June 13, 2012

Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen – Best Expert Surfer

The Author

Jesica Williams

Since 2012, I’ve been creating digital wellness guides and researching natural beauty products, HIIT workouts, functional exercises, body positivity, self love, and tips helping you explore wellness and feel good.

Welcome to this post: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.

Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen

I’ll preface this post by saying that I am hoping to provide some good information here, and maybe help open a few minds–not to rant or force my thoughts on anyone. I just believe it is worth mentioning! 🙂

During a conversation with my mother today on the phone, she planted a seed of an idea in my mind that I instantly realized was very important and worth addressing and discussing in my blog: Sunscreen.

You’re reading: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.


Being a Florida native, participating in outdoor activities where sun exposure is frequent, the topic/necessity of sunscreen is mentioned often. My ideas and beliefs pertaining to sunscreen have changed quite a bit since becoming more aware of the ingredients in my beauty products.

Just like any other beauty product you can pick up at the drug store, sunscreen contains a laundry list of harmful chemicals that you should not ignore. Many people immediately are in disbelief when they hear that.

“What do you mean? Sunscreen PROTECTS my skin!” Well, unfortunately, that’s not completely true.

If you care about the toxins that enter your body via the largest system in your body: the integumentary system (which includes your skin) then this is important.

It is good to remember that if you would not eat it, you might want to consider why you are putting it onto your skin (substances are absorbed through skin and go DIRECTLY into your bloodstream, unlike food that gets the benefit of kidneys and a liver to filter out impurities).


You’re reading: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.

To put it simply, just because you can buy it at the store, does not mean it is good for you. One way to be more aware of what you apply to your body is to read the ingredients! Don’t blindly use products. If you pick up a bottle of sunscreen, it is likely that you do not know what most of those ingredients are, and you probably can’t pronounce them either–that’s because they are not made to go into your body.

If you need to hear this from a more credible source;

Take Laird Hamilton for example. Laird is a professional surfer, health and fitness genius, son of surf legend Bill Hamilton, husband of health and fitness guru Gabrielle Reece, and has been deemed the “best athlete in the world” by many renowned athletes.


You’re reading: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.

laird hamilton gabby reece feel more gooder

He is also lives in Kauai, Hawaii part of the year, and Malibu, California the rest. I believe it is safe two say two things about him: His knowledge is respected and virtually always right on the money, and he knows a thing or two about being in sun.

What Sunscreen Does Laird Hamilton Use?

Here is a direct Laird Hamilton quote:

“I hate sunscreen, it has a lot of toxins in it….Have you ever really looked at the labels on processed foods & products? The list of ingredients is surreal. Here’s one: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Sounds like something you’d find in battery acid, not in food and products that go into and onto your body.”

Wouldn’t you think twice about sunscreen after hearing that? I sure did.

He goes on to discuss that a large portion of skin damage due to sun is the result of skin temperature getting too high. He suggests that submerging yourself constantly in water to keep your skin cool does a lot to minimize damages of extensive sun exposure. A good rule of thumb to always keep in mind in regards to your health is moderation; it’s never a great idea to over-do it, especially when talking about being in the sun.


You’re reading: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.


Which Precautions are Worth Taking

In all of this, I am not suggesting that precautions should not be taken to avoid over exposure, rather, which precautions?

We are so quick to reach for the sunscreen when we should be reaching for a t-shirt, hat, shorts, sunglasses, or umbrella. Lots of sun protection & no toxins.

Best Sunscreen

In the advancing market of natural and organic substitutes for everyday items containing harsh and harmful substances, there are many health-promoting companies that are changing the sunscreen market. If you are looking to shield your skin, opt for a physical barrier like a shirt or cover-up, or look for a clean, nano zinc based sunscreen. You want to stay away from the chemical sunscreens (i.e. oxybenzene, etc.). You can read more about why this is important in this Instagram post I created.

My favorite sun-harmonizing products are Intelligence of Nature’s Skin Support and Everybody Loves the Sunshine Balm & Lotion by Living Libations. They are creating products that do not encourage you to fear the sun, rather dance with it and be mindful. Those links include coupon codes for you to save, too.

Awesome right? So, if you must, you can use sunscreen in moderation and feel more assured that you aren’t harming yourself as you are covering up with sunblock. These words from Laird came from a sit down interview titled “As It Lays” (you can watch it on youtube.com) and also from his book: “Force of Nature: Mind, Body, Soul, and, Of Course, Surfing.”


You’re reading: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.

Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen laird hamilton sup board

You’re reading: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.


Nadine Artemis on Light Harmony

Another incredible resource I have to share is the founder of the above-mentioned brand, Living Libations. She is an absolute pioneer in holistic health, truly natural dental care, being in harmony with nature, and living a rebellious and radiant life. I consider her book, Renegade Beauty, to be a deep well of holistic wisdom and also a health manual. It goes into general health, to sun care, to pre and post natal care, and way more. You will close that book with a deeper, more applicable understanding for this body vessel you walk around in.

Along with her book, Nadine has spoke on a few podcasts pertaining to the beauty and medicine of sunlight: Soundfood Podcast titled A Cosmo-etic Approach to Beauty: Synesthetic Alchemy, Renegade Consciousness and Elemental Harmony and the Mythic Medicine Podcast Episode Titled “Harvesting Light: The Alchemy of Sun & Human”.

Andrew Huberman Sunlight

Andrew Huberman is another wave-making human that has recently highlighted the importance of sunlight exposure for humans. He dives deep into this topic in The Huberman Lab Episode titled Using Light (Sunlight, Blue Light, and Red Light) to Optimize Health.

Thanks for stopping by this post: Laird Hamilton on Sunscreen.


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No matter what brought you here, I’m genuinely stoked and appreciative for your curiosity and support.

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Comments

10 Comments

  1. Another great sunscreen is by Badger skin care. Aubrey’s is great as well!

    Reply
    • Great! Thank you for taking a minute to share! 🙂

      Reply
  2. REALLY awesome info! Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Glad you found it useful!! This blog is brand new so I’m trying to load it up with good info. Thanks for writing!! LOVE your blog!

      Reply
      • Thanks! I sent the link to a couple friends who I am confident will be interested. Keep up the good work! 🙂

        Reply
        • How courteous of you! Thanks a bunch!! And sending positive vibes your way as you get back to running!

          Reply
  3. Thanks Amanda for the link and thanks Jessica for posting! I really don’t often think about sunscreen, because I don’t use it. BUT <<— my BIG BUT…worse yet, I slather it on my very pale 12 year old. YIKES!!

    Reply
    • Thanks for reading! I completely understand lathering up in sunscreen because that was me too when I was younger. It’s always refreshing to learn new info to consider though 🙂

      Reply
  4. thank you so much for your thoughtful information on the topic of sunscreen…I think I will be changing mine this summer..and trying something new!!

    Reply
    • So welcome!!! 🙂

      Reply

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