Initial Report: SmartShield Sunscreen and Insect Repellent Products
August 9, 2006

Personal biographical information
Name: Eric Palmer
Age: 25 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8'' (173 cm)
Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)
Email address: ericj_palmer@yahoo.com
City, state, country: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Backpacking background: I started backpacking when I was seven years old, on family summer vacations to Estes Park, Colorado, which my dad took my brother and me hiking on. Since then I have moved to Colorado and have been hiking hardcore for five years now. I completed a Hikemaster’s Course in the Rocky Mountain National Park and have led numerous groups on hikes, both short and long, dispensing information on the various ecosystems in the area. My backpacking style is mostly ultralight or light.

Available Retail Sizes and Prices:
SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion 4 fl oz (118 ml) $7.99
SPF 30 Lotion Foil Pack, box of 50 foil packs $29.50
SPF 30 Spray with Insect Repellent 4 fl oz (118 ml) $8.99
SPF 30 Sunscreen Towelette with Insect Repellent box of 50 packets $34.00
After Sun Repair Foil Packs box of 50 packets $24.50
SPF 30 Lip Balm not indicated on website $1.75
SPF 30 Eyes, Face, and Nose 0.45 oz (13 g) $3.25
SPF 30 Faces 1 fl oz (30 ml) $5.99

Initial Impression: The products arrived within a few days of shipping from the manufacturer in Dallas, Texas. Some of the products being tested are sample size containers and not the actual retail size. I was thoroughly impressed with the packaging and look of the product. It appears to be a worthy product to be testing. After a significant amount of use, the sunscreen works great. It rubs in easier than other sunscreens I have used, it is not oily, and it has a nice scent to it. The insect repellent has a cedar wood scent, making it more appealing than DEET-loaded repellent. The look of the packaging is very aesthetically pleasing as well. The sample pouches and bottles are a clean-looking, white bottle with basic, easy-to-read information such as weight, SPF, active and inactive ingredients, and application instructions.

Testing Locations: I will be camping and tubing at Chambers Lake at 9200 feet (2 804 meters) in the Roosevelt National Forest. I will also be camping and swimming in the Red Feather Lakes, Colorado area at 8000 feet (2 438 meters) and I do most of my hiking in the montane ecosystem to alpine tundra in the mountains, between 5000-13000 ft (1524-3962 m); very close to the Sun. Temperatures range from 100 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 to 4.4 degrees Celsius). I work at a summer day camp and part of my job involves going swimming at an outdoor pool every few weeks and also taking outdoor field trips to such places as amusement parks and baseball games. I’ll be testing the products on these occasions as well.

Test plan: I will spend significant time testing this sunscreen in hiking conditions and in everyday day camp activities. I will apply it at least once a day until I am out. I’ll be testing to see how sweat proof it is, how waterproof it is and how easily it rubs into skin.

I am also going to be testing how the bug repellent works. I hike in the woods frequently and also near lots of stagnant water which usually tends to have lots of mosquitoes. I will be taking a few camping trips this summer and fall and will be testing the repellent there as well. The company claims that there are no oily hands when done applying the sunscreen. I will test to see if this statement is true.
Also, I will test how my skin feels after applying and after wearing the sunscreen. The sun block that I use currently leaves my skin feeling dry and clogged. SmartShield claims that their sunscreen will leave you feeling unclogged and untrapped under layers of chemicals. I plan on testing this sun block daily for the remainder of the summer or until I run out.

Reviews > Health & Safety > Sunscreens > Smartshield Sunblock Products > Eric Palmer > Initial Report