Healthy From the Outside In: Athletes, Antioxidants and Skin Care

November 10th, 2011

Bike Season

Fall is ideal for bicycling. Cooler weather makes for brisk rides on and off road. These days it seems like the cross-cycling craze is everywhere, and we’re huge fans. Who wouldn’t love the full-body, hard charging endurance challenge that comes with piloting a bicycle over a challenging course? We also love mountain biking—and, of course, our sponsored athlete Rebecca Rusch, three-time winner of the Leadville 100. We welcome roadies, two-wheeled commuters, cruisers, and parents hauling kids in a trailer.

Cycling, in addition with other sports, has found itself under the spotlight recently as emerging studies and news stories focus on the role exercise plays in producing free radicals, which promote cellular aging and can also kill cells. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a pro, you need to know what you can do to defend your body against free radicals.

Antioxidant Low-down

In addition to blocking harmful ultraviolet rays, sun protection can provide antioxidants, which help prevent skin damage. Specifically, antioxidants either prevent the formation of free radicals, molecules that can damage or kill skin cells, or they interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before damage is done.

Where Are They?

Antioxidants are also found in a host of foods, mainly fruit and vegetables. The three major antioxidant vitamins are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These are found in bright colorful fruits and are most available eaten raw or lightly steamed.

Antioxidants and Athletes

According to scientists at Rice University, athletes (and others) can reap health benefits and improved performance from the ingestion of antioxidants. Endurance athletes use significantly more oxygen (10 to 20 times more than resting state) during exercise, which increases the generation of free radicals. Naturally, athletes are interested in defending themselves against these damaging molecules. What role can antioxidants play?

It’s complicated.

But the long and short of it is that regular physical exercise enhances the body’s antioxidant defense system and protects against exercise-induced free-radical damage. Translation: although exercise likely produces more free radicals, it also releases natural antioxidants in your system. But for weekend warriors or those who charge superhumanly hard, intense exercise can overwhelm your antioxidant defense system and result in increased free radical damage.

Offsetting the Free Radicals

To offset this damage, athletes can steel themselves through a good diet and through wearing sun protection with antioxidants in the inactive ingredients. The direct role antioxidants play in preventing free radical formation is a controversial subject. Studies are often conflicting or inconclusive, yet data suggests that increased Vitamin E intake can protect against oxidative damage.

Sunscreen

Perhaps as important as what goes in the body is what goes on. All of Beyond Coastal’s products include antioxidants like yerba mate, green tea, and algae extract. These scavenge free radicals and restore skin tone. Up to 60% of what you apply topically is absorbed by the skin and enters the blood stream.  Using antioxidant rich sunscreen will not only protect you from the sun’s rays, but will also provide an additional antioxidant boost, perfect for on the go and after-sun care.

Recommendations

How should you incorporate sunscreen into your daily well-being routine? Easy: apply it every day (even cloudy days), in copious amounts. Whether you’re pushing your body to its VO2 max or simply strolling in the sun, the antioxidant benefits of our products are good for your skin and your health.

 

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Hunter Safety: Beyond firearms and hunter orange

October 28th, 2011

Did you know it’s elk hunting season? And also deer. And probably antelope, moose, bear, and, in some parts of the country, bison. We could go on, but to keep it succinct, let’s just say hunting season is upon us.  For those who follow that autumnal ritual of rising well before the sun, stalking prey, and spending hours in a tree stand, you know that hunting means hours outside in the great wide open. In the cold. Crouched. In complete silence.

Beyond the thrill of the hunt, many hunters relish in the prize of taking home a trophy that translates into tender, flavorful meat in the form of steaks, jerky’s, burgers… all to be shared with friends and family.

Rituals and well-stocked freezers aside, one very real concern of hunters that is rarely considered is the risk of sun exposure. It is likely that sunscreen isn’t always an initial thought for this group of folks as it might be, say, for swimmers at the pool on a hot, summer day or skiers touring on a glacier battling the frigid elements.

There are several reasons hunters might eschew sunscreen. They launch the day layered in warm clothes with only their faces exposed to the elements; perhaps they forget about the very real damage that UVA and UVB rays can cause, like skin cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer with the greatest rate of frequency (when including non-melanomic skin cancer).

Besides the health factor, there’s also the glove factor. While that is more of an inconvenience than anything, who really wants to peel away the digit protectors and get them gloppy with sunscreen? Here at Beyond Coastal we argue that the inconvenience of de-gloving far outweighs the risk of developing skin cancer, but we have something that will protect your skin and allow you to avoid the de-throning of your well-protected hands.

Enter our new and cool Active Sunscreen Face Stick. With an SPF of 30, this is the size of a small cell phone and operates like chapstick. It can be applied with absolute convenience and it offers excellent coverage and protection.  So we can consider the convenience factor solved!

Other reasons hunters may not place a premium on sunscreen is its scent. Wild animals have a sense of smell more honed than a pregnant woman (and that’s a lot). Some of the best-laid hunting plans have gone bust when that 12-point buck caught wind of an unnatural odor and bolted.

Fortunately Beyond Coastal’s products are all fragrance free. Whether you’re in the market for Natural or Non-mineral, lip balms or moisturizers, whatever Beyond Coastal product you use it is guaranteed not to have any added scents to deter your prey (or your wife).

Finally, hunters tend to travel light. They don’t always have room for a 12-ounce, or bigger, tube of sunscreen; and if they do lug it along, they can’t worry whether the top will stay shut or if they might open their bag to find all their camo gear covered in white lotion.

Beyond Coastal has many options including small, portable packaging, such as tins of product, face sticks, and travel kits.

Our Natural Travel Kit contains 2.5-ounce tubes of SPF 30 sunscreen and aftersun moisturizer, as well as a 1-ounce tin of SPF 30 lip and face sunscreen, a highly water and sweat resistant protectant.  Many may consider this for a farewell and don’t forget to come-back-bearing-meat gift for their favorite hunter.

We can’t say it enough. Daily sunscreen application—no matter who you are and what you do—is critical to get the best protection from harmful UV rays. The mountain men of yore (that would be 150-to 100 years ago) didn’t have Beyond Coastal. You do. If you hunt (or mountain bike, or climb mountains, or take advantage of splendid fall weather), use it. And if you prefer to pass the changing season inside knitting and cooking hearty stews, then pass this onto your hunting (and other) friends. They may thank you with the perfect addition to that hearty, fall stew you have brewing in the crockpot.

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Following The Water with Haley Mills

October 26th, 2011

- Written by Beyond Coastal Athlete – Haley Mills

After such an amazing summer of hopping all over the US, I have come full circle to my winter home of Chattanooga TN. The spring started off with competitions on the east in Connecticut and North Carolina, then rallying the RV all the way to Reno and back to Colorado for the summer Circuit. After Teva Mountain Games I traveled to Germany to compete in Worlds which was a huge highlight of the year. After jumping off the plane and going to the OBX for a quick surf vacation, I traveled to Iowa to sell smoothies for a road biking tour and then headed out to the OR show in Utah to check out the new products for 2012. As soon as the show ended, it was back to Salida, CO to finish up season on the Arkansas river. When the water started to run out in Colorado the Gauley was calling with warm weather and good friends. The Gauley is an awesome place for relaxing and getting to paddle world class whitewater.

To kick off our time at the Gauley, we hit the New River Gorge at 6 ft and 9ft. At 6ft, upper and Lower Railroad had great potential to throw wave moves and it was a great level to run the whole river and catch a ton of waves on the fly. Although 6ft was a great level, 9ft was better. Listening to local beta, we heard that the play was not the best, but we hit the jackpot when we arrived at Greyhound bus wave. The wave was big, glassy, and surgy and allowed for any big wave tricks. The river left side of the wave formed a monster hole, but the shape of the wave kept paddlers from getting kicked into the meat. Getting the opportunity to paddle the New was a great way to warm up for our month in West Virginia.

