Is your sunscreen currently hiding behind winter skin balms and healing hand lotions? It may not seem like a winter skincare necessity, but it is important to use sun protection on your skin year-round. Including dark, chilly winter months.

If you haven’t used sunscreen since the last days of fall (ok, summer) it’s time to bust that stuff back out. Skin is not exempt from the damaging effects of UV rays just because it’s cold outside.

We’ve talked about the difference between UVA and UVB rays here before, but here’s a breakdown: UVA rays can cause skin cancer, sagging skin, and wrinkles. UVB rays are responsible for sunburn. Obviously, our skin is still susceptible to these consequences no matter what the temp.

If you doubt UV damage is a thing in winter, research backs it up. A study by Australian researchers published in 2013 proved that sunscreen helps to prevent photoaging – the process that creates loss of skin elasticity, wrinkling, and dark spots. Participants who applied SPF 15+ three to four days each week showed less skin aging after four and a half years than those who used sunscreen irregularly.

Since we all try to avoid the dreaded skin aging for as long as possible, be sure you add sun protection to your winter skincare routine. And not just any sunscreen, but products made with natural mineral sun protection and healthy ingredients. Here are the best sunscreen products for the season.

Best Sun Protection for Winter Skin

Tinted Moisturizer: A tinted moisturizer with sunscreen is an essential wintertime beauty hero. This multi-tasker handles moisture, coverage, and UV protection in one. Try Lily Lolo BB Cream for a radiant look with SPF 15 protection that includes anti-aging ingredients. Comes in three natural shades.

Facial Powder: Dust a layer of facial powder with sunscreen over your makeup for added protection. Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation creates a soft, smooth finish with SPF 15. Choose from a wide range of colors.

Facial Moisturizer: Hynt Beauty Sun Prep is moisturizer, primer, and sun protection in one product. Put down as a non-greasy base layer prior to applying foundation for a flawless look that keeps skin healthy.

Skin Hydrator: For added moisture with sunscreen, that is also customizable, turn to Kari Gran Three Sixty Five SPF 28. Made with red raspberry seed oil, which has natural sun protective properties, this blend is gentle on skin. Try mixing with mineral powder for a made-to-order foundation.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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How do some women do it? Able to pull off the fresh faced, youthful look when going makeup free, rather than death warmed over. If you feel more scary than dewy when going out bare, try these tips on how to look better without makeup.

Whether you never wear makeup, occasionally go without, or wouldn’t be caught dead bare-faced, there are ways to improve your naked face game.

There are times when you simply have to leave the house before putting on your face. Running late, under the weather, fleeing a fire…some of us are hard pressed to go anywhere without at least a little eyeliner or mascara.

Then there are the women who pull it off with ease and actually look younger without makeup. What is their secret to going makeup free and how can the rest of us get in on it?

Looking great makeup-free boils down to a few simple tricks, some regular maintenance, and a dash of self-assurance.

6 Tips on How to Look Better Without Makeup

1. Skin Love: A well cared for complexion looks healthy and glowing. It is also low maintenance, which means you can skip the foundation. Exfoliate regularly to get rid of dry, dead skin cells, which cause lack luster skin and clogged pores. Always cleanse with the appropriate product for your skin type and remove makeup before bed. And maybe the most important step in radiant skin? Making sure it is getting adequate moisture with your choice of facial oils, lotions, or creams.

2. Protect and Prevent: Yes, this falls under the prevention category but is so important. Regular use of nontoxic sunscreen protects skin from lines, wrinkles, and brown spots, making it easier to go makeup free. (Check our sunscreen guide for top picks for face.)

3. Wow Brows: On fleek brows may be a trend, but they also help to frame the face. Plus, well groomed brows lend polish to your look.

4. Lash Out: Want to make eyes pop in an instant? Curl your lashes, stand back, and admire those peepers. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler is a makeup artist favorite.

5. Mane Game: Good looking hair means you can get by with almost anything (or nothing) for the rest of your look. Don’t have time to coif? A sleek pony, cute headband, or pretty scarf can easily dress things up.

6. Own It: If you are going out makeup free, smile and radiate confidence. Nothing looks better than a woman who feels good about herself.

