Coolibar: The Cool Way to Protect Yourself From the Sun’s Harmful Rays

My oldest daughter has red hair and very sensitive fair skin.  Summer is horrible because no matter what we try for sunscreen whether it’s organic, formulated for sensitive skin or “hypoallergenic”, it still irritates her skin.  Our pediatrician wasn’t very helpful.  He told us to keep her out of the sun.  She’s six and we’re an active family.  It’s impossible to keep her out of the sun and even if we tried, we’d probably fail and she’d end up with an accidental sunburn.

Since we live in the Seattle area, even in the summer we still have rainy days.  On these days her skin gets a much needed respite.  We’ve also discovered a really neat line of clothing that offers sun protection called Coolibar.  I am super thankful that a brand like this exists.  It’s the first sun protective clothing line to receive the SCF’s Seal of Recommendation.  Coolibar clothing drastically reduces the surface area of skin that needs sunscreen because it covers and protects the skin with UPF 50+.  Additionally, it wicks away moisture to help prevent over heating. Made with proprietary SUNTECT® fabrics, these garments are fashionable and great for any outdoor activity.

Did you know that most cases of skin cancer are preventable?  Your risk for melanoma doubles after 5 or more sunburns and is the reason that skin cancer rates continue to climb!  Wearing sun protective clothing is your first line of defense against UV exposure.  Don’t forget a hat! Every inch of hat brim can lower your lifetime risk of skin cancer by 10% and protects areas that often get extra sun exposure like your neck, shoulders and ears.

McKinley received the Ruched Swim Shirt & Swim Skort Outfit and Girls Cowboy Hat.  I think it looks adorable as an outfit but it also great for water play or at the beach.  We recently had a birthday party at our house that involved a slip & slide in the back yard and this outfit was perfect. The skort is basically a skirt with shorts built in.  The shirt is lightweight and breathable so it isn’t too hot.  The shirt is a little bit too big for her but if I roll the sleeves a little it’s fine.

Because of her height (she’s very tall for her age) it’s hard to find one piece swimsuits that fit properly.  I usually buy her a 2 piece which means even more sunscreen.  I love that with this outfit she only needs sunscreen on her face and the lower half of her legs.  It makes a really big difference!  Coolibar also offers swim leggings if we really want to keep her covered!

The hat is adorable and because it’s multi-colored, it goes with just about everything.  It also protects her natural hair color from being washed out by the sun.  McKinley isn’t the only one that got to try out Coolibar!  They’ve got a great selection for women too!

 

This Banded Fitness tee comes in some really great colors including the Tradewind Blue color, pictured.  It features thumbholes for extra hand protection and the length of the shirt is 26″ so it isn’t too short, even at my height of 5’9″.  This shirt is really comfortable and while it’s great for working out, I think it’s stylish enough to wear just to wear!  Like my daughter’s products, this shirt is also UPF 50+, moisture wicking and machine washable and dry-able!

This Sport Polo features a straight hem with side vents and a zipper with a collar.  I just love the coral color but it’s also available in several other colors.  The length on this one is perfect too!  It has the same moisture wicking and UPF features as all the other items and all the style to boot!

I was pleasantly surprised with the reasonable prices on the kid’s apparel — $29.50 for the skort, $36 for the top and $26 for the hat.  The women’s items are a little high in my opinion — $79.50 for the polo and $69.50 for the banded tee.  The quality is really nice though and the clothing is clearly made to last.  I would recommend Coolibar to anyone without question!  They’ve provided a great solution to a problem we’ve had for years! This summer the battle of the sunscreen is going to be a lot easier, and for that I am appreciative!

You can find out more about Coolibar products at www.coolibar.com.  They’ve also offered some great tips for outdoor enthusiasts to stay protected from harmful UV radiation below:

 

• Wear lightweight moisture wicking sun-protective clothing. T-shirts are NOT adequate protection against UV rays. Along with the UPF 50+ rating in your clothing, it¹s important to wear moisture wicking clothing so you don’t overheat.
• A wide-brim hat is a must for golfers, walkers and spectators and provides extra coverage to the neck and shoulders, areas that often get more sun exposure. For runners, choose lightweight hats that cover the top of the head and neck.
• When possible, avoid outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun¹s UV radiation is most intense.
• Keep sunscreen and a hat in your sports/gym bag so they are always available. Use a golf umbrella for shade when walking or waiting.
• Remember to reapply your sunscreen every two hours, or more often if sweating or swimming. Use sport sunscreen so it doesn’t run and irritate your eyes.
• Wear sunglasses. In addition to protecting eyes from UV exposure, another cancer risk, the right sunglasses offer impact protection, and reduce reflection on the road, field or course.

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