Be #SkinSmart With Coolibar Protective Outdoor Clothing (Stronger thsn SPF 100!)

***We received product samples to help facilitate this feature. Regardless all photos and thoughts contained below are original and property of Momma Told Me Blog 2015.

Momma Told Me: Watch out for the sun!

In Texas and SoCal, where the majority of our family's located over the Summer, escaping the Summertime heat means seeking shelter in an air conditioned building or finding a body of water to float in. In the past hosting fort building competitions in the living room, or a double feature at the local cinema would suffice to keep the young ones cool and unruly. This year there's a baby at home, and as Nathan's (now 11 months) first Summer wraps we've learned a lot about balancing a family that ranges in age from infant and grade school to nearly teen. You see, they don't warn you but everybody gets a little extra on edge when there's an infant involved, especially when that infant is teething and beginning to walk.

To escape the endless chants of 'Mom, I'm bored,' and the inevitable tension of being confined with one's naked, teething, brother, the family has been packing up a lot and heading to the local public pools. That, combined with an unusual amount of traveling and hotel pools, this Summer means extra consideration is needed for sun safety. You may not have noticed, after all it is quite subtle, but my adorable Nephew is just about one of the most adorable, fair skinned, redheaded babies I've seen this decade. And, while proper suncare is and should be a priority for everyone, little Nathan requires extra monitoring and protection when exposed to the sun for any amount of time.

Not to alarm you but statistics don't lie- The impact a serious sunburn has on one's life is an astounding doubled chance of developing melanoma later in life. Even more frightening is the fact that 22% of humans receive their first serious sunburn within their first year of life, and a whopping 54%, in their second. Worst of all, there is no reason for an infant, or anyone, really, to ever have to suffer the discomfort or risks associated with excessive UV exposure. In fact, Coolibar offers a wide range of stylish UPF protective clothing for children as young as infants, on up. Think you're protecting your child by throwing a t-shirt on them with a splash of sunscreen? All suncare products require reapplication at a suggested rate of every 90 minutes, an the UV filtering capabilities of that tshirt? Less than an SPF 10 sunblock, filtering just 7% of UV exposure to your child's skin.

Coolibar has several full body outfits, sun hats, accessories, and single pieces for toddlers and infants offering UPF 50+ protection that filters as much as 98% of the UV exposure to your child's skin. To give you an idea just how revolutionary that is, a sunscreen with SPF 100 (yes, 100) would be equivalent to the protection of a UPF 9 clothing- and Coolibar materials carry UPF 50+! Even better, you don't have to pull your children away from the water or fun to reapply every few hours- so long as the fabric is covering the skin, the skin is protected!

Nathan is modeling the Coolibar One-Piece Turtle Baby Boy Swimsuit (psst, on sale now!) and matching Beach Bucket hat. The material breathes well and is very soft on baby's skin while the suit's design is intuitive for mom with easy off 'onesie' style snaps. The bucket hat took a little getting used to at first, with the strap under the chin being a bit bothersome, but he's since worn the hat more than anything as he's slowly outgrown the suit (from the beginning of Summer.) We couldn't be more thrilled with the vibrant colors and graphic designs that make it easy to spot Nathan floating in the pool with his big sister, or the amount of coverage the outfit offers from head to toe!

Okay, so you don't have an infant or child at home and you're wondering what this amazing UPV 50+ clothing brand has to offer you. Coolibar makes a complete line of swim and outerwear clothing for men and women, and you'd never know it was so skin friendly! Currently on my personal wish list is the Coastal Mosaic Swim Jacket (2nd from left, above) with it's lovely side gather tassels and plunging neckline. I have been working on a tattoo sleeve on my right arm for a few years and sun protection to my arms is crucial to maintain vibrancy and clarity of the work. I'd love to take a few Coolibar pieces with me on our cruise next month!

I'm sure you've heard about UV protective clothing before- it's not a new concept, but Coolibar IS my favorite brand for stylish and innovative designs and pieces. The colors and prints are constantly evolving and each season brings something new and exciting. We've also found that this revolutionary material also holds up incredibly well though activity and wear with no fading or fraying, making these pieces of clothing worth their weight in gold. Ditch the t-shirt and get real UV protection, with #SkinSmart style, for the entire family! Now, tell the truth, are you guilty of throwing a shirt or other coverup on in hopes it would protect you from the sun? What do you spend the most time doing outdoors?

What Daughter Says: Protect every inch of your skin, not just the parts with sunscreen on. Use UPF clothing with protection that exceeds SPF 100 lotion and won't wash off!

This Summer We #ChooseSkinHealth With Simple Tips For Sensitive Skin!

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Neutrogena. I received samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015.

Momma Told Me: Cover up!