The Thursday before Gauley fest, we got the chance to compete in the first ever SUP event on the New River Gorge. It consisted of an attainment race up river about a mile above Fayette station and back to the beach, as well as a 3 mile downriver race to Teays landing. Paddling down Fayette station was defiantly the most exciting part of the race because I got to work on my whitewater swimming with about 20 other people swimming at the same time. It was awesome to paddle with so many people that are excited about SUP on the river. Look for a bigger and better event there next year. Check out the video of the race SUP WAZOO

The Gauley River is a magnet for all of our friends from around the US and is a great time for us to paddle big water with good friends. With extra water releases this year, I was able to get in a bit more training than I have in previous years. I playboated for 6 about hours each day working every playspot until I was exhausted. One highlight of Gauley Fest weekend is the Upper Gauley Animal River Race. This year I had the opportunity to paddle my “new” dancer and had the chance to get in multiple practice runs in the week before. The race starts at the put-in and continues about 9 miles down to sweets fall, where racers looked both exhausted and happy to finish the grueling race. My dancer treated me well through both the big rapids and the long flat water stretches. This was another great way for me to broaden my paddling skills and I look forward to being even fasted next year. Heres a quick video of the awesome play on the Gauley.

2011 has been a great year in kayaking and I am excited to see what 2012 holds. I have been able to push my boundaries as a kayaker and broaden my horizons in the outdoor industry. Now that I am in Chattanooga, Tn, there will be plenty of paddling left in 2011, but I have my sights set high for 2012.

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Protect against UVA rays with year-round, daily sunscreen application

October 14th, 2011

Think there’s less risk of sun damage now that fall is here, winter is on its way, and the sun is traveling further from the northern hemisphere daily? Think again.

Year-round risk

Sun damage is a year-round risk, particularly when it comes to Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. (By contrast, UVB rays, which cause sunburn, are of greater risk when the sun’s radiation is at is strongest: mid-summer, middle of the day. Still, as any skier knows, winter sun can still cause burns—all the more reason to wear daily sunscreen).

Back to UVA.

UVA 101

To recap: UVA rays are the kind of rays that can pass through window glass and clouds, penetrate the skin and are the primary causes of basil and squamous cell carcinomas. These rays cause wrinkles and sunspots, and, according to a recent study, cause changes to the DNA in the deeper skin cell layers beneath the epidermis and may lead to cancer.

The study was conducted by Prof. Antony Young from Kings College London and published in early October in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Complete coverage with broad-spectrum sunscreen

These findings bolster existing evidence linking UVA damage to cancer. They also underscore the importance of using a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. In the U.S., there are only nine FDA-approved ingredients that offer UVA protection. Of these nine, only Avobenzone and Zinc Oxide offer total UVA protection.

Translation: only sunscreens containing either Avobenzone (non-mineral/traditional) or Zinc Oxide (mineral/natural) can accurately claim to offer broad-spectrum protection.

Easy, right? Kind of.

Looking for Labels

Currently sunscreen manufacturers are not required to label or quantify their broad-spectrum claims. (This will change in 2012, thanks to an FDA mandate to regulate and require broad spectrum sunscreen labeling; To claim broad-spectrum protection, sunscreens will have to pass a standardized test that demonstrates that the product blocks a certain amount of UVA).

Key broad-spectrum ingredients

Before then, consumers are on their own to determine the efficacy of a particular sunscreen. The easiest way to do that is to check the active ingredient list for the two mentioned above: Zinc Oxide or Avobenzone.

Zinc Oxide will be present in broad-spectrum natural sunscreens, and Avobenzone will be the active ingredient in broad-spectrum active sunscreens.

Beyond Coastal always provides broad-spectrum protection

All of Beyond Coastal’s sunscreens—both natural and active—offer full broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Since our customers love the outdoors as much as we do, we know it is critical to take the guesswork out of selecting the right product.

You can trust our coverage; your job as a consumer is to choose whether traditional or mineral sunscreen is right for you.

