Suncare CEO Launches Project Backpack™

NEW YORK, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids aren't getting the sunscreen message.  According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, unprotected sun exposure during childhood and early adult years significantly increases a child's chance of developing skin cancer; yet, in a survey conducted by The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, only 25% of students said they "often or always" use sunscreen when outside for at least six hours in the summer.

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"The time to start incorporating SPF into your daily skincare regimen is during the school years.  This is a very important time to get these positive messages to children as it will influence health behaviors later in life," says Holly Thaggard, Founder and CEO of Supergoop!.

However, sunscreens are prohibited from public schools in America as the FDA regulates them as over-the-counter drugs. Presently, California is the only state to allow the use of sunscreen during the school day without a physician's note or prescription.

Launching nationwide May 2012, Project Backpack™ serves as a vehicle to influence a change in state policies, allowing the use of sunscreen on school campuses, while simultaneously providing sunscreen to schools across the United States. For every SPF 30 Everyday UV Lotion sold, Supergoop! will donate one backpack-sized sunscreen to one of its partner schools in the U.S. This year, the goal is to provide sunscreen for 30,000 – 40,000 students (K – 12) in approved partner schools, starting in California.

The idea for Project Backpack™ arose when Holly's daughter came home from her first grade class prior to an outdoor field trip with a note in her backpack stating that any sunscreen included in a child's backpack would be discarded. Although aware the law prohibiting sunscreens in schools existed, the incident served as a catalyst to officially launch Project Backpack™.

"As a parent I was upset and as a suncare professional, I was discouraged that sun protection laws are so antiquated," said Thaggard. "How does a law exist that prohibits the use of sunscreen at school? I decided that there needed to be an effective platform for concerned parents to contest such counterintuitive legislation." Through this campaign, Supergoop! hopes to teach sun safety while also providing children with the necessary sun protection to encourage early adoption of healthy skincare habits.

Dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD, past president of American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and founder of LovelySkin.com, states, "Safe sun exposure is essential at every age. It is imperative that we break habits such as going on the playground unprotected. Project Backpack has identified one area where sun exposure regrettably is nearly unavoidable due to current school rules. As a dermatologist, I feel this type of program is fantastic and will serve our most precious asset, our kids, well."

Make a difference and support Project Backpack™ by purchasing Supergoop's SPF 30 Everyday UV Lotion at retailers nationwide, nominating and advocating the program in your child's school, "liking" the Project Backpack™ campaign on Facebook, and/or signing a petition on Supergoop.com/projectbackpack.

About Supergoop!
As the first prestige skincare line solely dedicated to a healthy approach to UV protection, Supergoop! is committed to formulating skincare without controversial ingredient choices. Our goal is to provide an environment and body-friendly choice for daily UV protection. Each UV protection solution is infused with vitamins and antioxidants –free of parabens, oxybenzone, and fragrances- to deliver a healthy and effective SPF as our best defense against UV damage. Supergoop! is available at Nordstrom/Nordstrom.com, Sephora/Sephora.com, Barney's/Barneys.com, Supergoop.com and independent retailers nationwide. For additional information on Project Backpack™ visit www.supergoop.com/projectbackpack.

SOURCE Supergoop!