This is a letter to Mothers from a Mother of Four, the Founder of Daily Shade and Board-Certified Physician Assistant:

Dear Fellow Mamas,

As a mom of four, I understand what mornings look like. They are often not slow or peaceful (even when we wake up early to do our workout and morning routine). They are often still full and busy, there are backpacks, missing shoes, brushing teeth, forgotten water bottles, lunches, sports schedules, and trying to get everyone out the door on time. I get it because I'm living it everyday too.

There is already so much to remember.

And the last thing I want to do is ask moms to add one more responsibility to an already full plate. But I am asking anyway.  Not because I think moms need more pressure. But because I know how important this one habit truly is.

Before I founded Daily Shade, I worked as a board-certified Physician Assistant. In medicine, I saw firsthand what skin cancer can do.

I saw surgeries.

Scars.

Fear.

The emotional toll of hearing a diagnosis people never expected. And what struck me most was this: skin cancer is the most common cancer in America, BUT, it is also the most preventable!

That matters.

Because prevention means we are not powerless. It means small daily choices can change outcomes. And one of the most important habits we can build for our children starts early. The truth is that much of our lifetime sun damage happens during childhood.

Not from one beach vacation.

Not from a single bad sunburn.

But from small repeated moments that happen every day. Walking into school. Playing at recess. Sitting at soccer practice. Riding in the car. Waiting at pickup.

The sun exposure that feels insignificant in the moment becomes cumulative over time. And because children are not thinking about long-term health, the responsibility falls to us. As parents, we create the habits that protect them.

I know sunscreen can feel like one more thing. I know you are already trying to do everything right: Brush their teeth. Feed them well. Get them to bed at a smart hour. Help them feel loved. Help them fine self love. Show up for school. Keep up with sports and homework and all the invisible work motherhood carries. But I believe sunscreen belongs on that list. Not because perfection matters, but because consistency matters.

For moms, daily sunscreen matters too. Sun exposure contributes to hyperpigmentation, melasma, fine lines, premature aging, and long-term skin damage. But beyond appearance, it is also about health. It is about reducing cumulative UV exposure over a lifetime. It is about protecting ourselves the same way we protect everyone else.

That is why I created Daily Shade. I wanted a sunscreen families would actually use.One that was safe enough for babies, but elegant enough for everyone including us Moms who are worried about whether it will work with our makeup.

I designed Daily Shade to be something a mom could apply to her children without hesitation and then reach for herself every single morning. A formula gentle enough for young sensitive skin, but beautiful enough to wear on your own face. I also put it in this kit complete with everything you need to quickly apply and reapply sunscreen. I have on in all our bathrooms, purse and car: The Daily Shade Motherhood Survival Kit

 

 

Because moms deserve products that feel luxurious, wearable, and easy to build into everyday life. And because families should not need separate routines for everyone in the house. Daily Shade was created to be one shared habit. One sunscreen for the kids. One sunscreen for mom. One product that fits into real life.

I also encourage moms to think beyond just the face.

One of the most common places women develop melanoma is on the calf, an area often exposed during everyday life and frequently overlooked. The calf is also one of the most dangerous locations because melanoma in women commonly appears there.

That is why daily sunscreen should not stop at the face. Applying protection to the face, neck, chest, shoulders, and legs can make a meaningful difference over time.

Because sunscreen is not only about appearance. It is about protection. And consistency is what changes outcomes. I do not believe moms need more guilt. I believe moms need realistic solutions. And I believe that daily sunscreen is one small habit that can create lifelong protection.

We have the power to change what the next generation experiences. We have the power to normalize sun protection. We have the power to make sunscreen feel as automatic as brushing teeth. And if enough families build this habit early, we can help reduce the most common and most preventable cancer in America. That is why I am asking you to do it. Not because you need one more thing. But because this one thing matters.

With love,

Breelyn Vanleeuwen
Board-Certified Physician Assistant, Mom of Four and Founder

Frequently Asked Questions About Daily Sunscreen for Moms and Kids

Do kids really need sunscreen every day?

Yes. Children accumulate significant UV exposure during daily life, even during short periods outside.

Is sunscreen important even on cloudy days?

Yes. UV rays can penetrate cloud cover and still contribute to skin damage.

Why is sunscreen important for moms?

Daily sunscreen helps reduce hyperpigmentation, fine lines, premature aging, and long-term UV exposure linked to skin cancer.

Can moms and kids use the same sunscreen?

Many families prefer one wearable daily sunscreen that works for everyone, making routines easier and more consistent.

Daily sun protection is not about perfection. It is about consistency.

For kids, it is about protecting skin during the years when most sun damage happens.

For moms, it is about preserving skin health, preventing visible aging, and reducing long-term risk.

The best sunscreen routine is the one that becomes part of everyday life.

And when moms and kids can use the same product, protection becomes simpler.

One habit.

One product.

One small daily step that protects your family for years to come.