Nontoxic Pool Side Essentials
Summer pool days are one of my favorite ways to soak up the sunshine—but not all products we typically bring to the pool are kind to our skin (or the environment). Chlorine, synthetic fragrance, sketchy sunscreen ingredients... no thanks. I’ve got my pool bag stocked with consciously curated non-toxic essentials so I can enjoy the day without worrying about what’s soaking into my skin (or washing off into the water).
Here’s what I’m packing for a clean and refreshing day at the pool:
🧴 Travel-Size Plaine Products Shampoo, Conditioner + Hair Repair
Chlorine is brutal on hair, especially if you color it or have curls. I pack the Plaine Products travel-size trio—shampoo, conditioner, and hair repair—to rinse and hydrate after a swim. They’re made with aloe as the first ingredient, free from sulfates, and come in refillable aluminum bottles (major eco win!). The Hair Repair is also my go-to leave-in spray for detangling and protecting from UV rays and dryness.
(This is an affiliate link, meaning you get a discount and I earn a small commission with your purchase)
I never leave the house without sunscreen, and Mad Hippie’s Ultra Sheer SPF is one of my favorite sunscreens. It’s lightweight, doesn’t leave a white cast, and doesn’t contain oxybenzone or other harmful chemicals that damage coral reefs (even if you’re poolside, that stuff ends up in waterways!). Shop all of my favorite nontoxic, reef safe SPFs HERE.
🪲 Tea Tree & Lavender Essential Oils for Bug Bites
My friends kids had bug bites, so I brought these two oils to make a roller bottle they can use on their bug bites. These two oils are soothing for itchy skin and naturally antibacterial. Lavender calms the skin while tea tree keeps it clean—win-win.
🌿 Peppermint Oil (Because It’s Hot)
If it’s a scorcher, I use peppermint essential oil as a quick natural cooldown. I dilute a drop with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and dab it on the back of my neck and underarms—it creates an instant cooling sensation. Just be sure to never apply it undiluted or near your eyes!
I’ve swapped traditional deodorants for a crystal deodorant, made from natural mineral salt. It works by creating a barrier that prevents odor-causing bacteria from forming. It’s simple, clean, and holds up all day long, even in the summer heat. When switching to a natural deodorant, I recommend doing an underarm detox - it comes with the crystal deodorant in the set, you just lather it with water, apply to underarms, let it dry for 5-7 minutes, then rinse it off. Use the detox bar twice a week for the first two weeks of using a natural deodorant, after that use as needed.
My goal is to make it simple for you to make nontoxic swaps, so I put them all on one website for you. One shipping rate, with ALL your favorite nontoxic brands.
Thank you for being here! Have fun in the sun this summer!
With gratitude,
Liv
