Family Sunscreen Tips

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This summer sunscreen tips post is sponsored by Neutrogena® as part of an influencer activation for The Motherhood. Keep reading to find some important sunscreen information, fun videos, and a GIVEAWAY! Living in the hot, sunny desert of Arizona, we are no strangers to the sun! That also means that we are no strangers to using sunscreen and protecting our skin from harmful rays. I remember my mom putting sunscreen on my sister and I as kids. Now as a mom myself, applying sunscreen is part of my regular mom routine with my kids! So, it’s no surprise to me that studies show that kids are more likely to adopt healthy habits, like applying sunscreen, if they see their moms applying it on themselves. That’s why Neutrogena® is leading a call to action to moms to use sunscreen in front of their kids to demonstrate the importance of daily sunscreen use. This #MimicMommy movement serves as a good reminder to be committed to instilling safe sun behaviors in our children! So, we’re sharing some tips below to help you protect your family’s skin and remember to get that sunscreen on every day! As a former teacher (and a biology teacher at that), it should come as no surprise that my first tip involves education!

Educate your family! 

If you have kids, one question you inevitably hear A LOT is, “WHY?”. You’ve probably get asked why they have to put on sunscreen too. So, educate your kids about their skin, the sun, sun burns, and skin cancer! Skin cancer continues to be a health epidemic in the U.S. with more than 350 Americans (on average) diagnosed with skin cancer every hour! Let that statistic sink in…350 people EVERY HOUR! That’s so shocking to me, especially when skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Just 1-2 severe and painful sunburns can increase the risk of melanoma by 40 percent! Many of our friends and family members have had pre-cancerous or cancerous moles areas removed. So, we have talks with the kids about this and the importance of protecting our skin.  

Always have sunscreen with you! 

Don’t let not having sunscreen on hand be an excuse! We all know that life sometimes happens spontaneously – especially during the summer months. Your friends invite you too the pool after summer camp; you stay longer at the beach (or pool) than you planned; the soccer game goes longer than you predicted, etc.  No matter the outdoor situation, you don’t want to get caught without sunscreen. So, we keep it EVERYWHERE! We have some sunscreen in the car, in the pool/beach bag, in my purse, in the soccer wagon, in our bathroom, in the guest bathroom – really anywhere that helps make it convenient to put on. Another tip to help make sunscreen part of your daily routine is to keep a tube by your toothpaste! That way, you’re more likely to remember to apply daily!

Be an example! 

As we know, kids learn by example! This is the whole basis of Neutrogena®’s #MimicMommy campaign! The kids are watching us. They are learning through our actions in addition to our words. So, make sure that YOU are protecting your own skin and that the kids see you putting sunscreen on yourself. I always try to make sure my boys see me applying sunscreen on myself first and then have them #MimicMommy. Hopefully leading by example and sparking this simple, healthy behavior change early on will help the kids develop a lifelong desire to protect their skin from the sun and may help reduce the likelihood of developing skin cancer later in life.

Find a sunscreen the family likes! 

In my experience, finding a sunscreen that the kids like to use really helps the application process and makes it something they’re excited about doing! Our favorite is the Neutrogena® Beach Defense® Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Stick (part of the Neutrogena® Beach Defense® Sunscreen line). The stick is SO easy to use! When we first discovered these, the boys actually would fight over who got the stick first! So, we actually keep multiple sticks handy for our sunscreen applications! Here’s some facts about Neutrogena® Beach Defense® Sunscreen:

  • Beach Defense® provides superior skin protection from harsh summer elements, clinically proven to help defend the signs of sun damage.
  • Prolonged contact of the skin with water makes the skin more susceptible to UV rays.
  • Formulated with HELIOPLEX® Technology, the sunscreens form a broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protective barrier that is clinically proven to help skin defend against harsh summer elements
  • Water resistant (80 minutes)
  • Lightweight, fast absorbing
  • Oil free, PABA free

I also really happen to like the Neutrogena® Sheer Zinc™ Sunscreen Lotion. Some sunscreens irritate my skin, especially my face. But that’s not the case with the Sheer Zinc™ lotion. It’s my go-to this summer! 

Here’s some Neutrogena® Sheer Zinc™ Sunscreen info: 

  • Formula Powered by 100% Zinc Sunscreen Ingredients with the Highest Level of Zinc Oxide* for Superior Broad Spectrum Protection
  • Mild even on sensitive skin, clinically shown to be as gentle as water
  • Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and free of fragrance, parabens, oils, phthalates and dyes
  • Suitable for use on sensitive skin

Make it fun! 

Kids always seem to do better with tasks when there is some fun involved. So, see if you can make applying sunscreen fun! Make a game out of it, do a little dance, or sing a little song! In fact, we have a fun idea to share with you…
Everyone is probably familiar with “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” – the classic preschool song. Well, this is a great song to sing (and dance to too) while applying sunscreen as it can really help you remember places that you need to put sunscreen on. It’s one I use with the kids to help make applying sunscreen more fun. They can mimic me putting it on while we all do a little singing and dancing!


HA! Aren’t they cute?! I think so, but you don’t have to take just our word for it! The Holderness Family got in the fun too! Check out the details and watch their video below!

Neutrogena is launching the MimicMommy MOVEment, to rally moms to help change skin cancer statistics and raise the first generation of sun-safe children. Neutrogena teamed up YouTube stars the Holderness Family to encourage all to get up and DANCE their way to sun protected skin. Check out how in the new video here: The #MimicMommy Dance. To help support this important cause, Neutrogena will donate $10K to the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation.

I love supporting companies that give to good causes! So spread the world to help educate and protect those you love! Together, let’s create the first sun-safe generation! So be sure to head to your local retailer and stock up on Neutrogena® sunscreen for all your summer fun activities.  But first, enter the great Neutrogena is offering for Mom Endeavors readers!

#MimicMommy Sunscreen Kit Giveaway

THREE (3) lucky Mom Endeavors readers will win a Neutrogena #MimicMommy sunscreen kit, including select sunscreen products for the family! Enter using the form below (US Only. 18+). Good luck!!! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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welcome!

I’m Sara, a mom to three adorable boys living in the Arizona desert. As a former teacher, I love sharing my passions with others. So, have a look around for creative inspiration about cooking, creating, celebrating, traveling with kids, and more everyday mom endeavors!

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24 Responses

  1. I just bought the Neutrogena Beach Defense, and I hope it works well for us! My tip is to have multiple bottles everywhere so you never have to worry about forgetting it. And reapply often!

  2. I’ll have to try the Sheer Zinc for my face, too. I break out easily, but I like wearing at least SPF 50 for my face so I don’t get wrinkles! 😉

  3. teach the kids that it is just like brushing their teeth, it is something you just have to do

  4. My best tip is to reapply often. I try to remember the 2 hour rule, after we swim, or are really active!

  5. I encourage my crew to drink plenty of water. Keep rehydrating and reapplying sunscreen!

  6. Always reapply even if it says it’s water resistant! I learned my lesson on that one!

  7. Always re apply every 30 to 40 minutes if in water. An put on 15 minutes before going into the sun.

  8. I completely agree and always use sunscreen I had an accident got severely burned I wasn’t allowed in the sun for a year unless I used really strong sunscreen otherwise I would scar plus my dad had skin cancer. Please put sunscreen on your kids it is the best thing.

  9. I leave a can of sunscreen by my foyer so it’s easy to remember to apply before I leeave my house.

  10. i remember getting blisters as a child and I am sure to apply it to everyone in the family.

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