Still not comfy with a completely bare face? Go the “no makeup” makeup route for a fresh faced look that only looks bare.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman with no makeup via Shutterstock

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Aging.  As inevitable as death and taxes, right?  Some of us age more gracefully than others, and when it comes to our skin care, there are a whole host of factors that play into how well our routine can hold up over time. 

From diet to pollution, sleep deprivation to stress, there’s one culprit that does the most damage to our skin. Remember when your mom would force you to sit on the towel under the umbrella at the beach and smother you with thick, white sunscreen while warning you not to get a sunburn?  We hate to say it, but your mom was right. While we wish we could reveal some amazing new find about what really causes skin aging and how to prevent it to let you sun lovers off the hook, UV rays are in fact the biggest offender. As little as a few minutes a day of sunlight without protection over time can lead to dark spots, wrinkles, sagging skin and even skin cancer.

According to Cancer.org there are three main types of UV rays:

– UVA rays age skin cells and can damage their DNA. These rays are linked to long-term skin damage such as wrinkles, but they are also thought to play a role in some skin cancers. Most tanning beds give off large amounts of UVA, which has been found to increase skin cancer risks.

– UVB rays can directly damage skin cells’ DNA, and are the main rays that cause sunburns. They are also thought to cause most skin cancers.

– UVC rays don’t get through our atmosphere and are not in sunlight. They are not normally a cause of skin cancer.

The amount of UV rays in our atmosphere is affected by a number of factors including the time of day, time of year, elevation and cloud coverage. (To learn more about the current level of UV Rays in your area, click here.)

Similar to repeatedly stretching out a rubber band, over time, your skin loses its ability to repair itself and the damage becomes irreversible.  Cumulative UV exposure breaks down collagen, which is the main protein connective tissue in our body, and the process of creating new tissue becomes harder and harder. The same is true for elasticity. The greater the damage, the harder it is for skin to repair itself, and signs of aging start to accumulate.

One of the determining factors for how the sun will affect your skin is color complexion. Do you have fair skin and burn easily? If that’s the case, you are more likely to see signs of aging than someone with darker skin who tans well. Genetics are capable of telling us a lot about our bodies. Do your parents or grandparents have sun damage? Did they take preventative measures? Your skin may be comparable to theirs.

Now that you’re sighing in resignation that laying out is a bad idea, or perhaps you’re beating yourself up for those reckless teenage years of baby oil and tin foil, the first step in addressing sun damage is to prevent any more. Here’s how:
1.  Neutralize UV rays, protect skin from additional assault and help reverse existing damage.

RawSkinCeutical’s RegenceC Serum is an oil based serum for easy absorption, rich in naturally occurring vitamin C from their unique herbals complex, which includes chrysanthemum, helichrysum flowers, orange peel, rosehips, eyebright, acerola cherry, cleavers, and l-ascorbic acid.  Studies  have shown vitamin C applied topically can limit UV damage due to it’s high antioxidant activity, reducing UV induced DNA damage and inflammation and increases cell survival following UV exposure.

Blissoma’s Amend Solar Repair Anti-Aging Serum is a lovely, low scent, easily absorbed, non-oily serum that includes a unique type of potent pomegranate extract that has been clinically verified to reduce UV ray related cell death and free radicals generated in exposed skin.

In addition to protecting skin from further damage, both products will also go to work to help repair the damage that’s already been done. For the best protection, wear your vitamin C and/or pomegranate products under your sunscreen during the day.
 
2.  Shield skin from damaging UV rays with a healthy, natural sunscreen, every day, all year long.

For those seeking a higher SPF but who don’t want to know they’re wearing sunscreen or tend toward oily skin, COOLA Suncare makes an incredibly lightweight, matte finish mineral sunscreen, tinted or untinted.

Those with normal to dry skin seeking SPF 30 along with sheer, tinted coverage, added moisture and a multi-tasking formula should try Suntegrity’s Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30, which can also be called a BB cream. This luxurious formula leaves skin well hydrated with a dewy finish and features a variety of healing and protective antioxidants, including green tea and pomegranate extracts, among others. Available in five shades to work with any skin tone, it’s also available in a clear, untinted formula.

