Sunscreen Suggestions

[WindingRoad]

I recently have become worried that maybe my spray on sunscreen isn't healthy? I'm gathering this is due to the fact that the zinc compounds typically found in sunscreen isn't able to be used in 'spray on' form and there are inhalation risks associated with it?

Anyhow, what do you use and know to be an effective and safer sunscreen?

[OakLeaf]

I think zinc oxide is actually the safest sunblock there is, from what I've read. There have even been studies on nano-particles of zinc oxide that found (surprisingly to all involved) that it was not absorbed through the skin.

My favorite is eco:logical (http://ecologicalskin.com/products/). Larger particle zinc oxide only, unscented, doesn't go rancid easily, doesn't separate quite as readily as some other brands, doesn't leave a blue sheen, stays on through sweat, doesn't take a lot, works fine, not too bad on my EXTREMELY sensitive skin. I'm a convert from Badger - which goes on very blue, contains heavier, greasier oils, separates easily, and contains sensitizing lavender oil (besides men don't necessarily like the fragrance).

I will not use nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (it actually undergoes a reaction with sunlight that creates cancer-causing free radicals), and most chemical sunblocks aren't safe either for sea life or for human life.

Still, if I can cover with fabrics I'd rather do that than put anything on my skin that will attract dirt and keep me from sweating. Sunblock goes on nose and cheekbones to keep them the same color as the rest of my face; earlobes and neck to cover what would just get rubbed off anyway and/or is outside the range of hat or visor; and that's it. Something else on my lips usually, though I've used the eco:logical there too in a pinch. Occasionally, if I'm out on a rare long day in sandals, the tops of my feet will get some too. I love the function of my de Soto arm coolers, but the fit is so weird that I just ordered a pair of the Zoot arm coolers for comparison. I'll let you know...


ETA: The eco:logical sunblock is widely available where I am, but I just checked their website to see, and West Marine carries it, so you should be able to get it at retail no matter where you are as long as there's a lake, river or ocean nearby. :) If not, there's always ordering it through your local natural food store if they don't already carry it, or the intertubes.

[Becky]

Vanicream Sport. I try others, but keep coming back to this one. It's well-rated by EWG and stays on like nobody's business.

[Catrin]

Good timing for this topic - I am either tanning or my freckles are meeting so I need to get off my butt and do something for sun protection. I might be one 5 foot 3 freckle soon otherwise...

[murielalex]

Vanicream Sport. I try others, but keep coming back to this one. It's well-rated by EWG and stays on like nobody's business.

^ This is what I use. I am fair skinned and have skin allergies to a host of things I can't pronounce. Vanicream is one I can use. I was just out in the Everyglades from 9-2 today. Put it on just before getting out of the car, and other than a bit of sun on my cheeks and nose, I don't even have tan lines. My only minor complaint is that it goes on a bit thick and stays mildly sticky, meaning I need to use Body Glide behind my knees or they'll chafe, and dirt tends to stick to my legs and arms. It's also cheap, compared to a lot of sunscreens, and can be bought at the corner drugstore.

I just ordered this to try:

http://static.dailycandy.com/resource.jsp?id=87532&name=babo-botanicals-sport-stick.jpg

Babo Botanicals SPF 30 Clear Zinc Sports Stick

I wanted to try something I could stick in my jersey pocket and put on my face while riding, if needed.

[jessicamarie]

I really love Endurance Shield - It stays on all day (even if you swim in it!), doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts, protects even my fairest-skinned friends, and it smells good!

[Hi Ho Silver]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but since we're on the topic is there a good sunscreen available that lets sweat pass through easily? If I use commonly available sunscreens (like Banana Boat), my face cannot perspire and I get overheated in a short time.

[OakLeaf]

@HiHo, you'll notice that that's one of the main reasons I prefer to cover with fabric. I'll post a review of the Zoot coolers whenever they arrive.

[sarahkonamojo]

Third vote for Vanicream. They should change the name...

[Hi Ho Silver]

@HiHo, you'll notice that that's one of the main reasons I prefer to cover with fabric. I'll post a review of the Zoot coolers whenever they arrive.

