A Whole-Body Approach to Sun Care from the Inside Out

We believe in taking a slower, more intentional approach to sun care—one rooted in ancestral wisdom & our real-skin biology. It's a mindset shift as much as it is a product choice: choosing ingredients that from plants and animals that respects your health. 

Here's your full guide to nourishing skin care + sun care — from the inside out.

Why We Created Our Tallow Sun Shield Balm First

We’ve been asked weekly if Wild Capri would have a sunscreen option—and we didn’t want to make you wait. While the lotion version is still in development, we knew having a clean, effective balm in your hands this summer was better than holding out for both.

As a mom of three, I often reach for stick or roll-on forms of sunscreen first to apply to those easy-to-burn areas—like cheeks, shoulders, and little noses—especially on the go. Our new Tallow Sun Shield Balm is solid, portable, and easy to swipe on for pool days or long hikes.

This balm is just the beginning. With our formulas we dive deep into ingredients, how the raw materials are made, processed or extracted, find clean, organic & reliable sources, test every texture, tweak absorption and adjust ratios. And then have real people test them in real life! – adjusting until it feels right. 

Not All “Mineral” Sunscreens Are Safe

Many of us were raised to fear the sun—but today, we’re facing rising rates of skin cancer and chronic health issues with more evidence pointing to the use of chemicals in sunscreen.  

Studies show that conventional sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream and may be linked to hormone disruption and even cellular damage. Now, as gatekeepers of our health and homes, we get to unlearn what we were taught. We get to read the labels, learn what to look for in ingredients and use sun protection wisely—not fearfully.

Just because a sunscreen says “natural” doesn’t mean it’s clean. Greenwashing is rampant in the sun care space, and misleading claims often mask harmful ingredients under the guise of safety.

Here’s what you won’t find in our formula—and why:

• Oxybenzone & Octinoxate – synthetic chemicals linked to hormone disruption and increased rates of breast cancer.

• Titanium Dioxide – especially in nano form, may penetrate the skin or lungs and impact cellular function.

• Silicones & Petrochemicals – create a seal over the skin, potentially trapping toxins and preventing detox.

• Parabens – synthetic preservatives stored in the body that disrupt hormonal balance.

• Avobenzone – photounstable, it can degrade under UV light and create free radicals.

• PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols) – may increase skin permeability, allowing more toxins to enter the body

Instead, in our Tallow Sun Shield SPF we use:

• Non-nano, uncoated zinc oxide – broad-spectrum protection by sitting on top of the skin and reflecting UVA & UVB  rays, without being absorbed into the bloodstream. We also use a form of zinc for minimal white cast - so you can see where you apply it then easily rub it in!

• Grass-fed tallow & gentle oils – deeply nourish and moisturizing while allowing the skin to breathe and function naturally.

Your Body Was Made for Sunlight

As a mom, I’ve spent years untangling the fear-based messages we were raised on. Our ancestors didn’t live in fear of the sun—they lived with it. And while our world has changed, our biology hasn’t. Your skin, hormones, and mood still rely on natural light to function the way they’re meant to. This is about returning to rhythm, with wisdom and intention.

Direct Sun = Vitamin D

Only UVB rays from sunlight activate vitamin D production in your skin. Vitamin D is essential for:

• Immune health – helps the body fight off infections and regulate immune responses

• Brain and cognitive function – supports mood, memory, and brain resilience

• Collagen synthesis – contributes to firmness, elasticity, and wrinkle prevention

• Inflammation regulation + skin barrier repair – helps reduce redness, irritation and rebuilds the protective layer

• Hormone support – involved in adrenal, thyroid and reproductive hormone pathways

• Mood and sleep balance – crucial for melatonin production and serotonin synthesis

Every cell in your body has a vitamin D receptor. Yet deficiency is widespread. While supplementation can help, nothing replaces sunlight on bare skin.

Sunlight + Hormones, Stress, and Sleep

Sunlight plays a direct role in balancing your circadian rhythm, your internal clock that governs sleep-wake cycles, appetite, hormone regulation and energy patterns.

Think of those first rays of morning light as a gentle wake-up call to your body. When natural light enters the eyes (without sunglasses), it signals the brain that it's daytime—kickstarting serotonin production and regulating cortisol levels.

If you’ve ever felt groggy after a day indoors or refreshed after stepping into the morning light, this is why. Light exposure anchors your body’s internal rhythm, improving sleep quality, mood stability, metabolic health, and even skin resilience.

We were taught to shield ourselves from light—but returning to natural light rhythms, especially first thing in the morning, is one of the most powerful ways to regulate hormones, lower stress, and restore overall balance.

Benefits of Natural Light:

• Morning sun boosts serotonin – promoting calm, happiness, and stable mood throughout the day

• Helps regulate melatonin – crucial for deep, restorative sleep

• Supports dopamine – affects motivation, focus, and energy

• Reduces cortisol spikes – helps lower stress and anxiety while improving energy balance

• Strengthens circadian alignment – syncing your body with sunrise and sunset improves digestion, hormone regulation, and immune resilience

Avoiding the sun altogether can contribute to hormone imbalance, sleep disturbances, low energy, and chronic fatigue.

A Strategic Approach to SPF

We believe daily SPF isn’t always necessary—especially for short or gentle sun exposure. Sun care is about balance and working with the sun, not against it. Here’s how to be strategic—embracing light where it benefits your body and protecting when needed.

Instead:

• Embrace sunlight – for its many health benefits

• Use SPF intentionally – during longer exposure or peak UV times (10am–2pm)

• Work with your body – by using sun protection that supports, rather than disrupts, natural rhythms
  
  

Smart Sun Care Tips

• Catch early + late light: These times offer benefits like natural Vitamin D production, improved mood and hormonal balance without intense UV exposure.

• Take off the sunglasses: Exposing your eyes to natural light helps set your circadian rhythm, regulate melatonin production and balance hormone output. Research suggests that early morning light absorbed through the eyes may enhance alertness, serotonin levels and even metabolism. Just a few minutes (take 5-10 minutes while you sip your coffee!) can help your internal clock reset naturally.

• Avoid long exposure at peak (10am–2pm): The sun is most intense during midday. If you’re out, seek shade, wear protective clothing and apply mineral SPF.

• Build up sun resilience slowly: Gradually increase your time in direct sun. This trains your skin to tolerate UV exposure, much like muscle-building.

• Use layers + shade: Wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, umbrellas, and trees are simple but effective tools.

• Hydrate in and out: Drinking water with a pinch of high quality sea salt keeps cells plump and resilient, while skin oils and whips restore moisture lost from heat and sun.

• Eat your SPF: Foods high in antioxidants and nutrients help defend skin from the inside out. See our list below!

• Prioritize aftercare: After sun, help your skin recover with nourishing ingredients and hydration inside & out to prevent long-term damage.

Supporting Sun Resilience from Within

What you eat directly influences your skin - like breakouts, eczema, or other skin flares can often be traced back to diet (and gut health) —your sun response is also a reflection of what your body is being nourished with. I first noticed this when I shifted my diet: fewer seed oils, more seasonal foods, more minerals—and my skin stopped burning so quickly. You’re not just feeding your skin—you’re building it.

Just as plants develop natural resilience in the sun through antioxidants and protective compounds, our bodies also rely on key nutrients to defend against UV damage, reduce inflammation, and support skin repair. This is often called building your "internal SPF."

Nutrients like beta-carotene, polyphenols, antioxidants, and healthy fats all work synergistically to neutralize free radicals, strengthen the skin’s barrier, and enhance resilience from within. Combined with eliminating inflammatory seed oils, this inside-out approach to sun care not only reduces the risk of sun damage but also promotes long-term skin health, hormonal balance and cellular vitality.

Nutrient-Dense Allies:

• Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A precursor): Found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and liver—converts to retinol and protects skin cells from UV-induced oxidative stress.

• Antioxidants: Tomatoes, berries, and dark leafy greens neutralize free radicals and prevent DNA damage from UV exposure.

• Polyphenols: Found in green tea and pomegranate—these reduce inflammation, support collagen, and enhance skin regeneration.

• Healthy Fats: Avocado, olive oil, and omega-3-rich seafood strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier, reduce inflammation, and improve hydration.
  
  

Ditching Seed Oils

Industrial seed oils (canola, sunflower, safflower, soybean) are hyper-processed and unstable - stripped of nutrients and oxidize rapidly. This oxidative instability creates harmful free radicals that damage mitochondria—the energy centers of every cell in the body—disrupting cell function, accelerating skin aging and hinders the body's ability to detox. 

