Let's talk Sunblock!

[Brandi]

So being in a job that finds me outside a lot (www.sandscapes.com) and I hike and bike. I have to protect myself from our wonderful sun. Giant hat, long sleeves (when it is not to hot) and sunblock. But I have started to hear common sunblocks could cause skin issues. So I am using an organic clear zinc sunblock. Anyone have a good brand they like?

[Blueberry]

So being in a job that finds me outside a lot (www.sandscapes.com) and I hike and bike. I have to protect myself from our wonderful sun. Giant hat, long sleeves (when it is not to hot) and sunblock. But I have started to hear common sunblocks could cause skin issues. So I am using an organic clear zinc sunblock. Anyone have a good brand they like?

Badger Balm sunblock is one of the safest from what I've heard.

My dermo recommended Neutrogena for Sensitive Skin - comments on that one?

[Savra]

I love the Neutrogena ones. Of course, my favorite is the one that sprays on rather than having to touch it. I don't know about it being bad for your skin though. It does well for me and has for years.

[Catrin]

We do have lots of previous discussions on this, especially in the health forum. You can use the search engine to find them, there is one in particular that I've tried to find and can't. It is, of course, possible that I just dreamed that particular thread.

The 2011 EWG Sunblock Guide has been released here (http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/). You may need to click through something that asks you if you want to be on their email list, but this guide gives a lot of good information.

[Pax]

I'm allergic to everything under the sun, the only thing I've found to use over the years (believe it or not) is Coppertone Sport spf 30. All the fancy prescription ones, all the hypoallergenic ones, nothing worked... except plain old Coppertone.

[Brandi]

Badger Balm sunblock is one of the safest from what I've heard.

My dermo recommended Neutrogena for Sensitive Skin - comments on that one?
Hum that is what I use. :)

[Brandi]

We do have lots of previous discussions on this, especially in the health forum. You can use the search engine to find them, there is one in particular that I've tried to find and can't. It is, of course, possible that I just dreamed that particular thread.

The 2011 EWG Sunblock Guide has been released here (http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/). You may need to click through something that asks you if you want to be on their email list, but this guide gives a lot of good information.
Thank you for the link! And yes I am sure it has been talked about in the past. But a lot has so sometimes you just gotta bring it up again...you know for the newbies. :p

[Becky]

Vanicream for days when I need long-lasting waterproof protection, and Aveeno Natural Protection for days I don't. The Vanicream takes some scrubbing to get off, but the Aveeno sweats off on its own after a couple of hours.

[emily_in_nc]

DH and I had been looking for a chemical-free sunscreen to use in Belize (and for summer bike rides). After reading numerous reviews, EWG, etc., we found Tropical Sands (formerly called Mexitan but is the same stuff). This particular sunscreen appealed to me because in addition to being environmentally friendly and natural, reviews stated it is much easier to spread on the skin than most of the titanium/zinc oxide (barrier) sunscreens. We've tried Badger & AquaSport and found both hard to spread, and they left a noticeable white cast on our skin.

Here is one of the reviews that helped convince me to give it a try:
http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/mexitan-sunscreen-review.html

We ordered one bottle of the SPF 30 to try, and we love it! It spreads easily and definitely does protect from the sun. It doesn't leave as much of a white cast to the skin as the other barrier sunscreens we've tried, though it does tned to turn a bit whiter as you sweat, so it shows a bit more at the end of a bike ride than at the beginning. I actually kind of like that in a way, because it makes me feel like it's still "there" and doing something even after a ride of 2-3 hours. I'm just so glad it is easy to spread as it takes long enough to get ready for a bike ride without struggling just to put sunscreen on too!

No affiliation with the company, just a satisfied customer who will be ordering more!

http://www.mexitanproducts.com/SPF30MoreInfo.html

[Jolt]

I'll have to try that Mexitan stuff. I have used Burt's Bees and had the same issue with it being kind of hard to spread, but I would prefer to use the natural products.

[Brandi]

It's funny i put the badger on and people think I am sun burnt! It makes me look kinda reddish purple with my skin tone. All day people will say " The backs of your legs are getting burnt" alllllll day! I am constantly saying "No I have heavy duty sun block onthat is what you are seeing". And I notice it is hard to get off. I use a natural soap too so I have to scrub. It get's in your pores! I will try the mexican stuff!

[Blueberry]

Thanks, Emily! I'm definitely going to try the Mexitan Stuff - it looks good! Does it have a scent?

[westtexas]

I love the Neutrogena stuff - they now make sport sunscreens specifically for your face and your body separately as well as it being for sensitive skin.

I just recently purchased Aveeno Hydrosport (http://www.aveeno.com/suncare/hydrosport?utm_campaign=Aveeno%20Sun%20-%20Branded&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Sitelink&utm_term=Sitelink%20-%20Hydrosport) and it's great. I don't like sprays, so I have the cream. But it's designed to stick around even with sweating and you can reapply it even if you aren't dry. The best part is it doesn't smell like sunscreen at all whatsoever. It's been great on my 40 mile rides into the setting western sun.

[amb]

I am partial to Coppertone Oil Free, SPF 50. I hate being so greasy with most sunscreens. I use the lotion. The foam is stickier and sprays never seem to cover enough. I read a stat that most people use 1/4 - 1/2 the amount they should. I slather it on. I've also been wearing a thin base layer type shirt under my SS jersey to keep the sun off me. I've got hundreds of moles, 3 or 4 of which have had to be removed so I try to ALWAYS have plenty of sunscreen.

