Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Do you REALLY Need Sunscreen on a Cloudy Day?

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I participated in a #ChooseSkinHealth 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.

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This morning my crew headed outside for a little back yard play time while the temperature was still bearable The clouds were plentiful, so everyone started to go outside WITHOUT sunscreen.

And I really do understand the temptation. Those hot UVB rays aren’t barreling down on you when the sun is behind the clouds, so the risk of sunburn is lessened.

But friends, sunburn, or an immediate damage of the skin, is not the only thing you need to worry about. UVA rays, which can pretty easily pass through clouds, cause damage that you may not be able to see immediately, but that you will certainly feel in the long run. Wrinkles are one examples. So is skin cancer. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer, and yet only 20% of Americans regularly use sunscreen? 

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So I interrupted the play time for just a few minutes so that we could all get lathered up. This summer we’re really enjoying the Neutrogena Sun Care products, 5 of which were awarded the National Eczema Association (NEA) Seal of Acceptance.

  •         NEUTROGENA® Pure & Free® Baby Faces Ultra Gentle Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45+
  •         NEUTROGENA® Pure & Free® Baby Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 60
  •         NEUTROGENA® Pure & Free® Baby Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60+
  •         NEUTORGENA® Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60+
  •         NEUTROGENA® Pure & Free™ Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Our youngest had a reaction to a different brand of sunscreen this spring, so this has put me on alert to choose products that are good for sensitive skin. Neutrogena is a brand we have used for years and that has always performed beautifully and kept our skin happy.

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It only takes a few minutes to put on sunscreen, and those few minutes can also be spent having a converstaion about what you are doing and why it is important. Once your kids understand why skin health is so important, you can help them get in the habit of applying sunscreen or of asking you for help with their application. Darah reminds me frequently; she’s cultivated a habit that is stronger than my own!  neutrogena skin health 3

Another reason we are working on getting in the habit of applying sunscreen on sunny OR cloudy days is because melanoma runs in my husband’s family. This puts Tim and our girls even MORE at risk than the general population, so daily sunscreen protection is really key for us. The Neutrogena Suncare line has several options that are purse friendly which can help with reapplication throughout the day when out and about.

You can find Neutrogena Sun Care products in-store and online at Walmart. For more information please visit Walmart.com. If you’ve already tried some of the products in the Neutrogena line, please take a moment to write a review for others to see on the Neutrogena website.

 

 

 

Healthy Essentials Make for Fun Summer Play!

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This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

So a handful of weeks back I received a box of super awesome essentials that will help me and my family have lots of fun this summer, all why staying healthy and safe. I’ve been excited to show you some of our favorites from the bunch at work!
First and foremost, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE NEUTROGENA’s sunscreen products and have been using the heck out of two of them this summer.My husband and I are both super pale (if we burn, we just peel and are pasty white again…no need to even attempt a tan). Additionally, melanoma runs in Tim’s family, so for both of those reasons, we take our sunscreen seriously. Sunny, overcast, whatever…if we are going to be outside for more than 5 minutes, we lather up!
 My personal favorite product in their sunscreen line is the NEUTROGENA Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45. It provides that high level of protection that I need, but it doesn’t go on greasy or thick AT ALL and is dry so fast! This makes it very easy to apply right before putting on my makeup. I barely even have to wait before I’m good to go with my foundation! Speaking of foundation, I’ve been eyeing the NEUTROGENA Nourishing Long Wear Liquid Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20, too. I was sent a bottle, but it was too dark for my complexion (seriously…PASTY white…). But I really like the sound of it. Anyone out there tried it yet? Thoughts? But as for the sunscreen above, do yourself a favor and put it on your list for your next trip to the store. Just trust me!
We’ve also been using the heck out of the NEUTROGENA Wet Skin Kids Spray Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70+. I’ve actually purchased a second bottle because we love it so much. When it comes to kids, nothing is better than a spray-on sunscreen. Ok, actually there is something better: a spray-on sunscreen that can handle your skin being wet! That’s the deal with this. We’ve used it at Six Flags, at the splash park, at the river….basically anywhere we like to hang out that involves water. Application takes mere seconds!
Two other products getting some love these days (though I’ll spare you the pictures…you’ll understand why in a second) are Band-Aid Tough Strips Adhesive Bandages and NEOSPORIN + Pain Relief Ointment. Tim and Darah have been spending a lot of time practicing riding bikes, and that inevitably means some scraped up arms and legs. Like most kids, Darah seems to feel remarkably better after she gets her “badge of courage” (a Band-Aid) and I feel a heck of a lot better knowing that NEOSPORIN has been applied to provide instant pain relief as well as to start the healing process quickly. These are both brands I grew up with and continue to trust!
And finally, I’ve been rocking the Cool Mint LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthwash. It tastes great and super refreshing, and my mouth tingles with that clean feeling for quite some time afterwards. This happens to be my favorite flavor of Listerine, as is evidenced by my having 3 bottles of it under my sink. I’m not sure if I’m afraid they are going to run out before I can buy the entire stock in my city, or what, but there you have it. I’ve got more than my fair share of this product!
And you guys, GET THIS….did you know that Listerine is also great for a foot soak?! Say WHAT??? I didn’t make this up, y’all. It’s all over Pinterest. And I was planning on showing you how to do it until I read multiple posts saying, “DON’T USE COOL MINT….YOUR FEET WILL TURN BLUE!” So I’m putting this little project on the back burner until I can get another color. But I’m so gonna do it. What a great way to get all that excess dead skin off your feet, especially this time of year when you are probably wearing sandals a lot and want them to look their best!
We are having an adventurous summer over here, and I hope you are, too! Just be sure to have all the supplies you need on hand for SAFE summer fun! And perhaps for soft feet that won’t turn blue, too! 😉 Want some coupons? You can find some for many of the healthy essentials (and some other great products) right now (more than $45, worth!).

Best Sheer Sunscreen for Your Face

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I know that I’m supposed to wear sunscreen every day. Mostly, I just avoid being outside, and beyond that, my makeup has an SPF of 15. But that’s really not a high SPF content, at all. The reason I don’t wear anything else is because I haven’t found anything that will absorb into my skin quickly. I just don’t have time to put on sunscreen and then wait 15-20 minutes before putting on my makeup. So I skip it. It’s sad, but true.

I recently had the opportunity to try out a new product put out by Neutrogena, a company whose products I have consistently liked over the years. They have put out a Ultrasheer Liquid Sunblock, and I love it.

The very first time I used it, I was nervous. When it came out of the tube, it looked just like sunblock. It even seemed thick like sunblock for the first 2 or 3 seconds. But it was completely absorbed into my skin in about 2 minutes. That’s more like it, people! And get this: it has an SPF of 70!!!

I’m sold on this product, and will be buying more.

Have you tried this great new sunscreen yet? Do you apply sunscreen every day under your makeup?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes from Tidal Labs. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”