When consumed regularly, these oils contribute to chronic inflammation, hormonal disruption, and a weakened skin barrier, making the body more susceptible to UV damage, oxidative stress and early signs of aging.

This also leads to:

• Free radical buildup – accelerates aging and breaks down collagen

• Increased inflammation – worsens acne, eczema and UV sensitivity

• Weakened cell membranes – reduces the skin’s ability to heal, detox & defend itself

Eliminating seed oils from your diet can significantly reduce systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage. Seed oils - the most common being canola, vegetable, sunflower, soybean, and safflower—are high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFA’s). Cutting them out supports stronger cell membranes, healthier hormonal balance, and more resilient skin—especially in the sun.

After Sun Care That Actually Works

Your skin is smart. And when it’s had a little too much sun—it doesn’t need the bright green aloe gel from 1997. It needs support. Nutrients. Moisture. Repair.

Here’s how we help you reset with REAL ingredients your skin loves!:

Wash Off the Day—Without Stripping Your Skin

After sun, sweat, sunscreen, and dirt—your skin deserves better than a harsh rinse. Our Goat Milk Soaps cleanse gently while restoring hydration, thanks to:

• Rich in lactic acid to gently exfoliate and soften the skin

• Cold-pressed oils and butters that replenish moisture while you cleanse

• A gentle cleanse that never leaves skin tight, dry, or itchy

For the face, we love our Botanical Cleansing Oil - switching from stripping bubbles to nourishing oil changes the game for many when it comes to balancing oil, soothing senstive skin and reducing breakouts. Using the science of oil dissolves oil, this is a great option for delicate facial skin.

Restore, Replenish + Soothe with Our Body Staples:

Herbal Tallow Whips

Packed with bioavailable fats and anti-inflammatory herbs, these whips restore your skin barrier and soothe heat and irritation fast. We recommend Terra Herbal Whip as an all-purpose, all over body care staple.

• Grass-fed tallow mimics your skin’s natural oils to rebuild and nourish deeply

• Calendula, rosehips, and chamomile support skin cell repair and reduce inflammation

• A rich, dreamy texture that melts into sun-warmed skin and relieves post-sun dryness
  
  

Botanical Body Oils

Our non-greasy, antioxidant-rich blend absorbs deeply without clogging pores. Try our Botanical Blue Tansy Body Oil with cooling peppermint to soothe sunkissed skin, or Citrine Body Oil, our citrus-forward fave for a refreshing after-sun refresh. Both are infused with rose, yarrow, and juniper—herbs known for their anti-inflammatory, skin-calming, and lymph-supportive properties.

• Olive-derived squalane and skin-loving jojoba oil soothe and hydrate

• Helps minimize peeling and redness after long sun exposure

• Seals in moisture, supports cell turnover, and gives your skin a natural glow

Together, this duo brings hydration, protection, and long-term healing—all from the Earth up.

Face-Saving Favorites for After-Sun Recovery

Lavender Floral Water Mist

Lightweight, calming, and instantly cooling—our lavender mist soothes red, inflamed skin.

• Steam-distilled from real lavender naturally calming inflammation while delivering gentle hydration and toning the skin

• Tip: Keep it in the fridge for an extra-refreshing reset
  
  

Advanced Antioxidant Serum

Post-sun skin needs repair at the cellular level. This powerhouse serum delivers:

• High-potency botanicals that fight free radicals and oxidative stress

• Deep barrier repair and support for collagen regeneration

• Helps reduce signs of UV stress and smooth skin texture
  
  

Aura Herbal Whip

The ultimate post-sun care for your face. Seals in moisture, calms inflammation and supports skin repair.

• Blue tansy for redness relief

• Rosehip and tallow for deep nourishment and elasticity

• Herbal-infused to strengthen skin and build long-term resilience
  
  

Hydra Bloom Face Mask

Our botanical-rich clay mask helps soothe, calm, rehydrate and restore.

• Colloidal oatmeal, marshmallow root, calendula, and aloe vera soothe and soften

• Supports gentle healing without drying

• Restores hydration and comforts sun-stressed skin
  
  

Pro Tip: If you have an aloe plant at home, snap open a fresh leaf and apply directly to sun-exposed skin. (if you don't, take this as your permission slip to buy another plant! yay!). The gel inside is rich in vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids that naturally calm inflammation, hydrate deeply, and support skin regeneration—no neon green dyes, synthetic alcohols, or additives.