[LivetoRide]

I have sensitive skin and use Neutrogena's stuff. While not rated too highly on the 2011 EWG Sunblock Guide, I'm sticking with it because it usually is ok for my sensitive skin. And as westtexas mentioned, they have sport-specific versions too (in sprays, face-specific, etc.).

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Emily! I'm definitely going to try the Mexitan Stuff - it looks good! Does it have a scent?

It does. I like it, but it's hard to describe. I don't find it too strong. It's not a coconut scent like a lot of sunscreens. Maybe it's the green tea? Not sure, but I don't find it offensive at all. Buy one bottle to start and see what you think - different strokes, and all that!

[Catrin]

.....
Here is one of the reviews that helped convince me to give it a try:
http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/mexitan-sunscreen-review.html

We ordered one bottle of the SPF 30 to try, and we love it! It spreads easily and definitely does protect from the sun. It doesn't leave as much of a white cast to the skin as the other barrier sunscreens we've tried, though it does tned to turn a bit whiter as you sweat, so it shows a bit more at the end of a bike ride than at the beginning. I actually kind of like that in a way, because it makes me feel like it's still "there" and doing something even after a ride of 2-3 hours. I'm just so glad it is easy to spread as it takes long enough to get ready for a bike ride without struggling just to put sunscreen on too!

No affiliation with the company, just a satisfied customer who will be ordering more!

http://www.mexitanproducts.com/SPF30MoreInfo.html

I might have to try this, I like that you get 8 ounces for less than some sell 2 ounces for. Out of curiosity, do you have a fair complexion by any chance? I used tons of barrier sunscreen last year but wound up with a VERY deep tan - which implies it wasn't quite doing the job. I am also curious about Tates...

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I'm usually the one who sits here and tracks stuff down .... but I'm woozy from a late night concert. :p

Is there any scientific basis for defining nanoparticles as <100 nM? Or is that just an arbitrary cut-off? Because if it's just arbitrary, I'd like to see some research on titanium dioxide in the 100-200 nM range before I'd put that stuff on my skin.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles are thought to be safe, and IIRC, EWG actually expressed some surprise a year or two ago when it was found that zinc oxide nanoparticles are inert and do not penetrate the skin. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, OTOH, are highly reactive to light. I'd want to know more about what happens with the slightly larger particles.

[emily_in_nc]

I might have to try this, I like that you get 8 ounces for less than some sell 2 ounces for. Out of curiosity, do you have a fair complexion by any chance? I used tons of barrier sunscreen last year but wound up with a VERY deep tan - which implies it wasn't quite doing the job. I am also curious about Tates...

I am relatively fair, but not super pale. Somewhere between fair and medium, I'd say. I do tan (but not a deep tan; my skin just doesn't get that dark) over the course of a summer. Just about any sunscreen is going to let some rays through unless you are scrupulous about re-applying it. I'm not. I put it on at the beginning of a ride, and that's it. I have not gotten burned at all, though, using the Mexitan, despite taking rides w/stops that add up to 3-4 hours in the sun. I don't mind getting some color, but I don't want to get burned.

I also noted that the Tropical Sands/Mexitan was a good price for the amount you get. So many non-chemical sunblocks were incredibly expensive per ounce, and we need a LOT of this stuff for Belize, not just a bottle or two. Tate's sounds great too but is pricier per ounce.

[emily_in_nc]

A good article on nano-particles in sunscreen including detailed information on the EWG's findings:

http://askanesthetician.wordpress.com/tag/nanoparticles-and-sunscreen/

This is why I wanted to find a barrier (zinc/titanium dioxide) sunscreen:

"Sunscreens without zinc or titanium contain an average of 4 times as many high hazard ingredients known or strongly suspected to cause cancer or birth defects, to disrupt human reproduction or damage the growing brain of a child. They also contain more toxins on average in every major category of health harm considered: cancer (10% more), birth defects and reproductive harm (40% more), neurotoxins (20% more), endocrine system disruptors (70% more), and chemicals that can damage the immune system (70% more) (EWG 2007)."

[Sunadvocate]

I have tried to avoid wearing sunscreen, but it just doesn't work. Last week I didn't put on any sunscreen, but when I got home I felt a burning sensation all over my face. I was even so careful not to go out in direct sun light. I would say play it safe and supplement it by wearing Sun Block Clothing.

[Blueberry]

So the Neutrogena for Sensitive Skin is a bust:mad:

The only good thing I can say is I didn't burn ( not I'm not sure that I would have anyway). It is very white - and gets whiter as you wear it. And it runs - so you have thick white "lines" everywhere (for me within about 20 minutes). I also got "bubbles" of sweat under the sunscreen (odd and gross, I know). Seriously, though - until I touched them, the sweat couldn't evaporate, and I was overheating.

Not recommended here.

[Geonz]

Yesterday I tried one of zinc oxide ones... the backs ofmy calves are all kinds of red splotches... seems there's a sunburned patch that I reckon is probably where I missed with the sunscreen.
Got the same blotches on my thighs, where I was wearing spandex capris. (Looks like those same capillaries that keep me warm in winter by increasing blood flow to right under the skin exploded - but it's bright red, not bruisy, so that's probably not right, either.)
I'm going to go back to the coppertone for now. (And yes, I'm fair-skinned... Celtic and Norse and German...)