Get Pretty: Coola's Organic, Cruelty-Free Suncare

Photo by Johnie Gall.

Quick: What's worse than flat waves and sand in your ice cream? Try skin cancer, which is why I slather on some form of SPF or another pretty much everyday (I'm not a fan of wrinkles either). But picking a go-to sunscreen has been quite a journey, especially with the FDA's recent major overhaul on sunscreen regulations. One bottle's too sticky while the next smells bad—but I think I've finally found my favorite: Coola.

I went off a recommendation from the Tone It Up girls, who swear by this stuff, and had the chance to test a few bottles out for free for a review on GrindTV.com. Bottom line: I'm obsessed. The cult-favored sun care collection of mineral sunscreens, sunscreen sprays and lip balms is made with 97 percent certified organic and locally-made ingredients, is manufactured using solar power, and is supported by PETA for cruelty-free testing.

What really won me over was the unscented mineral sunscreen in Matte Tint. It feels almost like a makeup primer, smoothing out redness with a barely-there tint, and it makes your skin look close to perfect and feel silky smooth. It's a little expensive for me at $36 for 1.7oz, but it's an investment I'm sure to make again because its just so damn perfect for everyday use. I have no qualms with investing in good skin. Coola, one request: Please come out with a sunless tanner!!

Get Pretty: The Best Self-Tanners to Get You A Glow

Photo via Minimale Animale

I have one very important rule before I'll put on a bikini: I must be tan. But I refuse to let my skin get all wrinkly and crinkly and risk skin cancer. Dilemma.

So, yes, I've stained many a palm trying to get glowy with self tanners, and I've been every shade of tan there is from subtle to carrot. Here, my absolute favorites:

1. Kate Somerville Somerville360 Face Self Tanning Pads
These are like the Holy Grail of face tanners—small applicators with built-in exfoliators that actually give your face a real-looking glow without giving you that weird orange tint around your eyebrows and hairline. Plus, because your hands never touch the formula, no need to even wash up after you apply. So perfect, no complaints here except the price (but listen, it's well worth it).

$45, katesomerville.com

2. True Natural Tropical Tan Self Tanner, Dark Tan
I hate putting chemicals on my skin, but with this self-tanner I have no fears. It's an all-natural formula made with Green Tea extract, organic aloe vera and cupuacu butter and it delivers really great color. It's not quite as dark as I was hoping for, but being as it's the dead of winter here, it's probably doing the best it can against my paleness. For the price, it's a beautiful find.

$22.99, truenatural.com

3. Beautisol Need I Glow More? Face Self-Tanning Lotion
If you already have a base tan going and want that dramatic "just got back from Bali" color, this is your end all be all. The formula gives you an instant hint of color that develops into a sunbaked bronze in a few hours—no streaks in sight. Too good. Just don't panic when it goes on because it's a dark one—it'll blend in seamlessly overnight.

$23, beautisol.com

4. Sun Laboratories Tan Overnight Self Tan Lotion
No matter how many self tanners I try, I always go back to this one. It gives you dark color, doesn't smell offensive like most other versions, and lasts forever since you only need a little bit each time you apply. It's affordable, but be careful when you apply—your hands could stain unless you wash immediately after (I actually use Orange Goo from my dad's workshop) or buy the application mitt.

$29.95, sunlabsonline.com

There you have it, the best of the best in my humble (slightly tanner) opinion.

Get Pretty: Lindsay Perry's Beauty Secrets

I'm always amazed at a surfer's ability to keep her skin and hair in pristine condition. I spend a weekend at the beach and I look like someone dropped me off in the Sahara for a week. So when I had a chance to chat with Billabong surfer and musician Lindsay Perry a few weeks ago, I grilled her for some of her trusted beauty tips. Here's what she told me:

1. Always drink lots of water.

2. Wear sunscreen: "I'd like to pretend I wear sunscreen a lot, but sometimes I'm bad about it because it clogs my pores. But this great up-and-coming Florida company called Raw sent me some completely raw and organic sunscreen and I've really come to like it."

3. Invest in quality skincare products: "I have a travel face kit from a company called Korres. The leave-on mask is such a lifesaver for me on photo shoot trips. It comes with six different lotions, serums and a face mask. I don't think it's very costly either."

4. Try a hair serum: "For hair, I'm not always the best at taking care of it. I use this aloe-vera hair serum and it works wonders. I try to use good shampoos and conditioners, but they can get super expensive."

5. Prevent tangles: "Braiding my hair before bed helps a lot—otherwise it can become pretty messy."

Well, there you have it. One part product and two parts amazing genes. Thanks for you tips Lindsay!

Get Pretty: Juniper Ridge

Photos courtesy of Juniper Ridge

This is a guest post from Lily Betjeman of New Growth Project. 

I like lots of brands. I love few. But I love Juniper Ridge—their stuff is just too good. The Berkeley, CA-based brand sustainably harvests scents from the wilds of the Pacific northwest, northern California and the desert southwest to make soap, incense, tea, room spray and "backpacker" cologne. The result? An outdoor lover's Elysian fields.

The brand is special for so many reasons, not the least of which being the founders are hikers with a capital H. They care so much about the planet that they donate 10 percent of profits to nine different wilderness conservation groups. Every summer the staff does trail maintenance with the groups they support, but ethics aside, the products hook you emotionally because smell is one of the most evocative senses, and their ingredients come from places where happy memories are made.

