I’m always amused when my oldest son visits from Salt Lake City and immediately starts complaining about the bugs. 

Summer on the East Coast? Mosquitoes are just part of the package.

I’ve lived my whole life swatting them away, mostly avoiding bug spray because - let’s be honest - I hate the smell, the sticky skin feel, and the idea of rubbing something toxic all over me. 

And seriously, what is in those cans?

Do we go with DEET or no DEET? 
If it's toxic for bugs, is it toxic for us too? 
And do those “natural” plant-based sprays even work?

But I think I'm going to think about it differently this season, and from now on. And I have my environmental health mentor, Lara Adler, to thank for that. 

Given that summer is essentially here, I thought it might be helpful to explore the world of safe sunscreens … probably not the most exciting topic, but an important one to think about.

It’s always a challenge to navigate shelves packed with products -trying to figure out which ones work well and have ingredients that won’t compromise our health.

It's always important to remember that our skin is our largest organ — and it absorbs much of what we put on it.

Many ingredients in personal care products can make their way into our bloodstream, which is why choosing clean, non-toxic options really matters.

There’s growing concern around ingredients like oxybenzone, a common UV filter, which has been flagged in ongoing research for its potential health risks.

Given that all four of my kids have been lifeguards, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what sunscreen is best — and what won’t break the bank. 

Here’s the truth: not all sunscreens are created equal.