Anne Heche launches sunscreen that’s easy to apply on kids

Yes, it’s officially the last day of summer so the timing of this story is a bit unfortunate. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good one. There’s a new sunscreen on the market that’s getting some attention, not necessarily for its SPF properties, but for its application technique instead.

If you’re a parent, you know how tough it is to put sunscreen on your kids. With all the squirming and the shrieking complaints, sunscreen application is the worst part of a day at the beach. “You’re hurting me…you’re getting it in my eyes…don’t touch my ears!” are just some of the famous one-liners. And then you gotta do the other side!

But perhaps there’s a way to avoid all that.

Actress Anne Heche has created ‘Tickle Time Mineral Sunscreen’. The main selling point is that it’s a chemical-free powdered sunscreen for kids that is lightly applied with a brush. NBC’s Today Show reports that it was inspired by the mineral makeup Heche uses on herself. The 43-year-old partnered with makers of La Bella Donna and dermatologists to develop the product.

Instead of being absorbed like lotions and sprays, the mineral powder sits on top of the skin, acting as a natural barrier to light. It provides UVA and UVB protection with an SPF of 20.
Heche told the Today Show that she came up with the name while experimenting how it would work on her own boys, Homer, 10, and Atlas, 3. They giggled and played with it so much that she started calling out “tickle time!” when it was time to apply it:

“I wanted it to be a toy, something fun for them to put on,” she said, adding, “Homer and Atlas made me understand that this could be called Tickle Time, and I wasn’t kidding. [My partner James Tupper] looked at me and said, ‘One day, this has to be for everybody.’ Make it a tradition for kids in the family having a good time putting on sunblock and be empowered putting it on themselves.”

It’s been about a month since the official launch of this product. And although summer is winding down to a close, that doesn’t mean sunscreen should be forgotten about until next year.

Experts have always warned that the sun is dangerous all year round. You may think that just because the weather is hotter in the summer that the sun’s rays are more severe. But that isn’t necessarily true. As Solice.com points out, ultraviolet rays are just as powerful in below-freezing temperatures as they are in the midst of a heat wave.

In addition, winter sports make sun exposure very dangerous. Many winter activities (like skiing and sledding) are done on the tops of hills or mountains. Experts say higher altitudes are prime conditions for skin disasters because you’re that much closer to the sun’s harmful rays. Those rays often reflect back harshly when they bounce off white snow and ice surfaces — which can be damaging to your eyes and skin if you don’t take precautions.