Purely Products- SunMate UV Monitor Review and Giveaway

Momma Told Me: That tan won't be sexy in 40 years.

My mother has a way of putting things quite bluntly, though with concern, that can seem a bit abrasive. To this day I can't sport even the mildest of color or pigment, without the latest medical research on UV dangers. Of course, I learned a long time ago to take Momma's words seriously, and I respect those smiling rays of sunshine for their unsuspecting dangers. In fact, I'm usually see through, or orange (every now and then I get a bug to try one of those sunless tanners). And I truly can't stand the heat, or tolerate nursing a throbbing burn. But that doesn't stop my loved ones from tempting fate and frolicking carelessly in the afternoon's warmth.

Until just a few years back I'd never heard of a UV Index, let alone know how to pull one up for any given day. Now I consider it perhaps more important than the traditional forecast. Did you know, just because it is sunny in one town does not mean the UV index will be the same on a sunny day 3 towns over? In fact, there is even a National Weather ultraviolet Index scale and national mapping. You may have already guessed that some areas, due to ozone depletion, are at a higher risk than others- but there are many other ever-changing factors that contribute to daily changes. If that isn't confusing enough, a cloudy sky doesn't mean low UV exposure either!

So, when I learned there was a simple, compact, and affordable device designed solely to measure the surrounding UV output I knew I had to look into it. Purely Products was kind enough to send me their SunMate Ultraviolet Meter for review here on Momma Told Me! The first thing I noticed was how lightweight and compact it was. With a footprint small enough for a child's hand, the SunMate is great for traveling, and can easily be kept in any purse, diaper bag, stroller, or glove compartment. I'd even go as far to say it's keychain worthy.

Ready to go out of the packaging, the SunMate has an easy one button operation, with an easy to read LED indicator. At the top of the device are 5 LED bulbs that actually rank the severity of UV exposure! There's no memorizing complicated scientific readout, or danger zones. On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 is LOW Exposure, while 5 is EXTREME exposure. Simply press the easy push button at the top, and watch the SunMate instantly read the current UV exposure risk.

I initially tested indoors, where I received a risk readout of '1', standing beside a sun drenched window. I moved out to our porch, covered in shade with no direct sunlight to the device, and received no reading. Stepping out, while keeping the button depressed I heard the unit make an annoying pitchy noise as it clicked up to '2', then '3' on the scale. I discovered if I placed my back to the sun and kept the SunMate directly in front of me the reading was lower than if the device was facing direct sunlight. Over the summer I continued use on family trips, at the beach, while gardening, and for sheer curiosity. We've since made an effort to avoid continued exposure when the SunMate reads '3', and we've yet to see it read higher.

What Daughter Says: Your skin has enough things to deal with, gravity, make-up, laugh lines, weight gain and loss, don't let harmful UV exposure be one of them.

One Momma Told Me follower will win a SunMate of their own to help keep their family, or themself safe in the sun!

Mandatory Entry: You must be a Momma Told Me follower, then visit Purely Products and tell me what product you like best!

Extra Entries:
*Visit the EPA and tell me what you learn about local UV Index ratings +2
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Giveaway begins October 17, 2010 and ends 12:01 AM PST on October 29, 2010. Winner will be notified via email, and posted here. Entries valid within the US. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. Prize will be transferred via sponsor.

As required by the FTC: I received no monetary compensation for this review. I received a product sample for the purpose of my review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.