Traditional or mineral sunscreen?

Still deciding? Click here for an explanation on the differences between active and natural sunscreens.

Like brushing your teeth

And, as always, equally important to choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is developing the habit of daily application. It’s easy to forget, but the sun’s rays are omnipresent, even on those dark, cloudy days.

Do you have tips on how to incorporate daily sunscreen application into your daily routine? Please share them with us in the comment section or on our Facebook page and Twitter feeds.

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The skinny on nanoparticles

September 21st, 2011

The active ingredients in mineral sunscreens—titanium dioxide &/or zinc oxide—do an impeccable job screening out harmful UV rays from the sun by creating a physical barrier between the skin and the elements. They can also tend to leave a thick, white residue on the skin, the price you pay for all-natural protection.

Now, a technological advancement allows scientists to reduce the molecules into tiny particles measuring between one and 100 nanometers—roughly half the size of a strand of DNA.

The result is the clarification of the minerals; Sunscreens containing nanoparticles go on much smoother and creamier than non-nano natural sunscreens. The goal is to mimic the texture and spreadability of traditional non-mineral sunscreens (whose active ingredients are chemicals that absorb into your skin).

Great, right? All-natural protection without the white mess.

Perhaps. Nanotechnology in skin & sun care is still controversial. The major concern is that reducing minerals to nano-scale proportions can drastically change their physical properties and inadvertently increase health and environmental risks.

Friends of the Earth, an environmental group that opposes the use of nanoparticles, launched a national campaign last year to raise public awareness of the issue and pressure the federal government to require warning labels on products with nanoparticles.

The group contends nanoparticles pose health risks because they accelerate the transfer of chemicals into the blood stream. They also say environmental risks increase as nanoparticles are shed from bodies and make their way into the water, air, and land.

However, earlier this summer when the FDA proposed more stringent labeling requirements for sunscreens they made no move to mandate warning labels for sunscreens that contain nano-materials.

In the last ten years, out of 15 scientific studies conducted by government, industry and independent researchers none found that nano-particles were absorbed by human skin.

Further, in 2007 the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization, released results of a study that endosed nanotech-based sunscreens as among the safest and most effective on the market.

More recently, the Nanodermatology Society, a physician-led advocacy group, released a position paper in April 2011 embracing the safety of nanotechnology.

“Studies of newer sunscreens show that they [nanoparticles] are either coated to minimize reactivity, clump in aggregates, or do not penetrate the skin,” states the report.

Particle size also affects the UV protection of minerals. In a nutshell, the larger the zinc oxide particle the better the UVA coverage, inversely the smaller the titanium dioxide particles the greater the UVB coverage. So we have to balance the two and temper it with a bit of reason. We ask the question “Would I want to put that (ingredient) on my skin or my child’s?”

Given the lack of agreement about the safety of nanoparticles, we’ve chosen not to use nanotechnology in any of our formulas. Instead, using a micronized particle size allows us to offer excellent broad-spectrum protection in a formula that is easy and pleasant to apply.

Mineral Particle Size
Particle Size Pros Cons
Nano – All particles<100nm Excellent UVB protection Controversy/depth of
Smoothest application particle penetration

Micronized – Avg. size Excellent UVA/UVB protection may contain some
100nm-300nm Smooth application nano-particles; range is avg. Reduced whiteness

Non-Nano – All particles Excellent UVA protection Can be thick & leave white
>100mn residue

Beyond Coastal’s Natural SPF 30 & Kid’s Natural SPF 30 have an average particle size of 280NM, which puts them in the top end of the micronized scale and most definitely in the NON-Nano category. Our Natural Clear uses a proprietary ingredient called ZinClear which has an average particle size greater than 100nm, which puts it on the lower end of the micronized scale. The Natural Clear also has a greater concentration of zinc oxide (20%) to bring up the UVA coverage and counter the smaller particle size.

