I wish I could express the intense fear I felt the day I found out I had Melanoma. That feeling along with the waiting and uncertainty alone has changed my life forever and made me wish 1,000 times that I’d done a few things differently just a couple years ago. (Starting with covering up at the beach!)
That fear is also something that I am certain would change you too. Instead od dedicating one month of the year to Skin Cancer Awareness, it's something we should be vigilant about throughout the year.
Sun safety goes beyond just SPF, but should include UPF, too. I discovered a really cute and wearable line of sun protective clothing that I am so excited about! Had I known then what I know now, I would have taken sun safety a lot more seriously.
Life after Melanoma has been about educating myself and others, finding every way possible to protect myself from the dangers of the sun, and the hardest part … getting over my fear of spending time outdoors. (Yeah, there was actually a period of time where I was afraid to commit to attending outdoor events.)
When I first attempted to shop for sun protective clothing a few years ago, my search came up short. I couldn’t find anything a 20-something year old would want to be seen in and just because I want to protect my skin doesn’t mean I want to look drab!
The thought of spending extended periods of time outdoors first felt terrifying. I was afraid to be in the sun and felt like there was nothing I could do to cover up enough to enjoy daylight.
Thankfully, with time and information, I’ve adjusted to taking proper precautions to protect my skin from the sun and I am now beyond THRILLED to have stumbled upon Mott 50, a line of super cute sun protective clothing and accessories.
These pieces are life savers … literally. If you’ve ever tried to shop for sun protective clothing in the past you know that the selection is usually sad and frumpy. What about the fashionista that wants to cover up? That’s what the gals who started Mott 50 were thinking when they started the line!
Sun safety isn’t just about preventing skin cancer (which by the way is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.) … it’s also about preventing premature aging like wrinkles and sun spots. Nice skin is what’s in.
Mott 50 is a new line of fashion that offers sun protective clothing, with UPF in every garment. UPF = ultraviolet protection factor. UPF indicates how much of the sun’s UV rays are absorbed by the fabric before it reaches your skin.
A UPF rating of 50 means that only 1/50th (or 1 %) of the UV radiation (both UVA and UVB rays) can penetrate fabric, thus indicating how effective the clothing is from blocking UV rays. Pretty cool, huh?
Dermatologists rank sun protective clothing as the #1 way to successfully block the sun’s harmful rays, proving to be even more effective than sunscreen. Mott 50 is finally a place where fashion meets function!
The pieces are stylish, easy-to-wear, super cute and are 50 UPF. If you’re wondering what makes Mott 50’s clothing different from regular clothes and gives it a higher UPF, I did some research!
It’s the tightness of the weave and low porosity of the fabrics Mott 50 uses in their line create a higher UPF in these garments than in typical clothing. In comparison to regular clothing … the average white t-shirt has a UPF of just 5.
There are an array of cute and fashionable pieces available from Mott 50 with 50 UVF! I’m not a model, but I wanted you to see how fabulous these pieces are. I’m a huge fan of the Girandella Infinity Scarf ($68) because you can wear it a few different ways.
I’m wearing it in toast/white stripes. It’s made in the USA … you can throw this lightweight shawl in your tote and wear it as a scarf or a shawl as a cover up. It is so soft! (Contents: 92% Rayon Soft Spin Bamboo/8%Spandex)
If you’re a beach-goer or spend a lot of time outside in the summer, this piece is one of Mott 50’s best sellers. The Santa Cruz swim dress ($115) can be worn like a dress cover up or cinched up on the sides as a top. I’m wearing shark grey, (I like neutrals that go with a lot because I get to wear them more often) but it comes in a bunch of gorgeous colors.
Certified with 50 UPF, every lady who spends time outdoors in a bathing suit should have this piece in her closet. The fabric is breathable and dries REALLY quickly. It also has a nice amount of stretch to it.
Wearing Mott 50 allows me the ability to spend time outdoors without worrying like crazy. That is such a relief. While the harmful UV rays penetrate regular clothing, Mott 50 apparel blocks the suns rays in a fashionable way. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime?
Some cases can we dealt with at the dermatologists office, others take lives and when they do, it happens very fast. In the past 40 years, Melanoma (the most aggressive and deadliest form of skin cancer) has risen 800% among young women age 25-29.
Mott 50 got my stamp of approval, but they got a huge nod from the Skin Cancer Foundation, earning their seal of approval! To achieve the seal, all of the fabrics had to be tested, certified and reviewed by them before gaining the seal of recommendation.
*press sample
Leaving the north for a holiday in the sunny Southern Hemisphere is a tricky one. Not tricky in the sense that it's difficult to do - trust me, I could spend my days on the beach all day every day without a problem! But tricky in the sense that all you want to do is take in as many beautiful ocean views as possible while soaking up the sunshine yet, you know all the dangers of UV rays and the long term damage that each hour in the sun causes.
I recently visited Mauritius and was reminded of not only the beauty of the island, but also the importance of looking after our skin in the baking hot sun. Whilst a sun-kissed look will last only a few weeks, the damage we do to our skin through sun exposure lasts years. Often sunscreen is not enough – we need a cover-up to aid in sun protection as well.
The problem I find in warm climates is that the last thing you feel like doing is covering up completely - I mean, you're trying to cool down and it seems almost counterintuitive to add more layers. Am I right?
Thankfully, the cool, light fabrics of my Sea Lily Hanna cover-up and sarong helped solve this dilemma. Made from 100% cotton, these garments are a lifesaver if you want to make the most of the sun whilst still protecting your skin.
Now, if the thought of covering up in the sun leaves you with terrifying flash backs of your mom smearing sunscreen all over your face and squeezing you into some dreadful nylon ‘rashy’, then fear not. Fashion has finally caught up with sun-smart wear and the Sea Lily range is full of fantastic beach and poolside resort style garments.
The Hanna cover-up has beautiful embroidered detail on the front and long sleeves to keep arms protected. It is the perfect ‘day to night’ piece as it can easily be teamed with some sandals and jewellery for summer evenings or thrown over a bikini during the daytime.
Not only does Sea Lily have us rejoicing for allowing us to tick both the 'stay cool?' and 'stay cool?' criteria, but the brand is also dedicated to coral reef conservation.
This is something that is very close to my heart. In 2013 I was involved in a coral reef conservation program in the beautiful, tropical Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. We built coral farms with the aim of rebuilding the coral population on the coast of Mauritius and in doing so rebuilding the homes of many a sea creature.
Sea Lily donates a portion of each sale to coral reef conservation and so it seemed only natural to return to the island with garments that support the cause I was involved with years ago.
As we go about our busy lives we may be unaware that coral reef destruction is a serious issue. The WWF believes that two-thirds of coral reefs are under threat worldwide, with 25% of coral reefs already considered damaged or beyond repair. With coral reefs forming the home of a quarter of all marine life, coral reef destruction poses a massive threat to our oceans.
Whether you are heading to the beach or preparing for a coastal getaway, why not make a special effort to look after the world whilst looking after your skin as well?
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