Smells Like Childhood

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Neutrogena.
I received samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

 

The simple things are what I remember most about my childhood. Running around barefoot outside, invincible to bee stings and splinters. Joining the other Popsicle-stained faced kids for a friendly game of dodge ball that always ended with someone crying and going home. Different neighborhood Moms doling out snacks while we panted like tired dogs under a shaded tree. And the smells. Laundry on the line. Chlorine. Wildflowers that invaded our nostrils as we drove down the road with the music up and the windows down. The hot sun, baking an unidentifiable animal carcass, immediately ruining the floral scent wafting into our car. Western Pennsylvania, you aromatic melting pot, you.

After a hard day of being kids, my brother and I usually got a bath together. Is that weird? I didn’t think it was until I typed it. Maybe it’s weird! Regardless, now that I have three kids of my own, I realize what a time-saver it is to throw’em all in the tub at the same time. And just like my brother and I did, my kids have fun in the suds, too. Creating bubble beards and giggling like no one else is in on their joke is their favorite:

“You look like Santa!”

“SO DO YOU!”

“Make the baby a beard!”

“BABIES DON’T HAVE BEARDS!”

<insert hysterical laughter here>

Honestly, my fondest memory of doubling up bath time with my brother is when he was too little to know better and crapped in the tub. I had jumped out, screeching about how gross it was, and he sat there with white bubbles up to his chin, afraid of his own floater. My mom and I laughed so hard we cried, as he did but for a completely different reason.

I’m beginning to see where I get some of my parenting skills…

Anyway, of all the simple things that represent my childhood, one stands out in my memory and in my parents’: Neutrogena. Their bath products were a staple in my house growing up, and when I had my own kiddos, my Dad couldn’t wait to inhale their sweet newborn heads fresh out of the bath. Once we used a lavender-scented shampoo and Pap Tom was none too impressed. He suggested (read: insisted) his grandchildren only be bathed in the best: Neutrogena, just like his kids had been.

I’m a huge fan of Neutrogena’s eye make-up remover, as it’s the only thing that takes off all of my waterproof mascara at the end of the day. I would prefer to wear non-waterproof mascara, but I’ve taken up the sport of sweating through the large pores in my face enough to embarrass myself and my family, so waterproof it is!

Neutrogena’s sunscreen is another of my go-to’s. After a particularly scary visit to my dermatologist a few years back, I never leave the house without sunblock, especially in these hot summer months. It would just be nice if protecting my face didn’t mean breaking out like a junior high kid. As if reading my mind, or those aforementioned over-sized pores in my nose, Neutrogena was like, “Here. Have this Pure & Free stuff.”

I was impressed. So much so that I was like, “Okay, put your money where your mouth is and make a sunblock that my kids with sensitive skin and leftover baby eczema can use!” Not one to back down from a challenge, Neutrogena answered back with their Pure & Free Sensitive Skin AND Pure & Free Baby sunblocks. Then they reminded me that Neutrogena Products have received the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, and my kiddos are in good hands. Now the one, four, and five year-olds are all covered, literally, from head to toe. Mama don’t play when it comes to sunburns. Did you know that even though one out of five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer, only 20% of us actually use SPF on a daily basis? I’m not good at math, but there are five people living under my roof, and I don’t like our odds. And every time a new freckle or mole crops up, I go full-on panic mode.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN. PROTECT YOUR KIDS’ SKIN. #ChooseSkinCare

Now that I’m done yelling at you, let’s play a game. Based on mine and my kids’ sunblock needs, match the correct product to the correct person. And before you ask, yes, this is for a grade:

 

Did you match B. with that adorable baby, A. with my big nose pores, and C. with Ebony and Ivory down there on the bottom? WELL DONE! You win nothing except pride. You’re welcome.

For more information about Neutrogena’s sunblock products, click HERE. To take part in their #ChooseSkinHealth campaign, use that hashtag on Facebook or Twitter.