Both formulas do double duty, providing chemical free, non-nano, mineral UV protection via zinc and/or titanium dioxide, they all run in well when used appropriately without leaving a tell-tale white film (or you looking like a mime).

Don’t forget the body! Perfect for sensitive skin and those prone to breakouts, Devita’s Solar Body Moisturizer SPF 30  hits the sweet spot between body lotion and sunscreen. The light formula acts as a moisturizer and provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection without leaving you feeling oily or greasy. Perfect for daily use to protect skin during sporadic exposure (think about that arm hanging out your window while driving) when you don’t plan to spend hours and hours in direct sunlight sweating or playing in the water.

For those who live an active lifestyle (or have kids that do) All Terrain’s TerraSport SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray is the end to your excuse not to wear sunscreen. This highly rated, very water resistant formula is proven effective after 80 minutes in water and it’s easy to apply, non-whitening, non-greasy, non eye stinging, fragrance-free finish leaves you with no excuse not to use it. Also available in an uber water proof formula called AquaSport.

Just remember, in all cases, for face and for body, no matter how water resistant the formula: reapply, reapply, reapply.

3.  Protect from the inside out

Studies indicate that ingesting green tea can help protect skin from UV damage because of its powerful antioxidant, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a potent type of catechin. EGCG neutralizes free radicals, which reduces their ability to wreck the type of havoc that causes inflammation and wrinkles. A study out of Cambridge in 2013 found that oral green tea metabolites are incorporated into human skin and offer protection against UV related inflammation. The Journal of Nutrition reported in 2011 that women who consumed a drink with green tea polyphenols for 12 weeks saw improvements in skin elasticity, roughness, scaling and moisture content.

Not a fan of drinking endless mugs of green tea to get a sufficient dose? Sneak some edible green tea into your daily smoothie or pop some Green Tea Extract in capsule form for a concentrated dose.

Our last word?  Take your mother’s advice and don’t skip the sunscreen. Tune in as we address a variety of other skin agers and what you can to do help prevent them and turn back the hands of time. #stopskinaging

Related on EcoSalon

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top image: monimix, product images via brands

The post 3 Anti-Aging Skin Care Tricks to Protect You from the Number One Skin Ager appeared first on EcoSalon.

Not all sunscreens are created equal.

Every summer for the past decade, the media has issued staunch advisories reminding consumers to wear sunscreen. But this year, their tone has changed. Studies are showing that not only are many sunscreens filled with potentially harmful chemicals, but also that sunscreen wearers can actually be more susceptible to dangerous skin cancer strains like melanoma. Too much time in the sun can increase the risk of damage, but too little can lead to vitamin D deficiencies. What gives? This week’s Behind The Label attempts to explain the current debate around sunscreen, just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

The Good

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, a scary statistic that doctors and dermatologists say can be prevented through regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens are formulated to block two kinds of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun: UVA rays, which are associated with premature aging and skin damage, and UVB rays, which are linked with sunburns. The SPF level of a sunscreen specifies its level of protection against UVB: an SPF of 15 filters out about 93 percent of incoming UVB rays, while an SPF of 50 keeps out approximately 98 percent. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, most SPF 15 sunscreens do a sufficient job of protecting against UVB rays, but the added protection provided by sunscreens over SPF 50 is negligible.

It’s UVA rays that are trickier to understand and protect against. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays, damaging skin cells in the basal layer of the epidermis where most skin cancers occur. Sunscreens marked “broad spectrum”, “multi spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” usually contain UVA-blocking ingredients like stabilized avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.

And now, those sunscreens will be easier to decipher thanks to a set of new regulations passed by the Food and Drug Administration last December. The new regulations introduce restrictions on using the terms “broad spectrum,” “waterproof,” and “sweatproof,” and it requires that any sunscreen under SPF 15 be labeled with a warning that reads. “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.” 

The Bad

Despite better labeling standards, the Environmental Working Group’s 2013 Guide to Safer Sunscreens, released earlier this year, cautions consumers against taking manufacturer claims at face value. The annual review found “only minimal improvements” in products on the shelves and concludes that “many sunscreens available on the U.S. market do not filter sun-damaging rays safely and effectively.”

The guide reports that melanoma rates have tripled over the past 35 years, despite the fact that Americans seem to be more aware of the sun’s dangers. The EWG believes that one reason for this paradox may be misleading sunscreen marketing – “hype that causes people to believe, wrongly, that their products are blocking harmful rays.”

While the FDA’s new regulations may help to mitigate the hype, the EWG points out that the FDA’s criteria are weak compared to European Union standards. “Half of the U.S. sunscreens that meet the FDA rules would not make it to store shelves in Europe,” states the report.

Then, there’s the recent obsession with high SPFs, which can lead consumers to believe that they can stay in the sun longer than usual. But while a high SPF sunscreen can effectively block against UVB rays, they do nothing for skin-damaging, cancer-causing UVA rays. The European Union already levies a cap on SPF claims at 50+, and the FDA is considering a proposal to do the same.

And finally, there is the preponderance of potentially harmful chemicals present in conventional sunscreens. A form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate (or retinol) is present in 20 percent of sport sunscreens and has been linked to the acceleration of skin tumors and lesions when exposed to the sun, according to the EWG. Oxybenzone, found in 80 percent of chemical sunscreens, is a suspected hormone disruptor.

The Skin Cancer Foundation maintains that both retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone are safe and effective when used as directed, and that claims otherwise are based on “questionable science that is not properly reviewed by experts in the field of photo medicine.”

So What Now?

Look for broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens.

One thing that the Environmental Working Group and Skin Cancer Foundation can agree on is the continued need to include sunscreen as part of a comprehensive sun safety plan. But not all sunscreens are created equal. U.S. consumers have the choice between chemical sunscreens, which penetrate the skin and may contain hormone disruptors, and mineral sunscreens, which often contain micronized particles of zinc or titanium, which are suspected to be toxic if absorbed. While each option has its chemical downside, the EWG recommends broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens as the safest option, since they don’t appear to penetrate the skin, are stable in sunlight, and offer superior UVA protection. Check out EcoSalon’s list of Eco-Beauty Approved Sun Care Products for our recommendations, or the EWG’s 2013 Guide to Safer Sunscreens report for a full list of the 180 products that met its criteria this year.

Stock up on European formulations.

Unlike the United States, the European Union requires that all sunscreens offer UVA protection that is at least a third as potent as its SPF – meaning that if a sunscreen is SPF 30, its UVA protection must be at least 10. Europe allows manufacturers to use seven chemicals specifically designed to filter UVA rays; the U.S., in comparison, has only approved three. According to the EWG, three chemicals – Tinosorb S, Tinsorb M, and Mexoryl SX – are effective in blocking against UVA rays, but their use in America has been held up by delayed FDA approvals.

Apply enough.

Make sure that you’re applying at least one ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body, a half hour before going into the sun. Reapply every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Dress appropriately.

That means dark clothing, a broad rimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Some performance activewear lines also include sun protection, such as prAna.

Avoid sunlight during peak hours.

Seek shade between the sun’s peak hours, generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sun exposure during this time can be particularly harmful.

Get a free skin cancer screening.

The Skin Cancer Foundation sponsors the annual Road to Healthy Skin Tour each May at Rite Aid Pharmacy locations across America. For this year’s dates, visit skincancer.org.

Images: Robert S. Donovan, nemuneko.jc 

The post Behind The Label: The Safe Sunscreen Debate appeared first on EcoSalon.

Welcome to the seventh and final installment of our seven-part Eco Salon Eco-Beauty Approved Guide: Sun Care Products. 

We’ve worked really hard to gather this list from professionals in the field, including Kristen Arnett, Paige Padgett, Jessa Blades, Greta Eagan, Sophie Uliano, Todra Payne, Renee Loux, Starre Vartan and others, along with our very own editors and writers. We’ve looked at ingredients, brand missions and philosophies, considered skin and hair types, all types of concerns and tested several products in each line. We’ve broken it down by category, with multiple options in each, so get ready for lots of options.

We’ve also considered price and tried very hard to include a broad range from luxury to affordable for just about any budget. Even though we’ve listed just one or two product recommendations per brand, it’s hard to go wrong with these companies, so experiment until you find your new must have products! Without further ado, please read on for the 2013 EcoSalon Approved Eco-Beauty Guide!

