Sunbathe Safely This Summer

Beach season's new weapon in the battle against sunburnt skin is a little gadget known as SunMate. With the press of a button, SunMate’s LED indicators light up to reveal the intensity of the sun's ultraviolet rays, prompting users to protect their skin when needed most. Levels 1 through 5 denote the National Weather Service's ultraviolet index scale, with 1 being "low danger" and 5 being "extreme risk." As I recently packed for my own beach weekend, I threw a SunMate in my bag to give it a try. It weighs less than a pound, so no overpacking-guilt ensued.
Once in the sun, I unfolded my beach chair and studied the surplus of sunblock bottles before me, contemplating everything between SPF 4 and 40. That’s when I remembered my SunMate, which informed me that the UV intensity was a 3 (high risk). I took the tool’s word for it and went with the 40.
More surprising, however, was what it told me when I returned from my trip. I pulled SunMate out to detect how dangerous a semi-cloudy morning in New York City could be. Sure enough, SunMate gauged it a 3 again. If I had been walking around the city that day, I wouldn’t have even considered wearing sunblock. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?
No friendship is flawless, however, and I do have one complaint. Glare from the sun causes the red lights to be somewhat hard to distinguish. I shaded the tool with my hand to get rid of the glare, but SunMate did its job and detected that, in the shade, the UV risk was a 1. It took some squinting on my part to figure out the reading.
If you can get past the glitch, SunMate is a handy device that’s easy to tote around. It also makes a good gift for worrying parents, tanning enthusiasts, and anyone heading off for a vacation in the sun. You can purchase the SunMate at PurelyProducts.com for $19.95.

Katie Kerns, Production Editor