I look forward to your review. Thanks!

[roadie gal]

I vote for Aloe Gator. I use the lotion. It's fairly cheap and works well, and doesn't hurt when you sweat it into your eyes.

The gel version is REALLY greasy, though.

[carolp]

I'm a big fan of kineysis -- I probably spelled that wrong. But it works well, and the spray goes on dry. I also use their stick for the area around my eyes and my lips.

[Catrin]

Winding Road - thanks for starting this thread! You have made it finally get off my a** and get to the store for some sun-screen. I wound up getting some Alba Botanica Pure Lavender sunscreen - apparently good for 80 minutes (we will see). The price wasn't bad.

The sports version was for a shorter time period so I didn't get it and the version I got was recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation - assuming that means anything at all. It says it is a "very emollient sunscreen", we will see what that means. Hopefully that isn't another way to say "very greasy". Now that I have it I see that EWG doesn't rate it well in the safety department...

[Owlie]

Timely thread, since I'm looking for sweat-resistant sunscreen that won't block pores. I'm a little leery of the 'natural' ones for that reason--if I get most lotion on my face, it turns into the site of the annual meeting of the Great Lakes Zit and Pimple Society.:rolleyes:

[amb]

I am partial to Coppertone Oil Free SPF 50 (minimum 30 if I can't find 50):

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=213388&catid=274389

I like this bc it's NOT greasy at all, it works, it doesn't make me break out (acne or skin reaction) and it doesn't have that tell tale sunscreen smell. It can be hard to come by in the store (higher than SPF 15) and when I'm forced to use something else, I hate it. I should buy this in bulk as my husband and I go through many bottles a year.

It may not be the best or most natural but it is definitely my favorite. Frankly, "good" sunscreen is the one you'll actually use!

[OakLeaf]

Timely thread, since I'm looking for sweat-resistant sunscreen that won't block pores. I'm a little leery of the 'natural' ones for that reason--if I get most lotion on my face, it turns into the site of the annual meeting of the Great Lakes Zit and Pimple Society.:rolleyes:

That's because most of the ones that are marketed in natural food stores are no more "natural" than the rest of them. Skin care products are even worse than processed foods, because they're basically unregulated. Ya gotta read the label, and even then, if you're like me and sensitive to a whole lot of things that aren't yet on your "list," it's trial and error, and a whole lot of searching and cussing when I can't find my usual brand.

Plus, "sweat-resistant" and "won't block pores" are mutually exclusive. The only way they "resist" sweat is by keeping you from sweating. But at least you should be able to find something that doesn't sensitize you.

I could send you a little jar of eco:logical to try - not necessarily the most sanitary thing in the world but if you want to try it I'd be happy to. I totally feel your pain about the hundreds' of dollars worth of skin care products under the sink that you've used once.

[Catrin]

....eco:logical...

Sorry for the high-jack:

I seem to remember your mentioning this before Oakleaf, do you use it on your body or just your face? I think you use arm coolers - or is that Crankin? Memory isn't working well this early in the day :o

If you use this on your body does it allow you to sweat? It is considerably more expensive than the Alba I bought yesterday - but I see it has a far better rating from EWG than the Alba does. I must use the Alba for now, but one tube of it shouldn't cause a problem - but that small tube won't last that long.

[OakLeaf]

Yep, I'm the one you're thinking of. ;) I love the function of the DeSoto arm coolers, I hate the fit (they are basically a truncated cone with no shaping and very little stretch to them, so the arm opening at the top is bigger than the bicep and the forearm is MUCH smaller than either :confused:). They do stay up a little better once I start sweating and have something for the silicone grippers to latch onto. I haven't had an issue with the grippers sensitizing my arms the way silicone grippers on shorts do with my thighs. I've got a pair of the Zoot arm coolers on order from TE - should be here in a day or two. :)

Being able to sweat and staying a little cooler is really the #1 reason I prefer to cover with fabric where I can. A lot of professional athletes won't use sunblock for just that reason. The only way it's going to stay on when your body is trying to sweat is by keeping you from sweating. Otherwise it just washes right off.