You can trust that Beyond Coastal will continue to follow the debate and analyze the studies as they’re published. Until we’re certain of the proven benefits with no health risks we’ll hold off making changes to our top-rated formulas.

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Common Sunscreen Myths

August 30th, 2011

Know the facts and enjoy the sun!

The latest installment of our Education Series looks at the misconceptions around sunscreen and helps debunk the myths around why people choose not to wear it. Wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk of skin cancer and other damaging effects of the sun, yet studies show that almost one-third of Americans don’t use sunscreen at all. Others wear sunscreen sporadically. Get the facts below and let us know your thoughts!

Myth: The higher the SPF rating, the greater the level of protection.
Myth Debunked: Hardly. Once the SPF climbs above SPF 30, the sunscreen’s strength increases minimally. That’s because SPF represents how much longer it would take to burn with sunscreen verses without. For example, if your skin would burn in 10 minutes in the sun without sunscreen and you applied SPF 15, you would have 150 minutes of protection in the sun (10 X 15).
Percentage of Protection from UVB rays:

SPF 15: 92%
SPF 30: 97%
SPF 60: 98%
SPF 100: 99%

Myth: Sunscreens protect against the sun’s two types of radiation, UVA and UVB
Myth Debunked: Only “broad spectrum” sunscreen offers protection against UVA and UVB rays. True broad spectrum sunscreen must contain either Avobenzone (non-mineral active ingredient) or Zinc Oxide (mineral active ingredient).

Myth: Sunscreen is only necessary on sunny days.
Myth Debunked: Clouds only block up to 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. UVB rays are strongest during peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), but UVA rays, which have been linked to both skin cancer and pre-mature skin aging, are present at the same strength throughout the entire year. Sunscreen should be worn daily.

Myth: Sunscreen needs to be applied once a day.
Myth Debunked: Sunscreen should be reapplied every two to three hours after swimming or toweling off in copious amounts (roughly a shot glass worth of cream per application). Equally important is covering all exposed skin.

Myth: You do not need to wear sunscreen in the car.
Myth Debunked: Most car manufacturers install laminated windshields that filter out all ultraviolet light, but the rear and side windows are most often made of nonlaminated glass, which filters out UVB rays but not UVA rays. For full protection against the sun it is a good idea to lather up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen before a drive in order to block damaging UVA rays.

Myth: Mineral sunscreen is better than non-mineral.
Myth Debunked: Both mineral and active sunscreens have pros and cons (click here for a more comprehensive explanation). The bottom line is that individuals need to educate themselves on the different types and choose the sunscreen that works best for his or her lifestyle. We recommend the Environmental Working Group as a great resource.

Myth: Sunscreen is waterproof.
Myth Debunked: By next summer manufacturers won’t be able to label sunscreens as waterproof because of new FDA regulations. The agency will allow a “water resistant” claim only after test results have been submitted, but manufacturers will have to detail how long such protection lasts.

Myth: Sunscreen is effective as soon as it is applied.
Myth Debunked: Only mineral sunscreen blocks UVA and UVB rays immediately. That’s because the protective minerals literally form a shield on your skin. Non-mineral sunscreens reach maximum effectiveness 30 minutes after application.

Bottom Line
Don’t hide from the sun! Armed with a little information and a tube of the right sunscreen you can enjoy your time in the great outdoors worry-free.

However you play outside there is a healthy choice for sun protection.

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Knowing the difference: Mineral and Non-Mineral/Traditional Sunscreens

August 26th, 2011

Beyond Coastal ambassador and 3x Leadville 100 winner Rebecca Rusch chooses the non-mineral "Facestick" formula during races. Photo: Todd Meier

The latest installment of our Education Series looks at the vast world of sunscreens and the demand for both mineral and active formulas. People want choices, and they want superb products of each type. Beyond Coastal has taken that demand to heart and offers a wide range of sunscreens to meet those needs.

How do you know whether it’s better for you to wear mineral or active sunscreen?