1. Chocolate Sun 

Created by natural skincare enthusiast Susie Phillips and a botanist using botanicals, herbs and essential oils as the foundation for all formulas, the ingredients is what differentiates the Chocolate Sun Collection from other products on the market.

Product Pick:

Self Tanner (three shades for a variety of skin tones, streak free application)

2. COOLA Suncare 

High performance suncare products that are both delicate and luxurious enough to compliment anyone’s daily skincare regimen, COOLA offers sun protection for a range of skin types and lifestyles; from the sensitive nature of the FACE and LIPS, to the versatile BODY, and the demands of SPORT.

Product Picks:

Face SPF30 Cucumber Matte Finish (everyone, especially oilier skin prone to shine)

Sport SPF35 Citrus Mimosa (for everyone, especially active)

3. Devita 

One of the fastest growing all-natural, 100% PARBEN FREE, PETA Certified, Vegan cosmeceutical skin care line in the country, offering over 100 different DeVita Natural Skin Care products, a complete line of revolutionary aloe-infused mineral color cosmetics, and a professional line of skin care products sold exclusively through

Product Pick:

Solar Body Block (moisturizer with spf, for all skin types & those who hate to wear sunscreen)

4. Love True Natural 

The LoveTrueNatural Team studies and stays current on matters of organic cosmetic news, rules and regulations. They keep their finger on the pulse of the organic and conventional beauty worlds, to provide you with the most cutting edge and safest natural beauty products.

Product Picks:

Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Baby & Family Water Resistant Sunscreen (for everyone, stays put well)

Anti Aging Face & Body Self Tanner (for everyone, good natural color, not orange or streaky)

5. Suntegrity

Suntegrity Face and Body SPF 30 products use only the best physical block (non-nano size zinc oxide) to provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, super anti-oxidants and amino acids to enhance protection and assist skin repair, paired with  non-toxic preservatives to maintain product integrity without sacrificing safety or health.

Product Picks:

Suntegrity “5 In 1” Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum Spf 30 ( Light & Medium skin tones, normal to dry – can use instead of a lightweight foundation)

Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer, Broad Spectrum Spf 30 (everyone, better for normal to dry skin)

And there you have it.  Our First Annual Eco Salon Approved Eco Beauty & Personal Care Guide.  If that doesn’t provide you with at least ONE option to trade out, well, you’re way more high maintenance than us.  No excuses!

Read Eco Salon’s 2013 Eco Beauty Approved Guide Part 1: 19 Bath & Body Products here.

Part 2: 41 Facial Care Products.

Part 3: 11 Hair Care Products.

Part 4: 17 Makeup & Color Products.

Part 5: 8 Personal Care & Hygiene Products

Part 6: 6 Fragrance Products

Looking to try healthy beauty products before you buy?  Goodebox delivers 6-7 personalized samples per month to take the guess work out of cleaning up your beauty routine. Try Goodebox today.

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Knowledge bomb: the sun may actually help prevent skin cancer.

Sun exposure may be one of the most misunderstood myths of all time, but not without good reason. It is marketed as a danger, not far from drunk driving, running with a knife, or unprotected sex – you’d be a fool not to protect yourself, and the consequences could be dramatic (read: cancer). However, there is more to sunlight’s affect on your body than meets the eye, and prescribing to mass marketing campaigns for sunscreens may do more harm than good.

The hullabaloo is well deserved. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the U.S. More than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year and it is estimated that the most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma, will account for 76,600 cases in 2013. And with UV radiation linked to skin cancer, it’s no wonder people are skirting the sun.

But the silver lining is this: proper exposure to the sun is the number one way can quickly and effectively ensure we are producing enough vitamin D to support our body’s systems. There are a limited number of food sources that provide vitamin D, and these include fatty fish, eggs, milk, and supplements. These food sources are incomplete, as we derive 90 percent of vitamin D from the sun.

Despite the sun’s association with skin cancer, according to studies published by the British Journal of Cancer and Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers found that higher vitamin D levels actually improve survival for skin cancer patients. An Italian study found that melanoma patients with intermittent exposure to the sun prior to diagnosis were associated with improved survival in the long-term.

