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As one of SELF’s shopping writers, I follow new launches closely. I’ve seen my fair share of new sun-care products enter the market in recent years, most of which are too expensive for the masses, out of touch with current sustainability efforts, straight-up boring, or some lethal combination of the three. Summer Camp sunscreen, however, is different. After seeing the brand introduction pop up in my inbox, I was immediately intrigued by its name. As a former camp kid turned camp counselor, I look back on my summer camp days with fondness and nostalgia. Frankly, I’d do pretty much anything to go back and relive them.

This new brand channels all of the good things about camp and leaves out unnecessary (and sometimes harmful) ingredients. It’s BIPOC- and woman-owned, and you can scoop up a bunch of the products at your local Walmart. Keep reading to learn more about Summer Camp, plus the products I can’t stop raving about.

What’s so great about Summer Camp sunscreen?

Summer Camp, which launched in early July by the founder of luxe sun-care brand Soleil Toujours, leans heavily on those camp memories that so many of us foster: sun-lightened hair, sticky sweet popsicles, juicy watermelon, sweat prickles after a long bout of running around, and…unbridled joy. It seems that joy itself is finally, after years, having a cultural moment. At least for me, I’ve noticed more artists (like Maggie Rogers and Beyoncé) embrace joy as a survival mechanism. So then, brands like Summer Camp are following suit and honing in on fun and whimsy. Just look at the bubble lettering, kitschy rainbow logo, and camp-esque colors (red, orange, yellow, and green).

The brand launched with a suite of chemical- and mineral-based sunscreen products, including chemical and mineral spray sunscreen for body and face, mineral lotion for body and face, a mineral sunscreen stick, and an aloe vera mist. The SPF products offer broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection against harmful rays, blue light, and pollution. They naturally ward off insects too. 

What’s the price point, and where can I buy it?

Each of Summer Camp’s products are aptly priced and hover around $12 to $21 per product, similar to the pricing of competitors Supergoop, Vacation, and Coola. And it’s not without reason. The ingredients inside each of Summer Camp’s products are intentional and not disruptive to the planet—values that are beginning to resonate more and more with consumers. It’s available to buy straight from the brand’s website, or in-store and online at Walmart. 

So next time you’re filling up your beach bag with your wide-brim hat, swimwear, flip-flops, and UPF clothing, make sure to throw these stellar picks in too.

Summer Camp EnviroUV Sheer Sunscreen Mist SPF 50

Formulated with “clean” chemical filters, this SPF 50 spray leaves out oxybenzone and octinoxate for a fine, clear mist that’s sweat- and waterproof for up to 80 minutes. It’s also formulated with antioxidants like green tea leaf extract and vitamin C, plus other soothing ingredients like bisabolol (derived from chamomile) and red algae extract.

Summer Camp EnviroUV Sheer Sunscreen Mist SPF 30

This is the same excellent chemical mist, except it’s SPF 30, making it excellent for day-to-day wear and outdoor activities like hiking. Like all of your favorite sunscreen sprays, this one soaks in quickly and is quite easy to spread. It also smells like watermelon in the best, most nostalgic way, which makes reapplying something I actually want to do. And that’s no small feat. 

Summer Camp Mineral BFF Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 30

I have a face moisturizer that I use religiously, so I used this SPF 30 mineral moisturizer as the sunscreen step in my skin-care routine. It definitely has a thicker consistency, but I love that it’s fragrance-free for my sensitive skin. It also doesn’t leave me looking like a ghost, which, thank God.

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Summer Camp Skin SOS Aloe Vera Mist

One of my top three favorites in Summer Camp’s first suite of products, Skin SOS is decidedly not the goopy neon green “aloe” gel you see littering drugstore shelves. With only a handful of essential ingredients, this aloe vera mist feels cooling and hydrating at first spritz. It’s a must-have for days you overdid your sun exposure, and I found that it’s nice to use even when you don’t have sunburn and want to extend the life of your tan without peeling. Though it’s pricier than typical aloe gels, the spray canister is large and I’m confident that this will last me an entire year on the East Coast.

Summer Camp EnviroUV Facial Sunscreen Mist SPF 50

I’m not one to use spray sunscreen on my face, however, keeping this mist in my beach bag makes reapplication convenient and avoids the mess (and white cast) that face lotions can create. It uses chemical filters avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate, plus the same antioxidants and soothing ingredients in the body sprays. 

Summer Camp Mineral BFF Daily Body Lotion SPF 50

This SPF 50 mineral lotion is TSA-approved, which I very much appreciate as a carry-on traveler. It relies on zinc oxide for protection and has a thick consistency, but still feels lightweight and breathable on my skin. It takes some work rubbing it off after a long day in the sun, but so does every other mineral sunscreen I’ve tried.

Summer Camp Mineral BFF Face & Lip Sun Stick SPF 50

Another one of my favorites, this sunscreen stick glides over lips, noses, elbows, ears, and other tiny bits with ease. I love adding targeted SPF 50 protection to my more sensitive spots, and this stick is handy and travel-friendly. On a recent trip to Maine, my friends borrowed this and said, and I quote, “OMG, what is this stuff?! It’s amazing.” This stick goes beyond offering protection against UV rays and actually nourishes skin, thanks to a fusion of coconut, olive, and sunflower oil. 

Summer Camp Mineral BFF Body Mist SPF 50

Mineral sunscreen typically comes in lotion form, and the zinc oxide creates a thick, pasty texture and can leave a white cast (though new brands have mastered the invisible zinc formula, thank goodness). This spray, which uses non-nano zinc and titanium oxide, honestly surprised me in the best way possible. It soaks into skin quickly—but not too quickly—and leaves no white cast. It doesn’t feel sticky and it also doesn’t take steel wool and a powerwasher to get off. I appreciate the addition of vitamin E, which makes the formula more emollient, and the vitamin- and mineral-rich banana fruit extract.

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Source: SELF