We’ve compiled a guide to help explain the two options:

1. Mineral sunscreen contains particles of minerals that stay on the skin’s surface to create a physical barrier that reflects the sun’s rays. The three most common minerals are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxide. The active ingredients in mineral sunscreens are not absorbed into the skin.

Pros: Mineral sunscreen helps keep skin cool, the protection is natural and immediate, and it’s unlikely to irritate the skin because the active ingredients don’t penetrate the skin. However the inactive ingredients do (so choose a sunscreen with healthful inactive ingredients).

Cons: Few. The most frequent complaint is that mineral sunscreens can be thick and tend to leave a white residue on the skin. Beyond Coastal has spent a good deal of time addressing this issue and we’ve created all natural mineral formulas that blend in smoothly and leave very little white trace, and in the case of our Natural Clear, no whiteness at all. For complete broad spectrum protection zinc oxide must be an active ingredient; titanium dioxide (the other active ingredient found in mineral sunscreen) protects against all UVB rays but only some UVA rays…

Ideal for: Kids, endurance athletes seeking all-day, immediate protection, anyone with sensitive skin.

2. Active sunscreen is the traditional sunscreen that people have been using for decades. These lotions contain FDA approved chemical active ingredients, which in most cases are organic (more on this subject later), that absorb and disperse the ultraviolet radiation that causes skin cancer/melanoma. Non-mineral/Traditional sunscreens penetrate the outer layer of the dermis and rub in like a moisturizer.

Pros: Active sunscreens are lighter weight, less greasy, and do not have the “whitening” effect of mineral sunscreen. Active sunscreen better defends the deeper layers of skin—including collagen fibers and other tissue—against the aging effects of UVA rays.

Cons: The active ingredient in non-mineral sunscreens may irritate the eyes. Many traditional sunscreens contain oxybenzone, which was a staple active ingredient for decades. Beyond Coastal chose to remove it from its formula due to health concerns—some studies have linked oxybenzone to hormone disruption or skin cancer.

Ideal for: People who prefer sunscreen that fully absorbs into the skin.

For more information check out the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Guide.

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How to choose the best sunscreen

August 11th, 2011

Beyond Coastal ambassador Benny Sherrod-Lopez and husband Al live in Costa Rica and choose Beyond Coastal for the benefits it provides in their unique climate.

The latest installment of our Sunscreen Education Series looks at how to choose the best sunscreen for you and your family no matter where you live…

Whether it’s overcast where you live or blazing bright, sunscreen should be applied daily because the sun’s radiation penetrates clouds; UVB rays are strongest during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and UVA rays are present at consistent levels every day of the year.

So yes, by all means, get out and play and protect yourself by wearing sunscreen every day.

But which one? Here’s what to look for:

1. Strength
Fact: There are two types of harmful rays from the sun: UVB and UVA. Sunscreens’ strength is measured in Sun Protection Factor (SPF). The SPF only refers to a sunscreen’s ability to deflect the sun’s burning rays (UVB). An SPF rating, which can range from 2-100, is calculated by comparing how much longer it takes someone wearing the cream to burn versus how long it takes unprotected skin to burn.

UVB protection does not increase proportionately with a designated SPF number. For instance, an SPF of 60 is not twice as strong as SPF 30; it only offers less than 1 percent more protection.
Bottom Line: Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and reapplying every two hours for maximum protection.

2. UV What?
Fact: Sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays: Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin. Actually, they can penetrate most things, including glass, and they’re always present—even on cloudy days.

UVA rays can suppress the immune system, and are responsible for causing wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays cause sunburns. Excessive exposure to either or both can cause skin cancer.
Not all sunscreens offer protection against both types of UV rays. Those that do are called broad-spectrum sunscreens.
Bottom Line: Only broad-spectrum sunscreens can protect against both UVA and UVB rays. The active ingredients to look for in these sunscreens are:

• Avobenzone
• Zinc
• Titanium (disclaimer: titanium doesn’t protect against the complete range of UVA rays.)

To be sure, there are other active ingredients proven to block both types of rays, but their health risks preclude their regular inclusion. For instance, Beyond Coastal stopped using oxybenzone because it was linked to hormone disruptions.

