I am an extremely frugal person and am always trying to fins ways to save a few dollars, but the health and well being of my kids is where I draw the line. I make sure that my kids eat right and get enough sleep.
In the summer I make sure I protect my kids by having them use sunscreen and we often use bug repellent because we have tons of mosquitoes there that are know to carry disease. I am always been wary of the DEET that is in the insect repellents, but have had a difficult time finding on that is DEET-free that actually works. And this season I have been reading more and more about the dangerous chemicals that are in sunscreen.
Here is an excerpt from the Environmantal Workings Group:
A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that 97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. A companion study published just one day earlier revealed that this chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.
I had read a lot and decided it was time to find a sunscreen without oxybenzone, nanoparticles and a long list of other chemicals.
I search for hours to find a more natural sunscreen that would not break the bank!
The brand, California Baby
I finally found a product called Mexitan. It has everything that I am looking for. Good price and good ingredients. This product is $16.95 for a much larger 8 ounces. They also sell a DEET-free insect repellent, so I purchased that, but did not have high expectations.
I have to tell you that I am so happy with BOTH of the products. I purchased the SPF 30 sunscreen and it has done a wonderful job. We have been outside a lot this summer and the sunscreen works perfectly.
Now, the insect repellent. I am, what you would call, a mosquito magnet. I have been using this product, Skedattle, on myself and the kids during those times of the day when the bugs are out the most and we have not gotten any bites! This stuff actually works!
So, these are not huge bargains, but I feel they are extremely important. In true Picadil fashion, I did find the best deal I possibly could for this safer product!