Sunscreen news

[michelem]

Oh! Looks like one of the EWG top-rated sunblocks, UV Natural, is now carried by REI. I think I'll have to try this one . . . It's pretty pricey, so I think I'll wait for one of those 20% off coupons.

http://www.rei.com/search?query=uv+n...d%2CUV+Natural

[ilima]

Clarins makes a very light (and pricey) physical blocker for the face. I've tested it out, but haven't brought myself to buy it yet although that's on my To Do list.

http://us.clarins.com/webapp/wcs/sto...10204_-1_31181

When I ride, I have resigned myself to looking like a zombie with my white streaked legs and arms.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's essential to understand the difference between chemical sunscreens and non-chemical sunblocks.

The non-chemical blocks use either zinc or magnesium dioxide to physically prevent the sun from reaching your skin. That's where the white stuff comes in.

There is some controversy as to whether chemical sunscreens are bad for you or contain cancer-causing ingredients.

I myself use Neutrogena non-chemical sunblock for Sensitive Skin. It looks a bit whitish at first but that mostly disappears after a few minutes. Smoothes on nicely.

[elk]

TE has a sunblock with zinc ox...I was thinking of trying it:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=4041

[KSH]

My derm. recommends Neutrogena SPF55 with Helioplex . It is more expensive (but not as expensive as melanoma ), and it is a lighter feeling sunscreen. I really like it.

Since that tends to not stay on with sweat, I mix that with my Hawaiian Tropic, Ozone Sport 60 SPF sunblock. The HT is really thick and stays on. By mixing I get the best of both worlds!

[KnottedYet]

TE has a sunblock with zinc ox...I was thinking of trying it:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=4041

I have some of the AquaSport sunblock. I reeeeeeeally like it!
(I need to buy some more.)

I have *almost* as many tubes of various sunscreens as I do bikes.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Be sure to check expiration dates.
Never occurred to me until once I put some sunscreen on and it smelled really BAD...then I saw it was 3 years expired.

[michelem]

Re expiration dates, I recently read (sorry I don't have the reference) that the expiration date applies to UNOPENED containers of sunscreen/sunblock. The stuff degrades more rapidly once opened, if left in a hot car, etc. . . .

[OakLeaf]

It must be just me - I can't use anything from Neutrogena. It breaks me out something awful.

Funny the EWG didn't review Bullfrog, which seems to be the most popular sunblock among outdoor types. I guess I'll have to read the label, since Coppertone discontinued my favorite (and EWG-favored) brand. I wish they'd update the site, too, since a lot of formulas have changed since they did that. (I guess I could send them a donation if I'm asking for more information...)

I also read just last week that the spec SPF rating is valid only if you apply 2 oz (!) of sunblock to your entire body. Now, I don't know how much that translates to when it's only the arms from mid-bicep down (excluding the hands), back of the neck, tips of the ears, and nose.

ETA: I've always been nervous about buying sunblock mail order since I can't verify the expiration date before I buy it. Anybody want to share their experiences? I don't mean "expired before it gets here," I'm afraid of "expired before I've used a third of it."

[roadie gal]

They didn't rate the one that I use: Aloe Gator. I've had great results with it and it doesn't hurt when you sweat it into your eyes, unlike some of the others.

[VeloVT]

I have run across Skin Deep/the EWG website a few times. I am fairly skeptical. EWG is an advocacy organization, not a scientific organization. It's not clear what the qualifications of its "researchers" are -- the "About" and "FAQ" sections of the website are suspiciously vague about this. The fact that they are an advocacy group that campaigns on behalf of "natural" products and touts the dangers and carcinogenicity of practically everything makes me doubt how neutral and scientific their evaluations can be. I'm sure there are lots of FDA-approved ingredients out there that are less than safe, but until they show me some serious credentials I'm inclined to view EWG as being unduly alarmist.

I would also like to point out that in the sunscreen review, the copy is quite misleading in that they pull you in with the assertion that many conventional sunscreens are ineffective and don't protect against UVA. Then they go on to give poor marks to products that even by their own standards give perfectly fine broad-spectrum coverage (like many of the Neutrogena products), but contain "nasty chemicals" that EWG doesn't like. However, the way the report is written they elide these two issues and imply that the sunscreens that are "bad" because of chemicals also offer inadequate coverage (some of them may, but many don't). This tends to confirm my suspicions about EWG.

I'm not convinced.

Of course, it is true that there are only a handful (3-5) ingredients approved in the US that give UVA coverage, and plenty of sunscreens don't contain them, so you do need to read the label and look for zinc, titanium, Avobenzene, mexoryl, etc -- but EWG is greatly overstating the problem in my opinion.

[Jen-Jen]

I can verify that Coppertone does not work, since I ended up with one of the worst burns I had in years! Within 24 hours I had burn blisters! Ouch! After that I bring the can with me to reapply every so often and even then I tan up even more. I heard that Bullfrog was really good. Has anyone used that?

Thanks for the tip on the others, I might need to switch.

[Blueberry]

I've used Bullfrog. It smells nice, and it's (in most forms) a gel, not a lotion. We made it through a trip to Florida where we were (not by choice) out in the sun all day, every day without a burn. We did re-apply, but I don't think excessively so. However - the negatives - it DOES NOT come off in the shower. You can feel it for a day or 2. Also, be careful handling plastic after applying (I think this would apply to paint too) - it dissolved a couple of pens on me.

[OakLeaf]

I am fairly skeptical. EWG is an advocacy organization, not a scientific organization.

Well, not exactly. They don't lobby anyone for anything. Their purpose is to provide information to the public. Their scientists compile research done by government agencies and in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and all the research is quoted on their site. They don't rely on any non-peer-reviewed data except government data.

Organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, etc., those are advocacy organizations whose members profit when consumers and governments follow their recommendations. EWG is a news source that accepts no advertising and gains no direct benefit from providing their information. And, in terms of the proportion of program expenses to total fundraising, they're perennially a top-rated charity.

[KerryCrow]

I am very happy with the Neutragena products. I use their 70 "face shield" and then then spray-on (I think 55) for arms and legs. I am very fair and freckly. The spray-on stuff does not seem to need to be reapplied even with sweating.

For the face stuff on a long day, I squirt a tiny amount into a snack size zip lock bag for reapplication, takes up no room at all in my shirt pocket, and it's not messy.

I did have the break out problem with the Neutragena, but now I wash my face with a good cleanser AS SOON as I walk in the door and it seems to have solved the problem for me...that or this "Face Shield" is easier on my skin.