Derek woke up today and the first thing he said was “Mommy, today is water day! Don’t forget my sunscreen, OK!” My 4-year-old knows better than most adults when it comes to safety. The whole ride to daycare Derek then asked me ALL about sunscreen. This boy can ask a question like no other that I have ever encountered.
D: “Why do we wear sunscreen”
Me: “To protect us from the sun’s rays”
D: “Why do we need to be protected from the sun’s rays, I love the sunshine”
Me: “Well we want to protect our skin from sun damage” I felt like I was reciting a sunscreen ad that I couldn’t remember much of
D: “You don’t need sunscreen because you sit in the shade but Mommy how does the sunscreen protect us”
Me: “I even wear sunscreen in the shade but am going to look all this up today on the computer and I will give you better answers tonight”
D: “I think that is a good idea and remember think like a rescue hero be safe AND wear sunscreen”
Here is what I have come up with for my conversation with Derek tonight (although I need to make it 4-year-old friendly) from the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Website
Sunscreen has ingredients that provide at least some protection from sunburn and other damaging effects of the sun’s rays. An ideal sunscreen would block both UVA and UVB rays with active ingredients that do not break down in the sun (so that the product remains effective) and would contain active and inactive ingredients that are proven to be safe for both adults and children. Unfortunately, there is no sunscreen on the U.S. market that meets all these criteria, and no simple way for consumers to know how well a given product stacks up on any of these measures. That’s why EWG created this guide to safer and more effective sunscreens. To see how they conducted our analysis and ranked products, read our methodology.
After trying MANY different sunscreens for Derek’s VERY fair skin I have found Blue Lizard to be the absolute best. Other sunscreens left Derek with breakouts and blotchy skin. Blue LIzard helps protect Derek’s skin from the sun as well as leaving it just as clear and perfect as it was before application. EWG has raked Blue Lizard among the TOP SUNSCREENS
When I coordinated The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia I contacted Blue Lizard about donating some samples of my favorite sunscreen to our walkers. They immediately replied and said they would love to help out. Blue Lizard ended up donating samples to multiple walks across the nation and provided our walkers with a discount code. They are a lovely generous and social conscience company.
Blue Lizard is generously providing one lucky reader with the chance to win a 5 oz. bottle of Blue LIzard just enter below and if you win you gets to choose your own bottle!
Also check out Blue Lizard on their various social media networks
Don’t forget to leave a comment below!!!
I always wear a hat when I am going to be in the sun for a while. I also but a long sleeve rash guard to wear in the pool. It is awesome!
I always try to put Derek (my pasty pale son) in long sleeved rash guards too however since he got this short sleeved Batman one he won’t wear any other!!
I wear a hat and sunscreen
Rash guards are a must here in San Diego, but since they don’t make ski masks for the summertime, we need to lather our faces, necks, and ears. But beware if your child is growing and his rash guard may be a bit short, he may just get a 2 inch burn between said too short rash guard and swim trucks….what, that was not me of course!
Of course not you but good warning!! 😉
I try to stay out of the sun completely, or just cover up. I recently (within the last year, started wearing sunscreen)…bad I know.
Better late then never!!!
We go through ridiculous amounts of sunscreen in the spring and summer and I carry a small tube of it in my bag in the fall just in case we have a warmer day and are outside longer than expected.
Since the preeclampsia walk: Blue Lizard all the way!
I’m a big fan of sunscreen and adorable sun hats for my daughter especially!
I love blue lizard it does not make my kids break out!
i try to cover up with a hat and coverup and big sunglasses! 🙂
lots of sunscreen and umbrellas!
Always wear sunscreen. Remember that spoken word piece in 1987? Last month I got a sunburn on my right side just sitting in the car 12 hours from a visit to my parents. Silly me, I covered the kids but not myself.