New in at the Shop: Raw Elements

Sun Care With a Purpose

I once had an English teacher back in middle school that had us all sit in our desks one day and shut our eyes. Among our prepubescent giggles at the absurdity of the request, he asked us to think about how we got ready that morning. Then, he asked us to think about how many cosmetic and personal hygiene products we used. We sat there in silence, imagining our shampoo, conditioner, face wash, or whatever product is may be rushing down the drain. He then asked us to think about what we thought the chemicals in these products could be doing to our water supply as the water moved from our showers to our aquifers.

As I mentioned, this was English class, not science. So we didn’t delve into the semantics of how these products made an effect on our environment, but now almost ten years later, this exercise still sticks in my mind. One simple example was able to make me more cognizant of what products I was using and what chemicals I was putting into the water. We as surfers are not knowledgeable or aware enough as to what effects the products we are using while in the water have on our oceans.

This is why 20-year-old Brian Guadango created Raw Elements, a certified natural sun care brand. Raw Elements uses sustainable, recycled, non-nano, uncoated Zinc Oxide as the sole active ingredient in their products. This broad spectrum protection sunscreen is reef safe, biodegradable, safe for all ages, is water resistant and boy, gluten and nut free. All ingredients including organic sunflower oil, organic green tea, organic black tea, organic hemp seed oil and more are USDA certified, and are Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certified.

Not only is this product great for the environment and our world's oceans, it also is a perfect pick for those spending hours on end in the water. Raw Elements sunscreen is water resistant for over 80 minutes, never runs and protects from both UVA and UVB rays. 

Safe for the whole family and our environment as well, Raw Elements is bound to become a shop favorite this summer. Stock up here!

Want to learn more about how to protect your skin properly this summer? Check out our summertime skincare guide here!