SunSkinz Review & Giveaway

Summer is almost here, and that means lots of time outside. Since we live in Florida, we practically live in the sun during the summer. I love it and wouldn’t have it any other day, but as a mom I always want to make sure my daughter is protected from the sun. My dad is a skin cancer survivor, so sun safety is especially important to me.

Of course we use gobs of sunscreen. I even keep a bottle in the car for emergencies – like forgetting to put it on or bring extra for reapplication. But we all know that even with waterproof sunscreen and reapplication, a day playing in the water just washes away the sunscreen. Sometimes sunscreen just doesn’t cut it. So this year we will be armed with SunSkinz.

SunSkinz is a line of apparel and sun safety products that includes rash guards, hats, sunglasses and more all offering an extra layer of sun protection.

For my daughter’s sun protection this year, she will also wear a SunSkinz rash guard. I have to admit that when SunSkinz offered to send one for my daughter, I didn’t really know what to expect. I have seen kids at the beach wearing them, but never checked one out up close. My first reaction was to how cute it is – see picture. Of course sun protection is number one, but if it had been ugly… But it wasn’t, its cute.

Next I was actually surprised at how lightweight it. Since it kind of looks like a wet suit top, I guess I thought it would be heavier. But it is very lightweight – which is great because the last thing we need is her to get overheated.

The place I am most excited for my daughter to wear her SunSkinz is the splash park. Paired with a pair of quick-dry shorts, this will be perfect apparel for playing at the park and splashing in the water. We haven’t made it to the splash park yet this spring, but last summer were there several times a month, so I am excited to have this extra protection.

One of the other SunSkinz products that looks really interesting are its Solar Safe Sun Strips. I didn’t get these to try so I can’t speak from expereience, but according to the web site, “UV exposure monitored simple with the UVSunSense wristband changes color to reflect your level of exposure to the sun.  Dermatologist Recommended. Package contains 14 wristbands.” So cool. I really think I need to get some of these for beach days.

Buy it – You can buy SunSkinz online, and SunSkinz is currently offering TheSuburbanMom readers 10% off with the code “mommyblog.” (I think I am going to use the code to get the bands!) You can also buy SunSkinz at Costco. That’s right, SunSkinz are available at Costco – I saw them there myself.

Win it – SunSkinz has offered one TheSuburbanMom reader a Rash Guard top.

Mandatory Entry — Tell me your favorite outdoor summer activity.

More opportunities to win (leave a separate comment for each additional entry you do):

• Sign up for my brand new newsletter.
• Follow TheSuburbanMom on  Twitter (@SuburbanMomClub) and tweet about this give away. “I just entered to win a SunSkinz Rash Guard top from TheSuburbanMom at http://wp.me/pQHaE-uW” (Or just use the retweet button)
• Become a fan of TheSuburbanMom on Facebook. (Already a fan, that counts too, just leave a comment.)
• Enter any of my other giveaways or any other post! (1 entry for this giveaway per entry on another giveaway — leave a comment for each.)
• Tell a friend! (I have to take your word on this one.) Tell a friend about TheSuburbanMom, this contest or to become a fan of my Facebook fan page and leave a comment telling me what you did to share. (1 entry only)

Contest ends May 6, 2010 at 5 pm. Open to U.S. residents in the continental U.S. only. Winning comment will be chosen at random by Random.org and contacted for shipping information. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Discloser – I was given a SunSkins rash guard to review for this post, all thoughts and opinions are expressly my own. No other compensation was received.