Gear Review: New Eco Friendly Sunscreen

Most people start thinking about sunscreens when summer approaches. Many people just go by the numbers, choosing a product with a high SPF. But sunscreen ingredients are important, too. In fact, a recent report from the non-profit Environmental Working Group rated sunscreens in terms of safety and effectiveness, finding that only two ingredients -- zinc oxide and titanium dioxide -- are considered safe and effective. A according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. So, how timely that I just found out about a new product, SPF 30 TropicSport, that only contains these two physical sunscreen ingredients. The texture is light and, unlike what some people might have thought, applying this product with these physical sunscreen agents does not coat your skin so you look pasty white. Plus, because it doesn't contain any oxybenzone, a chemical sunscreen agent, it's reef friendly. The company also produces an SPF 30 face stick and an SPF 15 lip balm, both which contain zinc oxide, and no chemical sunscreen ingredients. This will be my sunscreen of choice. These products don't contain any parabens or nano particles, and can be used in children who are at least six months old. Plus, since I care about nature and the environment, it's also a plus that the company pledges to only use reef friendly, sustainable ingredients and packaging, and they donate up to 20% of sales to organizations that have similar sensibilities. 

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Gear Review: Minimalist Travel Accessories

I'm all about minimalism, whether it's the bags (and this bag also) and clothing I design or the products I buy to travel with. So, I was happily surprised to discover three travel accessories manufactured by Matador that fit my minimalist and practical sensibility. Below, in order, are the toiletry bottle, the soap bar case, and the toiletry case. What they all have in common is that they are ultra light, made of a flexible synthetic fabric, and are small and rugged.

Better than any of the other travel-size bottles on the market,  the toiletry bottle easily compresses, allowing me to have more room in my TSA-approved liquid's zip-lock bag for other items. You can fill it with anything from shampoo to sunscreen to moisturizer to body wash. And the little snap loop at the end allows you to conveniently hang it should you be staying at a hostel, or if you want to snap it to your backpack if you're hiking.

Maybe you don't travel with a bar of soap, preferring liquid soap instead, but doing so means you have fewer liquids to cram in your TSA-approved liquids zip-lock bag. What's super cool about this bag is that you can put a wet bar of soap in it and the fabric allows the soap to dry out. (After all, who wants to retrieve a slippery bar of soap from a bag?). The top rolls and snaps closed, again making it convenient and easy to carry. (The bag is waterproof.)

Finally, the toiletry case has that nifty feature that allows moist or wet items, such as a toothbrush, that you store inside to dry. Unlike so many toiletry cases, the soft fabric allows you to compress it, perfect for those who never check luggage -- like me! Like with the soap case, the top of the toiletry bag rolls and snaps closed and it can also be hung up or attached to anything, should you be enjoying at outdoor shower at a tropical resort, for example.

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Gear Review: A Bright + Rugged Mini Flashlight

No matter where I travel in the world, one item I never leave without is a small powerful flashlight. This can come in handy not only if there is a power failure at my resort or hotel, or if I find myself walking late at night on a lane with no street lights, or if I'm camping and need to set up my tent in the dark Any flashlight I carry has to have a wide beam that is ultra bright and goes the distance, it has to be small and withstand being dropped or getting wet in a downpour. My new flashlight of choice is the one below by 5.11. It's exceedingly bright: 107 lumens. It won't be damaged by rain or being dropped from some six feet off the ground, and the light beam distance is around 85 feet, which suits my needs. Plus, if I have to keep the light on for four hours straight, I know it will keep working on the two small AAA batteries. This is now my go-to flashlight, which I keep in a small zippered compartment of my carry-on soft luggage.

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Another Great Reason to visit New Brunswick, Canada

The little-visited Canadian province of New Brunswick is chock full of treasures waiting to be experiences. And, while most visitors tend to gravitate here only in the summer for the beach and water sport opportunities, New Brunswick is a year-round destination. In the winter, for example, numerous Nordic ski centers beckon with trails that provide plenty of solitude in woodlands. Whether you're coming in out of the cold after a day of skiing or looking for interesting sensory experiences any time of the year, you may want to drive to the tiny town of Petit-Paquetville. That's where you'll find a family-owned distillery and brewery that relies on locally-sourced ingredients. This is my recent article for Forbes on the award-winning Distillerie Fils du Roy in New Brunswick, Canada.

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