My boys are complete outdoor souls! Come rain, haze or sunshine, you will pretty much find them running on the soccer field, monkeying around in the playground or splashing about in the swimming pool. Being a sun-loving California girl myself, who can blame them!
While I love that fact that my little fellas are so outdoorsy, I also worry a lot about the sun damage their skin might be facing, especially here in Singapore. With its proximity to the equator and bright sunny days, this little red dot is known to have one of the highest ultraviolet (UV) indexes in the world.
This means that all of us here, especially the little ones, are at a greater risk for illnesses and diseases caused by the sun. Did you know that the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs during childhood — and that just one blistering sunburn can double the risk of getting melanoma (skin cancer) later in life?
So although I can be forgetful at times, I do try my best to slather my boys and myself with the right amount of sunscreen daily.
Not All Sunscreens Protect the Same!
I am sure you already know this, but just in case please take note – not all sunscreens protect the same! I am very particular with the products that come in contact with my boys’ skin. Not that they are babies anymore, but they are still only 5 & 7 years old and it is very important to select the right products for their delicate young skin.
A couple of weeks ago I received a bottle of Daylong Kids SPF 50+ Lotion, (from the makers of Cetaphil), to test on my boys.
I personally have been using Cetaphil products for many years and have even used the Daylong brand sunscreen on my own face. Thus, I was very eager to try the Daylong Kids SPF 50+ Lotion on my boys, especially since it was specially designed for sensitive kids’ skin from ages 12 months and up.
Now although I am familiar with the Daylong brand, there are still some things that I needed to check off before I can feel confident that my kids will be effectively protected from the sun with this sunscreen –
- Sunscreen must have an SPF of 30-50: An SPF, or sun protection factor, indicates a sunscreen’s effectiveness at preventing sunburn. (Yes, the Daylong Kids sunscreen has a high protection factor with SPF 50+ against UVB, UVA & IR)
- Sunscreen must be broad spectrum: It is important to know that harm comes from the combined effect of the UVA (primarily responsible for sun damage, including wrinkles and premature skin aging) and UVB (primarily responsible for causing skin cancer and sunburns) rays. Together these rays can cause long-lasting damage to your child’s skin. It is therefore recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology that everyone use “broad-spectrum sunscreen,” which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. (Yes, the Daylong Kids sunscreen is broad spectrum).
A couple other super bonus points for the Daylong Kids Lotion –
- Free from parabens & fragrances
- Hypoallergenic
- Non-comedogenic
- Water Resistant
- Good for both body & face
Now that the Daylong Kids Lotion had passed my criteria, all I needed to do was check to see if it passed the boys’ “icky-stinky-sticky test” for sunscreens.
The Sunscreen Application Challenge
Come afternoon swim time, I was all psyched up for my routine sunscreen battle with the kids. Now if your kids are like mine, they really can’t be bothered with the sunscreen, or the hat, or the mosquito repellent or even to go to the bathroom without many helpful reminders. My boys are just super eager to get outside and start playing.
Time for the Daylong Kids sunscreen test! Getting my boys to sit still can be a bit of a struggle, but when it comes to putting on the sunscreen, the challenge goes up a few notches. With whining squiggling boys, an easy 2 minute job can turn into a long battle. Shouts of “it’s too icky” or “it smells funny” or “it makes my skin itch” or “it’s dripping into my eyes and ears” usually accompanies all sunscreen applications.
First I had to grab my kids and make them sit still in one place (a very hard task since they were dying to just jump in). I squeezed some of the sunscreen (from an easy to use pump!) and started to apply.
Here are some of the things that we especially liked …
- Nice & Smooth. The kids didn’t scrunch up their noses, nor did they squirm as I slathered it onto their arms and legs. The usual complaints were replaced by “Mommy, this sunscreen seems different.” Yes, it actually was a bit different because it actually went on nice and smooth
- No White Overlay. There was no white color overlay (you know what I am talking about).
- No Fragrance. No odd smell seemed to come from the lotion – it was fragrance free.
- Dosage Table. There was an easy peel-off chart that show you how much sunscreen your child needs based on their age and height.
Daylong Kids sunscreen applied, now ready to have some safe fun in the sun!
Super Note: Don’t just take my word for it, you too can test out the sunscreen on your kids. If you live in Singapore and want to receive an absolutely FREE sample of the Daylong Kids 50+ Lotion, you can click here to fill out your details and a sample will be sent to you in the mail. 🙂
Dos and Don’ts of Sunscreen Application Every Mom Must Know…
Before you get ready to head out just more thing. In addition to having a good sunscreen, make sure that your sunscreen application is also correct! Here is a quick checklist for you…
- Apply 20-30 minutes before sun exposure. Remember to apply the sunscreen at least 20-30 minutes before your child is heading out so that his or her skin has the time to absorb it properly.
- Don’t forget difficult areas. While most of us are quite diligent about getting sunscreen onto the legs, arms and face, many of us tend to overlook the ears, tops of feet and backs of the knees. So make sure you cover all exposed areas.
- Know amount of sunscreen to apply. Each part of our body requires a different amount of sunscreen for effective coverage. Make sure you apply enough sunscreen to be completely protected against UV rays.
- Reapplication. Sunscreen can only protect for a limited time, thus make sure you reapply every 3 to 4 hours. Apply more frequently if you are swimming or playing in water.
- Know what sunscreen works for your child. Understand the difference between the benefits of spray, gel, lotion and stick sunscreens and see what works best for your child (and you!).
Just remember that sunscreen is only one part of the protection plan from sun damage. You also need to make sure that your kids are properly covered in SPF clothing or clothes made of tightly woven fabrics; that they wear hats and sunglasses and stay in the shade as much as they can, especially between 10am-4pm when the UV rays are the harshest.
SuperMommy’s Opinion:
Overall, the Daylong Kids SPF 50+ Lotion passed the test with both myself and the kids. It’s like they made it with my boys in mind! The boys liked the fragrance free and non-sticky formula. I really liked the easy to use pump, and if you are a super particular mom like me, then you will absolutely love the unique dosage table on the label.
The label made it really easy to know just the right amount of sunscreen to apply for each of the boys. And if you are wondering, yes the Daylong Kids sunscreen will be the new addition to our outdoor activity bag (right next to the hand sanitizer, wet wipes, bandages and mosquito patches).
With good sunscreen protection like Daylong Kids SPF 50+ Lotion and proper sunscreen application, you are bound to be one sun-care savvy mom!
Still feel like you need more sun protection info? No problem! First don’t forget to fill out the form to receive your free sample of Daylong Kids 50+ Lotion. Next just click here to read SuperMommy’s “10+ Super Sun Protection Tips for Kids & Adults“!
Now you are all set for a day in the sun! Hope you & your family enjoy your time outdoors!
-xoxo-
SuperMommy