Go Green with Smart Girls Who Surf

9 Questions with Jennifer Taylor, President of “Smart Girls Who Surf”

Being in the sun isn’t just about having fun — it’s about being safe, smart and protected. As beneficial as Vitamin D is for our skin, it’s even more important to keep our skin well hydrated while blocking the most harmful UVA and UVB rays. Smart Girls Who Surf and Surf-Vival know exactly how important this is to men, women, children, and families, so they created a premium line of earth-friendly sunscreens and products that protect the environment without using toxic chemicals or synthetic preservatives. Staying safe while playing in the sun has never been so fun — and easy!

NCS: When and how did Smart Girls Who Surf start?
JT: Smart Girls Who Surf was brought to life in July 2006. I bought the company from a friend of my moms a year later in July 2007. I immediately went to work on re-formulating all of the formulas to be chemical and paraben FREE. What I thought was to be a 3-6 month process took almost 12 months. Our new formulas have been on the market for one year now.

NCS: Where is your product made?
JT: My manufacturer is in San Diego and my filling facility is in Huntington Beach. We are very proud to admit that everything is made here in the USA.

NCS: How does Smart Girls products differ from the competitors?
JT: Smart Girls Who Surf and Surf-Vival differ from our larger competitors by producing a clean, moisturizing sunscreen using natural actives to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.  Very few ingredients (Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, and Avobenzone) have been proven to actually protect the skin from the more harmful UVA (cancer causing, skin aging) rays.   Most sunscreens actually only offer protection from UVB (burn) rays.  Using Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (both proven to effectively protect from UVA and UVB), our sunscreen is one of the most effective natural sunscreens on the market.

Another thing that differentiate us from our competitors is that our products are actually manufactured and filled here in the USA.  While many commercial sunscreen companies are focused on bottom line, we are focused on quality and producing a pure formula. By producing our formulas locally we know exactly what is going into the sunscreen and what the consumer is getting.

NCS: Does your product work well for people with sensitive skin?
JT: Yes, very well.  Because we have taken out the active chemicals and all synthetic preservatives, our products are much gentler on sensitive skin.  Zinc is an active ingredient that actually has been proven to be a natural antibacterial agent.  I have had many parents write me and tell me how happy they are that they have found something that effectively protects their children in sun without causing a rash.

NCS: How is Smart Girls going “Green?
JT: Living in a coastal community, we are painfully aware of everything that affects our fragile environment.  By producing a chemical free sunscreen we are helping to clean our polluted oceans.  There is planty of scientific research pointing to the decimation of the coral reefs and the marine life that depend upon the reefs to survive.   Just think of of all of the beach goers all over the world that go into the ocean after spraying all of those chemicals on them to protect them from the sun.   The chemicals have to go somewhere.

We have also started our own version of a “rise above plastic” campaign.  When I started this company I spent months focused on packaging.  Biodegradable packaging is a tough thing to find.  Companies that have tangible products need visibility to sell. So naturally, they rely on clear plastic. That is why there is an abundance of plastic packaging on the market.  Personally, plastic is a huge pet-peeve of mine.  So, I made it a personal goal to get rid of all plastic packaging that my kits (Grab-N-Go, Sun Savvy, and Surf-Vival) were sold in.  I am proud to say that now all of our kits are  sold in 100% biodegradable natural jute packaging.

I think all companies, including mine, will continue to strive to make any type of difference, large or small, in reducing our carbon footprint and making our world a cleaner place.

NCS: Are your products organic?
JT: Both of our product lines are completely natural and free of any active chemicals and synthetic parabens.  Our SPF 32 face sticks are organic.  For any product (skin or hair care) to be deemed organic, the FDA requires that at least 70% of the ingredients used come from organic matter and the processing must take place in an approved organic facility.  The FDA set these rules in place primarily for food products, but for skin care, unfortunately it is loosely monitored.

NCS: When should we expect to see the Smart Kids Who Surf product line come out?
JT: Hopefully, in the next 12 months. Still perfecting a higher SPF formula with Zinc.

NCS: Are you involved in the community and giving back?
JT: Yes, very involved. I am very fortunate to live in the small, tight knit community of Laguna Beach with my husband and two children. We are very family and surf oriented. Everything revolves around the kids and the beach. I have recently served as President of SchoolPower, the Education Foundation for Laguna Beach which raises money for the four public schools in our district, and my company is also very involved with the Orange County Chapter of the Surf Rider Foundation and volunteering on Zero Trash Days(local campaign to clean the beaches) here in Laguna Beach.

For the full product line, visit www.smartgirlswhosurf.com.

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