Fun in the Sun

The kids are tracked out of school and we’ve been spending our days having fun. One of our favorite things about living in North Carolina is that we’re only a couple of hours away from the beach and a few hours away from the mountains. It’s easy to pack up the car for a last minute road trip to any number of amazing vacation spots.

One of our least favorite things is the summer sun. It can get dangerously hot and humid here, often over 100°, especially at the beach.

As a mom of three young kids, it’s my job to protect them from the sun. I make sure they get plenty of fluids when it’s hot out, that they don’t stay out in the direct sun for too long during hot days and that they’re always wearing sunscreen when they’ll be outside.  

I remember laying out in the sun as a teen using baby oil to tan. No one in my family really wore sunscreen unless we were going to be on the beach all day and didn’t want to get a painful burn. Now we know that sunscreen is important to wear daily, whenever we’ll be outside in the sun. I want my children to see me applying sunscreen so they will learn safe sun behavior and be a part of the very first sun-safe generation.

Since the kids are out of school for the summer right now, we’re playing outside every day. That means we’re all using sunscreen every single day, whether we’re at the playground, hanging out at the pool, or spending a day at the beach. Studies show that kids are more likely to adopt healthy habits, like applying sunscreen, if they see their moms applying it on themselves. One easy way to remember to apply sunscreen is to keep it by your toothpaste so you see it every morning.

My favorite sunscreen this summer is Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen. Since it is lightweight and is applied in a fast absorbing mist, it’s great for using when we’re busy outside. It’s also water-resistant (80 minutes), so it’s perfect for our days at the beach and the pool. Formulated with HELIOPLEX Technology, Neutrogena Beach Defense forms a broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protective barrier that is clinically proven to help skin defend against harsh summer elements and is available in stick, lotion, and spray.

Even though Americans are using sunscreen more than we did in previous generations, there are still on average more than 350 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every hour. As few as two painful sunburns during childhood can raise the risk of skin cancer by 40%. By encouraging this simple, healthy behavior in my children, I may help reduce the likelihood of them developing skin cancer later in life. That is extremely important to me.

For the kids, we’re been using Neutrogena® Sheer Zinc™ Sunscreen Lotion this summer. It’s mild even on sensitive skin and clinically shown to be as gentle as water, so I don’t have to worry about irritating my children’s skin. With the highest level of Zinc Oxide* for superior broad spectrum protection, Neutrogena Sheer Zinc sunscreen is protection I can count on for my children’s long days in the summer sun. 

This summer, we’re encouraging Moms to use sunscreen in front of their children. Studies show that kids are more likely to adopt healthy habits when they see their parents setting the example, so be sure to let your children see you apply sunscreen so they can #MimicMommy.

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WINNERS: S. Bihms, A. Parris, K. Jacoby

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Neutrogena has launched the #MimicMommy MOVEment to encourage moms to help change skin cancer statistics and raise the first generation of sun-safe children. To help support this important cause, Neutrogena will donate $10K to the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation.

Check out this fun video that Youtube stars the Holderness family made to encourage everyone to get up and dance their way to sun protected skin:

And here’s a fun little video we made showing how we #MimicMommy: