Voted in Top Ten Travel Items

Shade your face and protect your head from life’s hard knocks with the Cush’n Shade portable beach canopy.  Featuring a 50+ SPF protection and weighing just 900 grams, the Cush’n Shade folds flat and comes with its own carry strap. 

Available for $49.99 from Hedonics.

A Summer’s Day, Made in the Shade

MOST people love sitting in the sun, but they also know the dangers of too much exposure (and leathery, wrinkled skin is the least of them).  There are all types of umbrellas, pavilions and tents to provide the necessary shade.  Some are portable and sized for an individual; others will cover a crowd.

The Cush’n Shade beach canopy, which has a built-in pillow filled with tiny polystyrene beads, can be used on the ground or on a lounge chair.  It comes in blue, red or lime green: $45.95 from Brookstone.com. 

Good Gear

“What a great idea – a cotton cushion with a sun shade attached via a ratchet mechanism so it can be adjusted to any angle.  It will also fit on to a sun lounger, for even greater comfort.”

(CBS) When the summer rolls around, do you drag out the same old battered beach bag, caked with sand from summers past? How about that flimsy beach chair with the cracked, mildewed cushions? Your pool float has a superhero on it (and, um, your kids are in college)? Isn't it time to update your backyard beach gear?

Rachel Florio, a celebrity trend expert, has found some trendy items with bold bright colors and graphic prints that are not only chic, they're fun — and they won't empty your wallet.

Umbrellas: If you're up for a splurge, consider the beautiful, brightly colored Tidal Stripe beach umbrella from Anthropologie (anthropologie.com, $348); a shade alternative would be the Cush 'n' Shade portable sunshade and cushion (www.beachstore.com, 85400, $34.95) is odd-looking, but you have to wonder why someone never thought of it before. You lie your head on the cushion and the shade covers your head (it's 16 inches away, so no worries if you're claustrophobic).

This ingenious new neck-supporting pillow (main picture) is also fitted with a SPF50 sunshade so a snooze in the sun won’t leave beach-lovers red-faced. Now why didn’t we think of that?

£17.45 from Cush ’n Shade (00 353 1 4907885, www.cushnshade.com)

“I could of done with one of these when I was on holiday last week (which already feels like it was months ago). Instead smoothering my face with factor 30 I could of used a Cush’n Shade.
The Cush’n Shade is a cushion for your noggin with an attached sun shield to protect your face from those harmful rays. The shade offers the equivalent of +50 ultraviolet protection factor so should be enough for the most delicate of skins.”

“What's the hottest fashion accessory this summer? Cush 'n Shade! Combining comfort with sensibility in the hot Australian sun, Cush 'n Shade allows you to enjoy those relaxing summer holidays soaking up the sun without the discomfort of squinting while reading your book. With a neck-supporting pillow with an SPF50 sunshade, you can enjoy the sun and protect your face against harmful UV rays at the same time. So if wrinkles, freckles & skin cancer are not on your list this summer, lash on the sunscreen and arm yourself with a light weight Cush 'n Shade.”

"Forget bikinis and sunnies (for a moment) - here’s the holiday essential. It combines a neck-supporting pillow with an SPF50 sunshade. We’re predicting it’ll become a cult buy and Pucci will be designing covers for it by next year.”

The Real Slim Shady

“How many times have you lain in the sun, squirming about, squinting at your book as the sun compromises your sight?  Joan Bree was lying on the beach in Sardinia with friends a few years ago, trying in vain to get comfortable with the sun in her face.  She decided it was time to do something about this holiday problem – and the Cush’n Shade (right) was born.  The ingenious design incorporates a cushion for you head and adjustable shade to shield your face from the sun and help to prevent UV rays from damaging your skin.

Triona’s Most Wanted

“In the “Why didn’t I think of this and now I’d be a millionairess?” category comes Cush’n Shade. The answer to all your sunbathing problems, it offers protection by shading your face from the harmful rays of the sun while you tan.

Celebrity Love Island girls Kelle Bryan, Lady Victoria Harvey and Sophie Anderton, right, could benefit hugely.

