By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor
When you spend as much time in the sun as I do, protecting your skin is a priority. And while I diligently lube up with SPF 50 every morning of my twice-monthly trips to the Caribbean, like many people, I rarely remember to reapply. And when you’re outside and on the beach most of the day, that can really do a number on your skin.
Which is why I’m a big fan of rashguards and long-sleeved swimsuits (also known as spring suits), which give me an added element of sun protection, and which are definitely having a fashion “moment” right now. I usually sport swimwear from Roxy and other surf brands, but on a recent trip to Punta Cana I beach-tested a short suit from new L.A.-based brand, TUTUblue.
Created after the company’s owner had her own skin cancer scare, the suits are made with a swimsuit-like fabric that offers up to UPF 50 protection from damaging UVA and UVB rays. I picked the short suit, but TUTUblue makes the one-piece suits with short and full-length pants for kids, as well as women.
What We Loved TUTUblue’s range of bold patterns and bright colors is right up my alley – colorful and very appropriate for the Caribbean (I’m wearing the Galaxy print). I really appreciated the high neck and thumbholes, which give meaningful protection to your décolletage and the top of your hands (which every woman knows really give your age away). The material was breathable, moderately stretchy and dried quickly, and was a heavier weight than regular swimsuit fabric, so it really offered support and that comforting “held in” feeling. I also liked that the shorts legs stayed in place through a beach run and didn’t ride up on my thighs. (TUTUblue designs their suits for paddleboarding and other active outdoor pursuits.) The long zipper tape makes getting into the suit a one-person job, and adds a pop of color I loved.
What Could Use Some Work My only quibble with this near-perfect one-piece: I found the feel of the zipper against my neck mildly irritating; the rear neck really needs a zipper “garage”- that extra piece of fabric that folds over the top of the zip to stop it rubbing directly on your skin. I’m also not a fan of conspicuous logos, so I didn’t love the branding on the forearm. But, again, a very minor quibble.
Where To Get Yours: Buy online at tutublue.com and on Amazon here. The short suit I tested is $195.