[Catrin]

Being able to sweat and staying a little cooler is really the #1 reason I prefer to cover with fabric where I can. A lot of professional athletes won't use sunblock for just that reason. The only way it's going to stay on when your body is trying to sweat is by keeping you from sweating. Otherwise it just washes right off.

Thanks for the information. I've considered this, and am still considering this. If it turns out that they cost the same as the safer types of sunblock then I might spring for a set and see what happens. I am fair/reddish complected and freckle quite easily. My current "tan" is more like freckles trying to join each other than anything. I've had sun poisoning once in my life (terrible experience). I don't seem to burn as easily as I once did though but I don't think that means that I am less risk.

ED: I just did a quick search and found that they can be had for a bit less than the better sunscreens. This is making me more inclined to try them later in the summer...

[malkin]

Last year I got a Eucerin sunscreen in Germany. It's lovely, but I'm not sure it is the same as what we can get here.

[OakLeaf]

Last year I got a Eucerin sunscreen in Germany. It's lovely, but I'm not sure it is the same as what we can get here.

Is this the ingredient list here (http://www.paulsmarteurope.com/eucerin-sun-allergie-schutz-creme-gel-lsf-25/)?

[Sky King]

I have become completely addicted to "Sun Shirts" Patagonia and Columbia especially. Of course I don't race so wearing a loose shirt with a collar isn't an issue. I find them very comfy and like having my arms covered.
my current sunscreen is Dermatone - we order from quality bicycle supply. fairly sweat proof, waterproof doesn't stink ...

[Owlie]

Yep, I'm the one you're thinking of. ;) I love the function of the DeSoto arm coolers, I hate the fit (they are basically a truncated cone with no shaping and very little stretch to them, so the arm opening at the top is bigger than the bicep and the forearm is MUCH smaller than either :confused:). They do stay up a little better once I start sweating and have something for the silicone grippers to latch onto. I haven't had an issue with the grippers sensitizing my arms the way silicone grippers on shorts do with my thighs. I've got a pair of the Zoot arm coolers on order from TE - should be here in a day or two. :)

Being able to sweat and staying a little cooler is really the #1 reason I prefer to cover with fabric where I can. A lot of professional athletes won't use sunblock for just that reason. The only way it's going to stay on when your body is trying to sweat is by keeping you from sweating. Otherwise it just washes right off.

Do you find that they work in humidity? I have a hard time imagining that they work that well when here in July.

[Blueberry]

Do you find that they work in humidity? I have a hard time imagining that they work that well when here in July.

I have the cool wings and have worn them in New Bern, NC at the MS Ride. So - 80+% humidity; 90+ degrees. I don't think they "cool" you much under those conditions, but I don't think they are any worse than being exposed to the sun either. I tried taking one arm off at one point, and the sun on skin felt slightly worse to me. If you have extra water, wetting them down helps some.

[OakLeaf]

What Blueberry said. They don't cool me once they're waterlogged, but I've tried taking them off too in 90°+ humid weather, and it isn't any cooler without. They still keep the sun off.

By the time I'm hot enough to want to splash water on myself, the water in my vest is somewhere between body and air temperature (and there's not too much difference between the two on those days when I really want to ...). So that doesn't do any good. If my route takes me by a water fountain or public restroom, then putting cooler water on them feels good, just the same as soaking the rest of my clothes (and my hair) with cool water.

[WindingRoad]

Bump to an old thread but I was curious have any of you tried the new CeraVe Sunscreen line yet? I saw they had an aerosol with zinc and its not supposed to be too white looking. I'm trying to find something without Avobenzene because it makes my face all irritated and flaky.

[nuliajuk]

Every time I find a sunscreen that I really like, it seems to disappear the following season. I liked a gel sunscreen that Hawawiian Tropic used to make - gone. It went on wet, quickly dried, and never felt greasy or heavy, and didn't attract particles of grit on dry windy days.
Ditto for Cler Zinck, which was the only kind that really stayed on for long open water swims. Googling them hasn't brought up any results, so I guess they quit making them.
Now I use a Neutrogena sunscreen for everyday use and zinc diaper rash cream for long swims. I look like a ghost in the latter, but it stays on and really works.