4 Travel Bag Eco-Friendly Essentials for Surfers

 

I use to believe my allergies were a bad thing. That my body was turning on me until after doing lots of research and was guided towards Naturopaths. Finding out my allergies were my bodies defense against things that were unclean, unsafe and not natural was a paradigm shift that I was beyond grateful to learn. 

Being a woman who grew up with a ton of allergies that kept me in the house very sickly 6 months out of the year felt miserable. I didn't find relief of my symptoms until I started using natural products, I realized how important it is to use plant based products made from the Earth because they are sustainable and eco-friendly.

Plant-based products are more renewable and have a lesser impact on the environment than those made from animal sources. They are more affordable and have fewer health risk associated with them. Plant based products are also better for our health because they are usually free from synthetic additives. 

1). Tea Tree Oil's It can be used as a natural deodorant, it really works. I use it after I take a shower at the beach, spraying it all over my body to cleanse it and remove any fishy odor from the Sea when I'm not going directly home after. I keep one at home and in my travel bag whether I'm going local or out of the Country. Also makes a great deodorizer for your car. It's;

• anti-bacterial, 
• anti-fungal and 
• anti- viral properties are the reason I love this stuff.. 

As an insect repellent, I found this out when I was staying in a Hostel on the Pacific side of Costa Rica where it was located in the Jungle and the Black Ants were massive. I've never seen ants that big but I was terrified. I asked the management for some bug spray and he replied that you know you're in the Jungle right? 

So leaving the front desk empty handed going back to my room, I was thinking why don't I try my tea tree oil, I used it to cleanse the sheets, pillow case, toilet, sinks and showers so, I spray a line around my entire bed. Do you know those Ants never crossed that line? Doing some research later found out that it had a greater ability to repel mosquitos than DEET which is the most common active ingredient in commercial insect repellents. 

It's an antiseptic for minor cuts and scrapes (be sure to always dilute your mixture with purified or distilled water). It promotes wound healing, reducing the inflammation and because of it's anti-bacterial  properties, it speeds the process. As I'm writing this Blog, I remembered I had cut my toe going down a hill in Orange County with my surfboard to the Ocean and about the time I got down to the sand, the entire front of my flip flop was covered in blood.. 

Luckily they had a lifeguard at the spot so I got it cleaned and a band aid. I was concerned for a hot second that the blood might attract some unwanted Marine life but then the salt water also stops the bleeding, so I paddled out  and had a decent time.. Anyway, I just sprayed some on it, lol..

• Helps rid of Acne, I knew this one because being a Cosmetologist for 30 years, Tea Tree oil is one of the most common ingredients in acne treatments and was found to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide. Because of it's anti-fungal properties, it reduces the spread of it and kills the bacteria. 

• Rids of Nail and Foot Fungus
• Can be used as an All purpose Cleanser as well as Hand Sanitizer.

2). Jojoba Oil is my new summer body oil that's super light but very moisturizing. I tend to rotate my oils so I hadn't used this one in years and when I was gifted a set of organic skin products, that had this in there, after a couple of weeks of use, I was thinking, why did I ever stop using it? Must've been the brand because, this oil is amazing. 

• It's hypoallergenic which is perfect for sensitive skin
• It helps control sebum production which are over oil glands. 
• It contains anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. 
• It's non-comedogenic which means it doesn't block your skin pores.
• It promotes collagen synthesis. Around 30 we lose collagen and the skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic which produces wrinkles. 

3). Mineral (Reef Friendly) Sunscreen is so underrated and I am so happy that I did the research many years ago to find ones that provide the full protection spectrum against ultraviolet radiation. Chemical sunscreens contain filters that protect against UVB radiation, that damages the superficial layers of the skin and causes sunburn. Also, they're eco-friendly which protects the Ocean's coral..

4). Fluoride Free Mouthwash and toothpaste are usually made with tea tree oil, baking soda, aloe vera or other plant based ingredients. A must for spiritually conscious beings.. The pineal gland often referred to as the Third Eye. is linked to discernment, intuition, expansive mind capacity and physic awareness.  You do what you want, but for me. Calcification is the biggest problem for the Pineal gland. 

Fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland more than any other organ leading to the hardening of it by forming phosphate crystals. Less melatonin is produced and the regulation your wake-sleep cycles. 

Finally, using essential oils and other plant based products are more humane and kinder to animals, as they don't involve the exploitation of them for their by-products. Hope you enjoyed this list. Good Luck!