Coolibar Review

--Part of MBP's Back to School 2012 Feature--

Beckett and Scarlett could not wait to start school and get back to one of their favorite parts of the school day, recess. I know my kids were not the only ones who fell into that category. When B and S are out playing regardless of the time of day or weather, I worry about the protection they are getting from the sun. I know they don't stay out very long while they are at school, but I know when we are at home, they can be out for a long period of time. Either way, protecting their young skin is one of my top priorities.

Luckily, thanks to Coolibar, I won't have to be slathering the sunscreen on every inch of their bodies every time they step outside.

Founded in 2001, Coolibar is a Minnesota based company with a mission to develop and provide the highest quality sun protection products. Coolibar is using Australia's leading approaches to sun protection and offering it to the American market. They are currently the most recommended and tested sun protective clothing company in the US. They offer sun protective clothing, SPF clothing, sun hats, sun protection swimwear, sunglasses, umbrellas, sunscreens, skincare, and more. Not only are the designs and looks meeting the current trends and looks, Coolibar will guarantee 50+ UPF ratings for the products' entire life.

Coolibar wanted to work with MBP and offered to send B and S some sun protective clothing for us to review for our readers. I will have to say the experience has been very positive and I happily recommend Coolibar to all of our readers.

Our Coolibar package has arrived

A catalog with very detailed pictures and information, my order/shipping information, 2 brochures about a program they offer, and three Coolibar products.

Coolibar has a Kids School Sun Hat Program. This award winning program offers discounts on sun hats and bulk sunscreen, educational materials, and sharing opportunities for schools, daycares, and other non-profit organizations. To see if you qualify and for more general information about this great Coolibar program, click here. Check out what hats and sunscreens are available through the Coolibar program. Need some resources for more information about sun protection, head here. Have questions, check out the FAQs. Read some great success stories from the program here, awards here, and contests here.

Our first Coolibar product was for the girl--

The Coolibar Girl's ZnO Long-sleeve T-Shirt. We ordered S a Youth Extra Small, which is a 4/5. While it is big on S, it isn't huge and she did not complain about the size. We also chose the bright guava color, from a wide range of options, and S loves it! The tee offers UPF 50+, excellent UV protection. It is made from 70% cotton, 5% spandex, and 25% viscose from bamboo. It is incredibly soft and tagless, so no complaints from the little girl.

The Coolibar Girl's ZnO Long-sleeve T-Shirt is lightweight and very breathable, so even wearing it when it was 85 degrees wasn't an issue while playing Barbie in the sandbox.

It is machine wash cold, tumble dry low, so no special washing instructions. It is very durable and came out looking just as nice as it was brand new. The tee retails for $29.

Our second Coolibar product was for the boy--

The Coolibar Boy's ZnO Long-sleeve T-Shirt. We ordered B a Youth Small, which is a 6/8 . B is very particular about how shirts fit him, and this one passed the test, fitting him just right but with room to grow. We also chose the cornflower color, which is a great lighter blue, B's favorite color! The tee offers UPF 50+, excellent UV protection. It is made from 70% cotton, 5% spandex, and 25% viscose from bamboo. We are very happy with the quality of these tees.

With the Coolibar Boy's ZnO Long-sleeve T-Shirt, B was worried he would be too hot playing outside in long sleeves, but after being outside awhile, he still had it on and wasn't too hot.

Easy to wash and wear over and over, it retails for $29, but when purchased with 2 or more, you save $4 each. You can also save with the coupon code listed below, so these are a great deal.

Our third Coolibar product is now a shared item between B & S--

The Coolibar Child Reversible Bucket Hat. We ordered a S/M which will fit most 2-8 year olds. B has a huge head, so the hat fits exactly for him. S has a normal head, so she is able to wear it now and for quite awhile. We also chose the Green/Stone color, which is a great neutral choice for the kids to share. It is made from 100% nylon and very soft and smooth and offers UPF 50+ sun protection.

The Coolibar Child Reversible Bucket Hat has a wide brim offering full head and face protection from the sun. It also has an elastic drawstring for a tighter fit, nicer for the smaller headed child.

This lightweight hat is hand wash and air dry, so please handle with care to keep it in tip top shape. It retails for $19, and $9 for those who qualify for the Coolibar School Program.

Here is a sizing chart to help you figure out what size to order. Have a question, it may already have been answered, check out the FAQs from Coolibar.

Check this out!

I found all of this information from Coolibar--VERY SCARY STUFF!

Did you know that most summer clothing offers little to none sun protection?
Did you know harmful UV rays pass through clouds, windows, and clothing?
Some very scary skin cancer facts

Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years.
One person dies of melanoma every hour.
Until age 39, women are the almost twice as likely to develop melanoma as men.
A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns at any age.
The incidence of many common cancers is falling, but the incidence of melanoma continues to rise.

Coolibar is known for:

Guaranteed Sun Protection-All Coolibar products are rated UPF 50+. Fabric testing is conducted by independent laboratories using a full life cycle test protocol on every dye lot of fabric. Your Coolibar products provide the same level of protection from your first use to the last time it is worn.
Embedded Protection-Mineral sunscreen ingredients, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are embedded into the fibers of several of our SUNTECT® line of fabrics. The fabrics block 98% UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays and the protection won’t wash out or fade.
Comfortable, Stylish Designs-UPF 50+ products for the entire family that match a wide variety of outdoor activities and sports – travel, golf, leisure, walking, swimming and gardening.
Cooler in Coolibar-Highly breathable, moisture wicking SUNTECT® fabrics provide coverage that shades your skin and keeps you cooler.
Unmatched Quality at Reasonable Prices-All day broad-spectrum sun protection that is affordable for all. Coolibar is less expensive than multiple sunscreen applications throughout a season and is non-greasy. Sunscreen coverage can be unpredictable and uneven whereas sun protective clothing provides consistent, reliable coverage no matter what. No guesswork.
Committed to Sun Protection Education-Through our outreach program Coolibar Cares and the SunAWARE (simple steps to prevent skin cancers) acronym Coolibar promotes sun safety education and skin cancer prevention.
Skin Cancer Foundation Recommended-Coolibar was the first clothing company to earn the Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation as safe and effective sun protection.

Coolibar is truly offering some safe, effective protection for adults and children. Give yourself the extra piece of mind that your skin is safe this summer and every day.

Want It? Buy It!

Coolibar is in the last days of their End of Summer Sale, you can save 30% off by using the coupon code "SALE12" at checkout. Men, Women, and Children all have great options to pick from and even stock up for next summer.

Summer Sale Items I love!

My favorite girl Coolibar piece: Long-sleeve Ruche Swim Shirt

My favorite boy Coolibar piece: Boy's Long-sleeve Splash Guard

Check out these Coolibar best sellers too. You can "LIKE" Coolibar on Facebook or follow Coolibar on Twitter. Read up on all things Coolibar by visiting their blog or anything related to sun protection information.

Many thanks to Coolibar for sending us these great sun protection clothing and hat items. B and S's skin is safer thanks to your products!

Thanks!

~Steph~

Disclosure: Other than the above mentioned products, which I received directly from this sponsor for review purposes, I was not compensated for facilitating this review. All opinions expressed are my own. Your experience may differ. Mommy's Block Party and its team members are not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipment- this is the understood responsibility of the giveaway sponsor.