My journey towards being more green or eco-friendly has been somewhat of an odd path, I think. Some parts of my life were easy to change, such as using glass storage containers and reusable snack bags instead of plastic disposable ones. In other areas, I’ve taken a step forward and then a step back a few times. I think the biggest challenge that I face is my frugality. A lot of green product alternatives cost a lot more than traditional ones and while for some products I’m fine with paying more if they are green and satisfy my needs, the trouble is knowing which ones will in fact satisfy my needs.
In the past, I have tried natural sunscreens that were more than twice the cost of my traditional sunscreen but I just couldn’t bear to wear because it was so thick, greasy and smelly. Those types of experiences really scare me off from trying new natural versions of products, so I am thankful to have my blog where I can get products for review while only risking my time instead of my money. So when Amanda, a Celadon Road independent seller emailed me to see if I would work with her on reviewing a sunscreen and insect repellent from Celadon Road, I jumped at the chance.
I was recently sent Sunscreen and Insect Repellent from Celadon Road for review. I haven’t gone swimming or anything like that yet this year as we’ve had a cold May here in Michigan so I can’t really say that I’ve experienced it protecting my skin but I have used it to get an idea of the texture, oiliness and smell and I love it. It feels as greasy or less than conventional sunscreens that I’ve used in the past and the smell is as close to non-existent as I’ve ever had. I’d go so far as to say its completely odorless once applied but I did (intentionally) try to sniff it as it came out of the tube and I did pick up a very slight smell – it almost reminds me of the smell of clay but much fainter. It’s hard for me to imagine that the texture and odor of this sunscreen wouldn’t meet someones expectations because it really just seems like regular sunscreen. I did want to show you guys what the product itself looks like when it comes out of the tube as I know that’s something I like to see on skincare product reviews, but it does appear grainier and “greasier” than it feels when it goes on.
The container says that it is approved for children under 6 months of age. It comes in SPF 20, is not tested on animals, is organic, gluten free and vegan. The ingredient list includes: 25% Zinc Oxide, Artesian Spring Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Shea Butter, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF, and Vegetable Vitamin E.
We were also sent some bug spray to try out. The bug spray is USDA certified organic, DEET free, hypoallergenic and doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, dyes or synthetic ingredients. The ingredient list: Water, Organic Clycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Cymbopogon Nardus (Citronella) Oil, Organic Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Organic Cymbopogon Schnoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil, Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Organic Gualtheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Oil, Organic Zingiber Officinalis (Ginger) Root Oil, Organic Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil.
The insect repellent comes in a tall, slim container that has a push-spray nozzle which might seem daunting to moms who are used to spraying down themselves and their children, but each spray poofs out pretty far – i’d say roughly an 8 inch area so for me, I only have to press the nozzle 2-3 times for the front of my legs, etc. At first, my body is left with water droplets from the spray but they dry fairly quickly. The spray does have a scent but it is a pleasing smell in my opinion, a gentle lemon scent.
This year we have had an insane amount of mosquitoes here in Michigan, and because we have a river next door to where we live, the mosquitoes are even worse at our home than most places. The only comparable area I’ve been to was tahquamenon falls one summer. We put on bug spray before walking up to the falls and we ran down the path to our car on the way back because we were being bitten so badly. Unfortunately, the Celadon Road bug spray didn’t seem to hold up to our level of mosquitoes as I was still being landed on and bitten by mosquitoes with the spray on but we’ve had issues with even traditional sprays and we are in the habit of only buying deep woods type varieties. So, it’s possible that the spray would work for regular areas and that the bugs are just too heavy here, I’m not sure.
A plus side to both products is the containers that they come in are fairly small and can fit inside of my (medium to large sized) purse easily. I keep them with me so that I can use them whenever the need arises.
In addition to insect repellent and sunscreen, Celadon Road offers a wide variety of earth friendly products including items like soap, shower gel, water bottles, reusable snack bags, dog beds, dog biscuits, candles, household cleaners, jewelry and more.
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
i love that this is natural! My husband and 5 year old daughter get eaten alive by inspects during this time of year and we like natural products to help with that
I never used to get mosquito bites but this summer is different and they are big red blotches that take forever to fade away, so I’m looking in a natural repellent like this one. Plus the Zika virus scares me!
Deb E
Oh I need the repellant! My son has to deal with so many bugs at his day care 🙁 This sounds like a great one!