3. Mineral versus Traditional (Sunblock versus Sunscreen)
Fact: Sunscreens fall into two categories: mineral and traditional/non-mineral.
Mineral: Sometimes called “natural,” mineral sunscreens physically block the sun from reaching the skin by using the active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Mineral sunscreens can often be a bit thick and opaque, and difficult to spread. They rarely go above SPF 30 because as you increase the amount of active ingredient like zinc or titanium, you also increase the formula’s density.

Many parents prefer mineral sunscreens for their kids. But, have you ever tried to hold your kid still for a full body application of all-natural sunscreen? We have dedicated a lot of time and effort to refining our Natural formulas so they apply more like a traditional sunscreens – smooth and even. After all, if a sunscreen is too goopy or unappealing, people won’t use it. And if you wont’ use it, it can’t protect you.

Non-mineral: These sunscreens are absorbed into the skin where they act as filters and reduce ultraviolet radiation penetration to the skin. They rub in smoothly and evenly like a moisturizer and are often preferred by athletes because so absorb into the skin and feel light.
Bottom Line: Whether you choose mineral or traditional, the critical factor with sunscreen is to use it. Applying about a shot glass worth of sunscreen every two – three hours when outside. Traditional sunscreen should be applied a half-hour before exposure to the sun for maximum effectiveness.

4. What’s Inside
Fact: Sunscreens are made up of about 20 percent active ingredients and 80 percent inactive ingredients. We all share the same list of FDA approved active ingredients, the inactive ingredients is what distinguishes one product from another. These inactive ingredients can be moisturizers, scents, and more.

Most health hazard issues are derived from inactive ingredients, so you should check with the Environmental Working Group to learn what’s in your sunscreen. Avoid sunscreens with paraben, petroleum, and added fragrance.
Bottom line: Rather than buy a sunscreen with a high SPF (and a higher concentration of active ingredients), follow dermatologist recommendations and use an SPF 30 sunscreen with frequent reapplications.
So what should you look for in a sunscreen?

First decide if you want mineral or non-mineral, then choose your level of protection. Next search the ingredient list for evidence of Broad-Spectrum Protection (either Avobenzone or Zinc Oxide) and healthy inactive ingredients with names that you can pronounce.

The key is to find a sunscreen you will apply daily, with frequency.
Just as you don’t leave the house without brushing your teeth, sunscreen should be a year-round part of your morning ritual. We all love the sun. We long for long days outside. And with the right sunscreen, we can do that while protecting our skin and our health. It’s really that easy.

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Beyond Coastal groms earn big results in recent surf comps

July 13th, 2011

Take a look at some of Beyond Coastal Sun Care surf team members’ most recent results. Nice work guys!

7148246271482462On Saturday, June 18th, Beyond Coastal riders and good friends, Caleb Goepfert and Nikita Pandelos entered the 2011 SEASIDE FIESTA SURF CONTEST presented by The Smyrna Surfari Club held in New Smyrna Beach at the Inlet. They took the top two slots in the in the Boys division.

On the 4th of July, the B/C boys from Daytona (Nikita Pandelos, Caleb Goepfert and Tyler Newsome) took 3rd (Nikita), 4th (Tyler) and 5th (Caleb) place overall in the Grom Division at the Dunkelvolk Independence Day Open in New Smyrna Beach

On Saturday, July 9th Nikita and Caleb surfed in the 2011 Gnarly Charley Grom Series “Contest #5″ Over 90 Groms surfed in this event! The Boys earned 1st and 2nd Place in the Long board division. and Caleb got 2nd place overall in the Shortboard division.

