighters Charity. Why not try biodegradable facial wipes from Cheeky Panda? Or a bamboo eye mask from Panda London? The list is endless – and as always, Natural Collection is your one-stop shop for the whole lot.

How Mineral Sun Cream Protects your Skin

We all know that it’s important to get out in the sun as much as possible to get your recommended dose of Vitamin D and increase seratonin levels. It’s equally important to use sun protection every day to stop your skin absorbing harmful rays and to protect against burning whilst reducing the risk of skin disease or cancer.

You can protect your skin by covering up as much as possible while outside and seeking the shade. It’s also important to use sunscreen every day to limit the damage done by the sun. It’s a common myth that people with darker skin don’t need to use as much or any sun cream – this is absolutely not the case as sun cream is the only thing that can protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Mineral sun cream is a great way to protect your skin if you prefer products with fewer ingredients. Regular sun cream is made with ingredients that protect your skin by absorbing the suns rays, whereas mineral sun cream reflects them. Mineral sun creams are made with zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays – which is something you definitely want from your sun protection.

Traditionally people didn’t like using mineral sun cream because it left white residue on their skin. This isn’t the case anymore, advances in technology have meant the mineral particles can be just as effective at a smaller size and are no longer visible.

If you want to give mineral sun cream a try, have a look at our ranges from natural beauty brand Green People, Alba Botanica, We Love the Planet and Shade for some zero waste options too.

How to have an ethical festival

We’re thrilled to welcome Jess Efford of Waterless Ltd – who make our great products Nilaqua and Zerreau – for this guest post about ethical festival fun.

Are you all set for your summer festival, but have you thought about what impact this has on the environment? Noise pollution, electricity, litter, nature, the list is endless. Festivals can only do so much with recycling, however here are some top tips to help you do your bit…. Continue reading How to have an ethical festival

How Important is Sun Protection?

The weather might not know it yet, but it’s almost Summer! I know it’s true the temperature doesn’t really get very high here in the UK, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays! If your sun care often slips, learn why it’s important here. Continue reading How Important is Sun Protection?

Vegan Nail Polish Ideal for Summer

Choosing a shade for my nails is a painstaking process, it’s probably more difficult than actually painting my nails! There are so many different brands, and then they each have so many different colours and finishes – how can you decide? Well, the first decision should probably be an ethical nail polish, and would you believe it we have some great ones for sale, and a fantastic natural nail polish remover you’ll love.

Continue reading Vegan Nail Polish Ideal for Summer

Get Your Garden Ready for Summer with Sustainable Garden Furniture

The days are longer and the sun is shining more often than not – Summer is finally on its way! Is your garden ready for all those barbecues, gatherings and sun bathing you’re going to be doing? You’ve probably seen the vast amount of seeds, accessories and bird houses we have on offer, but have you had a look at our garden furniture? Continue reading Get Your Garden Ready for Summer with Sustainable Garden Furniture

Protect your skin this Summer with Green People

With Summer fast approaching it’s time to think about sun protection for you and your family. Of course it’s important to use sun protection all year round, but it’s especially needed during the hotter months when the sun is high and the sky is clear. While finding the highest sun protection for our family is the number one factor when it comes to choosing sun protection, we also have to look at how those products affect our planet. Continue reading Protect your skin this Summer with Green People