The shade has a 50+ ultraviolet factor built in, with a cushion to support your neck on the beach. With the weighted strap it can also be used on sun loungers by the pool.”

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“An Irish Company has come up with a clever little product to help protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. As its name implies, Cush’n Shade™ is a devise combining a cushion and a shade. Cush’n Shade™ can be used as a stand-alone product places directly on the ground, but a weighted strap also means you can balance it perfectly on any sun lounger. It allows the face to be fully shaded from any angle of the sun, and makes reading a very do-able pleasure. The face and hair are covered and protected by the shade, which offers +50 ultra violet protection factor, while the built in cushion supports the neck 9for reading or viewing), as the rest of the body sunbathes, using your usual sun protection cream. Cush’n Shade™ is light, robust and portable. It’s tough enough to withstand the usual outdoor wear and tear, weighs just 900 grams and slips easily into a suitcase.”

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http://www.abroad.ie/

Clever Product of the Week

“It’s great when something new and clever comes on the market and even better when it’s Irish-made.  This natty little travel companion will protect your face from the sun with a built- in spf of 50+.  It’s cushioned underneath your head for ultra comfort and can be angled to suit as the sun moves around throughout the day.  It comes with a shoulder strap to make it easily portable and only weighs a mere 900 grams so you’ll hardly even feel it in your suitcase.  If you still love to tan your body, do your face a big favour and keep it out of the sun – you’ll be glad you did in years to come.”

See Review

This week we want to know all about ... The Cush'n Shade

“It's a hot summer's day and you're lounging on the beach. You can't wait to get back into your favourite read while soaking up the rays, but the sun's in your eyes, there's sand in your sandwich, your head is starting to feel like the inside of a pressure cooker and it's becoming an effort even to turn the page. But there is a way out - the Cush'n Shade.

According to the creators of this accessory, 'Reading in the sun has now become a pleasure because the shade blocks the glare of the sun and will even help to support your holiday novel'. So three cheers for no more uncomfortable moments, achy arms or squinty eyes.
The shade above your now not-so-hot head can also double up as a nifty table for a pina colada or daiquiri and cleverly transforms into a portable shoulder bag. And for those who like to accessorise, additional cushion covers are available in a range of shades to co-ordinate with any bikini, towel or pair of trunks. Grazia loves it. And so do we!”

http://observer.guardian.co.uk

If you’re heading off on your two week break in the sun, check out these must-have accessories before packing that suitcase

“The face and head are in particular need of protection from too much UV radiation, and Irish women Joan Bree devised this very knacky shade for your face.
Cush’n Shade costs just €24.95 and it combines a cushion for under your neck and a sunshade that flips over your head.
The U-shaped device allows your face to be fully shaded from any angle of the sun.  The shade over your face offers factor 50 UV protection, while the rest of the body sunbaths.

Beachbag
It isn’t heavy to carry, weighing just 900 grams, so it slips easily into your beachbag or into your suitcase.”

See Review

Summer Shade

“Whilst on holiday you can catch up with your favourite reads at the poolside, it’s a perfect time for relaxing in the sun and enjoying your new book. Sitting comfortably in the sun, trying to read your book without squinting or getting tan lines from your sunglasses is a feat in itself.

The revolutionary Cush n Shade is the answer to all your sunbathing problems; it offers protection by shading your face from the harmful rays of the sun. The shade is made with a 50+ ultra violet factor built in, with a cushion to support your neck whilst chilling out on the beach, with the weighted strap it can also be used on sunloungers by the pool.

The Cush n Shade allows you to read and relax in comfort protecting you from the sun, it can be easily stored as it folds up to fit in your suitcase, available in a variety of colours that are machine washable and removable. The Cush n Shade is available online for £17.45 and is the coolest beach accessory, you can even use it to keep your cocktail cool on the beach!”

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Stay in the Shade

“Read and sunbath without getting achy arms or having to squint with the new Cush’n Shade.
It combines a cushion and a sunshade in one lightweight unit that protects your face from UV rays while comfortably supporting your neck.

See Review