This post is sponsored by Supergoop! Thank you for supporting the brands that I love which allows me to support this space! Thoughts and opinions are always my own!
Skin cancer is one of those things that we hear about often but think we’ll never have to deal with personally. I hope and pray that my girls never have to hear the word Melanoma or Cancer. It’s life-changing to hear that you have skin cancer and terrifying to not know the outcome. I’m thankful for the scare it gave me, because I can advocate sun safety for myself and my family whole-heartedly after going through such a scary circumstance.
Photos by Lissa Anglin Photography
A few months after I turned 21, I went to my yearly routine skin check with my dermatologist to find out that I had two areas with sun spots that needed to be removed. I just assumed it was a normal procedure since I had some spots removed in the check-ups prior, but they all came back normal. It wasn’t until I was walking out of my college history class to learn that I needed to return to the dermatologist for a consultation. She sat down with me and let me know that my two spots that were removed came back positive for Melanoma In-Situ.
The bad news was that I was 21, normal and healthy having to deal with the word melanoma. The positive news was that it was only on the surface and it was caught quickly by my routine check up. I went a few days later and had more of the areas removed, stitched up and prayed for healing. Weeks later, I got a clean report and haven’t had any spots come back abnormal since. I still have my annual skin checks and won’t miss them. It truly saved my life.
Now that I am in my thirties and a mom of two, it’s more important than ever to practice sun safety by using a good SPF. We are a family that loves being in the sun through summer months! We go to the pool, splash pad, lake, ride bikes and just live for outside! Finding preventatives for the harmful UV rays is my number 1 priority when going outside. Even in the fall and winter, I use an SPF for myself and my kids – it’s not just for summer! I am often asked my favorite sunscreens, and Supergoop always makes the top of my list!
I was introduced to Supergoop back in April where I was given a few PR samples to try at a conference! I fell in love with the Sunscreen Mousse which is super lightweight and smells amazing! My girls and I used it all up and I was online buying more before the summer months even began! Since then, we have become addicted to the Antioxidant Sunscreen Mist with Vitamin C! I love knowing that it’s free of harmful products like parabens and toxins while adding SPF protection of 50. The BEST part about the spray is that you can apply it to wet or dry skin (who has time to let their kids dry before reapplying) and it’s water resistant for 80 minutes. Both of these products are easy to take with you on-the-go and reapply every 2 hours or so.
MOM HACK: Keep the Sunscreen Mist in a cooler or refrigerator for a cooling mist through the hot summer months!
My newest favorite product is the 2-in-1 Double Header that is a face SPF doubled with lip protection. We often forget about our lips and they are usually the first to burn! I carried this with me on the lake and now it’s in my purse for unexpected days in the sun. It’s a great product to have on hand.
Even though the summer is coming to an end, it’s still important to wear your SPF everyday. I put on Sunscreen Serum before applying my makeup (which also contains SPF) daily. Even if I’m not planning to be in the sun, having protection is worth every second it takes to apply it. Practicing sun safety with your kids is leaving an impact on them that might just keep them from getting skin cancer in the future. Be a good example and always remember those tiny little eyes are watching!
Thank you for reading my story and sharing in my advocacy for sun protection. I urge you to get your annual skin checks and always ALWAYS remember to apply and reapply that SPF! A huge THANK YOU to Supergoop for making some awesome sunscreens and products as well as leaving out all of that icky stuff we don’t want to see in products being used on our children! Feel free to email me with any questions, comments or stories you may have!