Vitamin D is also extremely healing for other purposes and is necessary for the proper absorption, utilization and preservation of calcium in the body and bones. A vitamin D deficiency, which is prevalent in three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults, can lead to bone loss, osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. It is especially essential in preventing and fighting all kinds of cancer and it has been estimated that higher levels of it could prevent some 30 percent of worldwide cancer deaths each year. Women with light skin color can cut their risk of developing breast cancer in half with sun exposure.

So how much sunlight should you get? To maximize vitamin D production, expose your face, hands, back, and however much skin as possible, to the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for between 10 and 20 minutes. Lighter skin requires less time than darker skin. If you can’t get under the sun, consider a supplement, but it is not the dosage but your blood level of vitamin D that matters. The optimal value is 50-70 nanograms per millimeter (ng/ml), but be sure to consult a doctor to measure and determine your personal level.

Keep in mind that excessive supplementation of vitamin D can be harmful, whereas your body knows to how control vitamin D production that is incited via sun exposure. If you are planning on staying out in the sun longer than a half hour, avoid applying toxin-laden sunscreens and embrace green alternatives.

Photo Credit: Vincent Boiteau

The post The Truth About Sun Exposure and Your Health appeared first on EcoSalon.

My Hawaii honeymoon was telling in terms of my husband’s shunning of the sun. Fair skinned and sensitized by a father who had been treated several times for melanoma, my better half sought out the biggest umbrellas and thatched huts available for taking shelter on the beach. I would have preferred he sported tropical jams instead of those baggy Brooks Brothers khaki pants and huaraches, rather than sensible saddle shoes, but he’s eccentric and not one to cave to convention.

Even so, 16 years later, I follow his lead in guarding my skin on our travels. Repenting for my baby oil-swathed summer tanning marathons in Malibu, and wary of sun cancer and wrinkling too fast, I can appreciate a resort environment without sacrificing my health and beauty. Here are some cool summer spots for a sun-screened getaway.

Indian Springs

This historic and ultra hip spa resort in Calistoga is a favorite weekend getaway among many of my friends in San Francisco. That’s because the lushly planted 16-acre property is both scenically soothing in a vintage Hollywood fashion and its famous Olympic-sized mineral pool is hugely restorative.

We were there on a rainy Easter weekend. It was sunny and clear when we arrived on Friday, and pouring like nobody’s business on Sunday. Either way, the setting offers diverse respite opps out of the sun, from the covered poolside veranda to a romantic indoor poolside lounge with a stone fireplace. There’s also shaded herb gardens for repose and an understated spa for receiving a mudbath with pure volcanish ash – a long practiced ritual to complement the mineral plunge. The Wapoo Indians settled in the site 8,000 years ago, followed by the Spanish who named the treasured plot Agua Caliente. Sure, the water is hot, but you can still keep your cool in the heat of the summer here. Just substitute the tan for a fan (which you will need in your room).  Soak up the mineral water with proper protection, then hide in the shade with a good read. You’ll  feel more relaxed than you have in months.

Four Seasons Punte Mita, Mexico

This stunning resort with a coral lined beach and extraordinary guacamole is just 25 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport and offers breaks on rooms during the heat of the summer (August is best) when being in the direct sun can fry your bass. But why not take advantage of the rates and simply enjoy the spectacular setting, spa treatments, covered patio areas, excellent snorkeling and scuba, gym workouts and amazingly healthy cuisine for a steal. The summer promotion includes a resort credit of $400-$1200 daily towards room rate or other activities. This can get you a usually high priced Four Seasons room for two for $250-$350. There are also third and fourth night free offers, which many resorts are doing during the summer.

One of my favorite water activities here where I won’t feel the burn: floating down the well-shaded Lazy River – a narrow pool with a current which encircles the Oasis complex. Kids ride it with an inner tube, but I like wading through it for the resistance exercise. And better yet, there is well stocked bar nearby. Cowabunga!

This is the second installment in a travel series by EcoSalon’s Senior Editor, Luanne Bradley.

Images: downing.amanda, Four seasons, Popofaddicus

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