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Worlds and the life that follows

July 8th, 2011

Team PhotoimageImageImage

It has been an awesome summer and its only July. I have just gotten back to Salida, Colorado where the water is still raging and shows no sign of coming down. Just a week ago I was in Plattling, Germany competing in the Worlds for freestyle kayaking. I trained for this event since this time last year and rearranged my life so I could paddle as much as possible before the event. I spent about two weeks in Germany at the worlds feature training and working on my routine before the actual competition began. My routine was to get my huge clean air loop, both huge godzillas, mcnasty, felix and cartwheels. I spent the first week dialing in my loop tricks and spending a ton of time working on my mcnasty. My training revolved around getting on the water before the lines got to long, so getting up and being on the water before 6am was a must.

During all my sessions I had my personal coach and boyfriend Mike Tavares watching my rides and giving me feedback on what was working and what was not. We also used video to help me see how my training was progressing over the weeks. As the competition grew closer I came to the realization that my mcnasties were not enough to count in the competition. As the competition grew closer, I had to change my routine to make sure that all my tricks were going to count.

With just four days out, we started team training. The training sessions were split so each athlete would receive about three minutes per day. The US was one of the largest countries, so we received 75 minutes to train each day. We split into two groups to maximize our time in the eddy and we all focused on our 45 second rides during team practice. I was nervous about team practice, but it turned out to be the most crucital part of my training. It was nice to have other team members helping out and watching each others rides. It was helpful to see how my routine was progressing and I was able to make changes based on what happened in team practice.

The competition was my longest and most stressful one to date. With 45 women competitors, the prelims was a tough and stressful cut down to 20 women. After battling it out in the prelims, I was sitting in 13th place. It was a perfect place for me to be because it allowed me to move on, but motivated me to improve my scores. With fear of rising water at the venue, the semi finals were moved to the following day and the stress of the next round began. After much deliberation, I decided to take some rest time instead of practicing for the next round. I knew the tricks i needed to do and I knew that I needed to be fresh and rested. The next day, the semi finals went off, and I improved my score landing me in a solid 10th place. I was happy to be improving my scores and excited to keep moving on.

Next up was the quarter finals. I knew that i needed to have a bigger score in order to land me in the finals. After throwing some of my best rides in the competition yet, all I could do was wait and see how the rest of the women did. Watching the rest of the heats from shore, tons of thoughts and emotions were running through my mind. The rest of the women were paddling very well and I knew that the scores would be close. Before the scores were posted, I thought that I was sitting in 6th place, but as I saw Kristine Jackson post the scores she gave me the look that I was hoping for. I made it into the finals in 5th place and I could not have been more excited.

Making it into the finals at the Worlds felt like such an honor. I finally felt a payback for all the hard work and training that I have been enduring over the past years. Getting to this point was not an easy task, but I felt like all that weight had been lifted coming into finals. The final round was a tough one. There was a little more pressure and all eyes were watching as we battled it out to try and take a spot on the podium. Over the course of my three rides, I had one ride that I was happy with. I didn’t get all the tricks I was hoping for, but it landed me in a solid 5th place at the Worlds.

After the whole experience I have learned an overwhelming amount about myself and competition. Here is just a few things that I learned of the course of worlds:
• Listen to your body. Rest can be just as important as practice
• Have fun. After all, thats why we started to paddle
• Booty Shaking music makes life better
• Listening to your coach and taking feedback is a good thing
• You can’t always paddle your best during competition
• Be Happy with how you finish

Coming out of Worlds, I feel more prepared for the next competition and I am looking forward for the chance to make it on the US team the next time around. This year has been very successful and I am happy with where it has taken me. I could not have done this without the help of many people including my great list of sponsors.

2011 Results
Alabama Mountain Games:
2nd Women’s Freestyle
4th OC1

Connecticut Triple Crown:
2nd Women’s Freestyle
4th overall

Nantahala Outdoor Shoot out:
2nd Women’s Freestyle

Reno River Fest:
4th Women’s Freestyle
5th Slalom

Green River Fest:
4th Women’s Freestyle

Buena Vista Pro Rodeo:
3rd Women’s Freestyle

Teva Mountain Games:
3rd Women’s Freestyle
7th Downriver sprint

World’s Freestyle Kayaking Competition:
5th Women’s Freestyle

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