Have you ever heard the expression "You're going to catch your death out there?" It's an adage many of the women in my family have used for generations, but one we most often associate with cold weather and the Winter. As grim as it sounds, you're actually more likely to compromise your health during an unsuspectingly gorgeous day outside, rather than in gloomy weather when you're naturally more aware of the risks. Why? Because 1 in 5 adults will be diagnosed with skin cancer, and an overwhelming number of those cases can be attributed to unprotected UV exposure from the sun. Going outside during the sunny months without your 'coat' of UV protection sunscreen, and proper hydration can be just as dangerous as walking into a snowstorm in a tank top and flip flops.

Having been raised in SoCal, and by Momma herself, I was constantly being educated and reminded about two major 'invisible' health risks, sun exposure and smoke. We'll save the smoking lecture for another day. Today we're going to talk about skin health and your Summer life plans. You see, unless you quite literally live in a rock, or a cave- and yes, even (especially) those who live in continually cold climates such as Alaska, you should be using SPF protection daily. UV rays travel through materials, reflect off surfaces (such as water and snow), and are always present when the sun is out (even if you can't see the sun because of clouds and such.)

In fact, you are being exposed to UV rays even when you are taking shelter in the shade, as shade offers only about 5-7 SPF protection; lower than even the lowest commercial sunscreen, and most tanning lotions. And external factors, such as medications and beauty care products can actually make your skin more absorbent and responsive to the impact of UV rays! That means you may actually be making yourself more susceptible to sun exposure risks AND forgoing any preventative measures like sunscreen, effectively doubling your risk of skin cancer. It may be scary stuff but I'm glad to share that the art of active sun protection doesn't have to be scary.

You may have noticed, through the years, I'm sort of an unofficial brand champion for Neutrogena products. Neutrogena is a brand I've trusted my haircare and skincare routines to for years thanks to their conscious product formulations that are sensitive skin considerate and ingredient intelligent. Their Triple Repair haircare collection single handedly brought my hair back to life after a very unfortunate run-in with professional grade bleach chemicals, and their Cleansing Towelettes consistently remove full face costume makeup without any irritation. So, it's easy to see why I haven't needed any convincing in trusting their sun protection line.

However, if my testimonial isn't quite enough, Neutrogena sun care products now boast another credit, with 5 products recently having received the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance for their extra gentle formulations perfect for eczema prone and sensitive skin. Neutrogena® Pure And Free® Baby Faces Ultra Gentle Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45, Neutrogena® Pure And Free® Baby Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 60, Neutrogena® Pure And Free® Baby Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60, Neutrogena® Sensitive Skin Sunscren Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60, and Neutrogena® Pure And Free® Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 have all recieved this prestigious nod. The formulations and products themselves have not changed, they are just as awesome and gentle on skin as ever, but now are simply recognized for their superior skin protection with gentle application.

You know I, myself, have very fair and sensitive skin (I have to use fragrance free detergents and break out with contact to several common skincare ingredients,) but baby Nathan, 10 months, is exceptionally sensitive with his read hair and fair genes. This Summer he'll be hitting the pool (he really is a little tadpole, and just loves the water) with UV protective swimsuits and Neutrogena® Pure And Free® Baby Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60. Water resistant and with a suggested 80 minute application life, this simple stick applicator makes SPF protection a breeze on baby's face and ears, and is entirely fragrance free for gentle application. Here Nathan is seen styling in his UV protective Coolibar swimwear, paired with Neutrogena skincare protection. For more tips on simple sun care for infants and children stay up to date with the brand on their Facebook page.

In fact, the Neutrogena sun care lineup has not only traveled up the coast and back on our Road Trip through national parks and along the Pacific Coast beaches, but recently accompanied me to Mudderella NorCal 2015. If there isn't a better test of a suncreen's resiliency than direct sunlight at high noon and consistent exposure to muddy water and make-shift rivers, I don't know what is. Neutrogena®'s Sensitive Skin Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum SPF 60 made sure the only discomfort I experienced after this day long event was seriously sore muscles. Though, I do have to warn the product itself is quite thick and requires diligent application- so always enlist the help of a partner to ensure full coverage. Upon first rub in, there was a thin white residue, which made coverage tracking a bit easier.

No matter your skin's complexion or age, it's important to observe safe sun exposure, and proper hydration, throughout the Summer and entire year. Don't let sensitive skin, or eczema, keep you from properly protecting your skin. Choose dermatologist recommended and National Eczema Association accepted Neutrogena® sun care products for easy to wear protection with a powerful punch. You'll find these skin health much haves at national drug and grocery chains near you (I usually grab mine at Walmart and CVS.) Have you used one of the 5 NEA Accepted Products before? Why not help let the world know how simple sun cae can be by leaving a review on one of the seal accepted products product pages!  Now, be honest, how often do you apply products with SPF protection?

What Daughter Says: You put on a coat in the Winter, now don't forget to put on some SPF protection in the Summer (and all year, too!)