Happy Summer: Chlorine Protection + Favorite Products

Summer is all about sunshine, splash pads, and memory-making with our little ones—but it can also bring hidden health challenges for moms and kids alike. From managing chlorine exposure at the pool to staying hydrated and protected in the sun, a little planning goes a long way in keeping your family healthy all season long. In this post, I’m sharing practical summer wellness tips, easy ways to mitigate chlorine exposure, and our favorite kid-approved summer products to help you soak up the fun without sacrificing your family’s well-being.

Whether you're hitting the beach, heading to the backyard, or living poolside, these healthy summer habits for moms and kids will keep everyone thriving from sun-up to sundown.

 
 

  • SOL sunscreen brush: hands down the best purchase I've made in 2025. It's pricey, so I'm working on getting a discount code for ya. Note; it does contain titanium dioxide

  • Crunchi Sunlighten: my daily tinted moisturizer with SPF for more coverage, but if you love a sheer dewey look, go with Counter’s Dew Skin

  • UV Hair Protectant: for me & the girls because the pools and sun make our hair so dry

  • Good Pops - free from added sugar, artificial colors + flavors. We're obsessed. Tip: put inside a Stanley and they will stay frozen so you can enjoy them at the pool/beach. Enjoy 40% off with my link

  • Proven: mosquitoes are fierce in VA. We also love this one from Primally Pure

  • Instant Hydration Electrolytes: I switched to this after LMNT was shady about their maltodextrin and I've been so impressed. Higher quality salt & minerals, less sodium ratio, more flavors to love.

  • 55 oz Stanley: the more water, the better!

  • Better Earth: nontoxic self tanner

  • Antioxidant Balm: more powerful than Vitamin C for your skin, combat sun damage and aging with this highly moisturizing balm. Chlorine + mineral sunscreen (zinc) dry the skin so be sure not to skip a protective moisturizer at night.

  • I keep this Stainless Steel Gallon jug in the car so we can easily refill smaller water bottles with our clean water while we are out adventuring all day.

  • These blue light glasses are on every list I make for good reason 😂 Exposure to blue light at night can disrupt melatonin production and circadian rhythms, which are crucial for regulating cancer-fighting mechanisms in the body. They help me get better sleep, which is a gift to my entire family, especially in the summer when we are adventuring hard!

  • Goop G.Tox hair scrub - removes buildup from products, sunscreen, chlorine, etc. for healthy, voluminous, growing hair.

  • Paleo Beef Sticks - our go to clean, protein snack!

  • Goggles that don't pull at hair

  • Silicone popsicle molds that catch the drip (less stained clothes!)

  • Vit C mixed with water in a spray bottle to neutralize chlorine after the pool

  • Minute Math for quick math fact practice while we are driving in the car

  • Waterproof playing cards

  • Shape match turtles that float (great for 1-3 year olds)

  • Diving gems - these continue to be the biggest hit at our pool 3 years in a row

  • Hape beach toys - we bought this for Mackenzie's 1st birthday (7 years ago!!!) and it is still going strong.

CHLORINE EXPOSURE

We absolutely love spending our summers in the pool, but a few years ago when I was navigating thyroid issues, I learned about the dangers and complications from too much chlorine exposure. Did you know chlorine competes with iodine uptake, which is critical for thyroid & neuorologic health? 

THE CONCERN WITH CHLORINE: 

  • Lowers glutathione levels, which is your body’s master antioxidant.

  • Lowers Vitamin C levels in the body, which can also throw off iron levels

  • The mix of sunlight and hydrochloric acid from the use of chlorine to disinfect the pool can increase the risk of cavities and brittle teeth

  • Disinfection byproducts that are created by the mixing of chlorine with organic compounds from sweat, skin, and urine have been identified as harmful carcinogens for the last 60+ years and have been linked to infertility and miscarriage, allergies, respiratory symptoms, and more

Most of the time we opt for a (safer) salt-water pool, like where the girls take swim lessons. When we're in a chlorine pool, we try the following tips to help mitigate our risk without stressing over it. Summer memories are most important to me than avoiding chlorine pools!

 

BEFORE THE POOL: 

  • Add a barrier to the skin, like coconut oil, sunshield, or sunscreen. Admittedly, I don't always do this and we don't always wear sunscreen (so many benefits from Vitamin D).

AFTER THE POOL: 

  • Mix ½ cup of filtered water and ½ teaspoon of sodium ascorbate together in a glass spray bottle. Apply to skin when you get out of the pool to help neutralize chlorine.

  • Take a detox bath with Ancient Minerals Ultra Magnesium flakes to support glutathione production. We have this bath filter.

  • Take a binder. Every few days (when I remember), I will sprinkle ¼ a pill in the girls vitamin mixture or food. I have some from CellCore that I use when I sauna, but I've also heard great things about Takesumi.

  • Add Vitamin C (not synthetic ascorbic acid) to smoothies or foods. We like Paleovalley whole food Vit c,  Acerola Powder or Camu Camu. It's a bit tart tasting so pair with something sweet. I also add this to gelatin gummies.

Remember, if you aren’t methylating well (40-65% of our population!!!), you aren’t getting rid of toxins well. Finding ways to support methylation helps your body function optimally and detox appropriately!  

not medical advice

Motherhood, WellnessSamantha Carricksummer