What's That Smell? Why, It's You, Baby!
Written: Aug 27 '01 (Updated Aug 27 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: PABA-free, hypoallergenic, contains UVA-blocking ingredients
Cons: The smell- that horrible, horrible smell.
The Bottom Line: A sunscreen and bug repellant that really works!
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| fallyn96's Full Review: Coppertone Bug & Sun Lotion Kids SPF 30 |
A few weeks ago, my grandfather purchased a farm. Three of the farm's eight acres is a small lake, perfect for fishing, swimming, and rafting. And also for bugs- those darn biting flies to be exact. The trees on the property, except for two large ones by the dock, are still pretty small, and don't offer anything in the way of shade. Knowing that we would be out the almost constantly, I decided that I needed something to protect my son from the bugs and the sun.
I had resigned myself to having to purchase two different products- and then to the fight to get both of those products on my seventeen month old's body. I had been shopping in Wal-mart for bug repellent when I came across Coppertone's Bug and Sun sunscreen with insect repellent.
What You Learn By Reading The Bottle
This bottle is definitely an eyecatcher! The bottle itself is a deep yellow, with a dark pink cap. The front of the bottle has a cartoon kid with blonde hair wearing a neon pink tank top and sunglasses hiding in the green grass. The bright colors are sure to draw any kids' attention, and therefore draw your attention to the bottle.
The sunscreen is SPF 30, the highest that you can buy for a kid's sunscreen. The main, active ingredient is N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, commonly known as DEET. 9.5 percent of the repellant is DEET. .5 percent is listed as 'other Isomers', and the other ninety percent are inactive ingredients. There has been some controversy surrounding the use of DEET. Recent research shows, however, that DEET is only harmful in large doses. In fact, it's recommended that the concentration of DEET not exceed ten percent, and this product doesn't exceed that recommendation. The sunscreen's active ingredients include octocrylene (a UVA blocking ingredient), ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate (another UVA blocking ingredient), oxybenzone (yet another UVA blocking ingredient).
Bug and Sun is waterproof, but this doesn't mean that it's fool proof. As with all sunscreens, you do need to reapply after water play, such as swimming. It also claims to repell mosquitos, gnats, ticks, chiggers, deer flies, stable flies, black flies and fleas from any exposed skin that it covered in this product. Bug and Sun is also hypoallergenic, and claims to be non-greasy. It also claims that it moisturizes the child's skin, specifically because it contains aloe vera. This sunscreen is also PABA free, which is great for those who are sensitive to PABA products (and also for those who are sensitive to laundry- PABA stains clothes).
Out Of The Bottle
You don't need a lot of this sunscreen/bug repellent. Just enough to cover exposed areas, or areas that are covered with a thin layer of clothing. You don't want to apply this to the area surrounding the eyes, or the mouth, and with a toddler, you don't want to apply this to their hands (since they tend to stick their hands in their mouths). You will also want to have them wash their hands thoroughly before eating anything, since this product does contain DEET (even in small amounts).
The bottle claims that this lotion is not greasy. Maybe if you wash your hands between each arm and leg, but after applying it to my son's limbs and face, I notice that my hands feel a tad bit greasy. But I notice this with all lotions. Unlike Coppertone's Water Babies, this lotion is not watery, and does not run all over the place. It's thick and creamy, and easy to work into the skin. But because it's thick and creamy, you can also see where you might have missed a spot while you are rubbing it in.
The bottle does lie about one thing. This lotion does not have a pleasant fragrance. Imagine the smell of sunscreen mixed with insect repellent and you have an idea of what this product smells like. It stinks! But this is a small price to pay for something that actually works, in my opinion.
Yeah, But Does It Work?
In this mom's opinion, yes it does. Because I had been using it on my son every time that I'm at my grandfather's farm, I hadn't really noticed anything special about this sunscreen. My son wasn't bit, and he didn't burn- but then again, no one else was bit, and no one else burned. But last night was different because I hadn't used the sunscreen on myself, but had used it on my son, and we were there fishing late enough for the bugs to come out to visit- and feed on us. I was busy smacking my arms, shoulder, and face everytime that I was bit, and turning to watch my son to see if he was smacking himself or scratching or whatever. Nope. Nothing. No bug bites here.
No burn there either. Yesterday was hot and sunny, and so unlike the past few weeks that my grandfather has owned this farm (figures- once we have a lake to swim in, the weather turns cool). We took advantage of the warm weather, and spent the afternoon just lazing around the farm, playing with the dog, standing in the sun, casting our lines and hoping for a bite. With no sunburn showing it's ugly head on my son's body, I'm perfectly happy with this sunscreen. No bites, no burn- no uncomfortable toddler whining in my ear. I'm happy.
I've used this on myself, and have noticed that it does keep the bugs away from me. While I'm not sure of the regular price, I know that you can find this product on clearance at any Wal-mart right about now, since most of their summer stuff is clearanced in early August. While Epinions has it listed as an insect repellent, I found my bottle among the other sunscreens at my nearby Wal-mart, at the price of a dollar fifty.
Final Thoughts
If you have a squirmy kid who just can't wait to play, then this is the stuff for you. They don't have to wait while Mom first rubs them down with sunscreen, and then sprays them over with insect repellent- instead, they only have to wait for Mom to rub them down, and then they are off for loads of fun in the sun.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
fallyn96
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Tracey
Location: Illinois
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 104 members
About Me:
Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.
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