In case you weren't aware, June is World Oceans month. While it's always important to try our best to keep the environment as clean and protected as possible, the focus is on just that this month. Our oceans take up about 70% of the Earth, making them one of, if not, the biggest source of life. So if you're heading to the beach anytime soon or in for some water-related activities, try and make an effort by picking up three pieces of plastic you see for example. 

We've partnered with REN Clean Skincare, and the Surfrider Foundation, for our own efforts in honor of World's Oceans Month. As part of its new mission to be Clean to skin and Clean to planet, REN Clean Skincare has pledged to produce zero waste by 2021. Later this summer, REN Clean Skincare will be relaunching its award-winning Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash into a 100% recyclable bottle with 20% plastic reclaimed from the ocean and 80% plastic recycled from empty plastic bottles.

Both REN Clean Skincare and the Surfrider Foundation are dedicated to the cause of keeping our water-centric playgrounds clean for all of us to enjoy. 

More than eight million tons of plastic appear in our oceans every year—yes, you read that right. With so much waste disposed into our water, we took our cleaning efforts to the Hamptons with REN Clean Skincare, the Surfrider Foundation, and some of our favorite New York ladies. We're hoping to raise awareness on this ongoing issue that could severely damage the quality of Earth's ocean water through a beach cleaning day for World Oceans Month.  

During the beach cleanup initiative, the scene may have looked clean from afar but participants quickly learned otherwise. In one hour, 2.5 pounds of waste was found on the beach. The waste found included:

•  4 balloons
• 38 cigarette butts
• 5 glass bottles
• 2 plastic bottles
• 10 plastic bottle caps
• 5 plastic bags
• 5 straws
• 2 plastic utensils
• 11 plastic food wrappers
• 2 children's toys
• and more...

The day was followed by an eco-conscious lunch in the Hamptons, with zero straws of course. Influencers who attended this effort also shared some insight about what they learned and their own sustainability tips. 

Sai De Silva reduces her waste footprint by recycling her clothes as much as possible. As an influencer who receives plenty of clothing gifts, she makes sure to donate them or sends them off as hand-me-downs. As a bonus tip, she also suggests reusing toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls as pots for your plants by closing the bottom and adding in some soil. 

Jessica Franklin learned that a lot of the waste found on beaches is consumed by fish, which can then affect any of us who consume fish as well. One of the ways she practices sustainability is through her diet as she is a pescatarian. She chose this lifestyle because of the large amount of water that goes into feeding other animals, such as cows. 

Natalie Suarez doesn’t use any plastic water bottles and swears by recyclable bottles, and by recycling everything else that she possibly can. That includes packages, plastic, glass and more. 

Rachel Martino learned that even the smallest items could affect our beaches and the ocean. Such items include bobby pins and plastic bottles, which are often found lingering in the sand. In efforts to reduce her own waste footprint, she only washed her hair once a week which helps save a lot of water. 

Rachel Nguyen believes in reusing as much as possible, rather than purchasing more recyclable household items. She also believes it’s important to use clean beauty without any synthetic ingredients or packaging because our skin is such a prominent organ of ours and it absorbs everything. 

Candace Hampton’s favorite takeaway from the beach cleanup was that everyone should make an effort to recycle and reduce waste as much as possible to make more clean beauty products. The experience also inspired her to use less plastic water bottles and less plastic in general.

If you're heading to the beach this summer, try cleaning up any waste that you may spot around you. On the other hand, if you can't make it down to a beach this summer, you can learn more tips on how you can help the initiative on the Surfrider  Foundation site. 

What Is Clean Beauty?

We're living in a time where beauty brands are changing the way they manufacture and package their products. It seems as though clean beauty is the topic of the moment, but the descriptor can be confusing. To be clear, clean beauty is defined as products that are produced and formulated without any harmful or toxic ingredients. Such ingredients include sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and more. 

REN Clean Skincare chooses only bio-actives that benefit skin health and ingredients that protect the efficacy of the formula. It’s a brand consiststing of clean, safe skincare, with no toxins, no hard or controversial chemicals, and no potential irritants, ever. 

REN Clean Skincare's goal to help the planet is for its packaging to produce zero waste by 2021. It swears by recyclable packaging, refillable solutions, bottles with reclaimed ocean plastic and so much more for a waste-free future. Most importantly, REN Clean Skincare has taken action with global activist partner, Surfrider Foundation by cleaning up beaches and oceans worldwide. 

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