The wilderness smells are gender neutral, so guys go nuts over these products. A friend literally described his morning shower with a bar of Big Sur soap as a meditation on his love for plants. My top choice is the aforementioned bar soap, but the Steep Ravine room spray and Pinon campfire incense are great, too. For now I'll experience the magic in my home, but I'll definitely pack some Juniper Ridge with me the next time I head out—I hear using this stuff on camping trips is wild.

Get Pretty: How To Grow Healthy Hair

Photos via Pinterest.

This is a guest post from Petite Physique. See their total body hiking workout HERE.

Your "don't hold back" attitude is great when it comes to making memories...not so great when it comes to having a thick, shiny hair. Constant exposure to cold, heat and sun can cause hair to become thin and brittle.

Hair grows about half an inch per month, and speeding up the process is almost impossible. However, it is possible to get longer, stronger and more luxurious hair. The secret isn't found just on the bathroom shelf—it's hiding in your kitchen, too!

Start by nourishing your hair from the inside out.

Add amino acids to your diet.
Including a triple omega vitamin to your diet can do wonders. With this dietary supplement, you get omegas 3, 6, and 9—the same omega fatty acids that are found in fish, flaxseed, safflower and olive oils. You can also add flaxseed to oatmeal, use olive oil in place of salad dressing or add some chia seeds to your water for an extra boost of amino acids.

Try taking more biotin.
Biotin is very important for building healthy hair, skin and nails. It may even prevent some hair loss in men. The best hair vitamins should have at least 200 mcgs+ in the daily dose (but any more and you'll just pee it out).

Get Pretty: Action Wipes Are Little Portable Showers!

Photo by Dirtbag Darling

When you're a self-proclaimed "dirtbag," you know to prepare to spend your days covered in trail dust and your nights cuddled up next to some foul-smelling trail buddies. And believe it or not, it's fun.

Then there are those nights when my sleeping bag suddenly feels like a incubator for grime and bacteria and no amount of deodorant can cover up the stench coming off my feet. Attractive, right?

I was recently introduced to Action Wipes, a line of body wipes designed especially for dirtbaggers. They're the first wipes made with 100 percent natural ingredients and a washable fabric (both of these are crucial criteria for the Dirtbag Darling stamp of approval). There are NO harsh chemicals or drying agents to worry about because each wipe is infused with coconut oil, sugar cane and pure essential oils of tea tree and eucalyptus (so you only have to worry about hungry koalas).

Mmmm dirt.

I had the chance to try a few samples out and I have to say—I'm impressed. The towels are big enough to get your whole body and gentle enough to use on your face. Just start rubbing the towel over your whole body and a nice sudsing action starts. My first thought was "Oh yuck, now I have to dry myself off with something." But a few seconds later, I was dry and the sticky sensation was gone. My skin felt clean and softer than before. I was really worried about the smell as it was a little too strong for me, but just like the suds, the scent was gone pretty quickly. Even if it had stuck around, any smell is better than dry sweat.

These babies get my stamp of approval—they come in individually wrapped packs and you can stock up at actionwipes.com!

Get Pretty: DIY Makeup Remover

This is a guest post for Free People's BLDG 25 Blog.

When it comes to makeup, there's one thing I can't live without: eye makeup remover. But break down all of those foreign-looking ingredients on the back and I'm suddenly not as stoked to slather the store-bought version on my delicate eye area. So, I whipped up this easy DIY recipe for eye makeup remover for Free People using only three, inexpensive and gentle ingredients. See how to make your own on the BLDG 25 Blog!

What else do you want simplified in your beauty arsenal? Let me know on Twitter @dirtbagdarling!

Editor's Note: I had some negative feedback on this post because a lot of people don't like that Johnson & Johnson tests on animals. Obviously, I'm not super stoked on this either, but it's a gentle alternative to what I normally use and, yep, it's what was in our linen closet! There are plenty of alternatives, so just choose the gentle shampoo that works for you!

My Best Beauty Secret

Me: Messy bun, no makeup, scaly feet in Oahu.

When you live (or decide to start living) an outdoor-loving lifestyle, there are certain things you have to give up and wrinkle-free skin, smooth feet, immaculate hair and manicured nails are all on the list. Maintaining your beauty routine is just unrealistic when you're camping out on a beach in Hawaii with no mirrors, downpours and back-to-basics pluming!

That's not to say I don't try my best to look presentable when I'm back in civilization. I still trim my hair, put on mascara and pluck my brows—I am a girl, after all. There are even certain things I bring with me on the trail, like facial wipes and lip balm.

But my ultimate beauty secret? Stop caring so much about what you look like. Chances are the people you're with out there are the ones who love you no matter what, and the reason you're out there is to experience something new and test your limits. You're out there to reconnect with nature and remember what's important, and let me tell you this right now: What you look like is NOT.

So let it all go when you lace up your boots or put on your bikini—let your hair get frizzy or tie it up in a bun or braid. Wear sunscreen but don't obsess over it if you get a sunglass tan line. No one wants to worry about runny mascara when you spot a rope swing, and you can fix it all up on Monday (if it really comes down to it, there's always that lip balm in your back pocket).