best sunscreen?

[Dogmama]

What is "z-cote"? I looked on all of my different sunscreen & didn't see that as an ingredient. Is it a brand name?

[LL_Super_D]

Z-Cote is the trademarked name of a formulation of zinc oxide. Usually zinc oxide is white (the stuff surfers put on their noses) but some company found a way to make it transparent. They are my heroes! Supposedly zinc oxide is the only sunblocking chemical that no one has ever reported any allergic reactions to.

I use a similar sunscreen to what Brandi uses. I have really sensitive skin - most sunscreens make me break out in full blown hives almost instantaneously... except for sunscreen made with Z-Cote.

[KnottedYet]

I've used 2 sunblocks that only have zinc oxide as active ingredient: Dermatone and Neutrogena.

The Neutrogena pretty much sucked. I have 2 or 3 bottles of it. The zinc doesn't expire, so I keep it for emergencies. Hopefully the newer formulations work better.

The Dermatone (Z-cote) is pretty good. Not waterproof or sweatproof, but pretty good. I keep it in the car, and can put it over my usual sunscreen (because it's inert) if I'm worried my Banana Boat or Hawaiian Tropic is wearing off. (BB and HT kids stuff have titanium and zinc sunblocks. And the sunscreens that don't wash off because they bond chemically to your skin)

My skin doc said he didn't care what I used, as long as it was spf 30.

I tend more to big hats and long sleeves/long pants. Not so good on the bike, though.

[Geonz]

What do you mean, jersey and shorts... it's that helmet strap tanline that makes people look at me funny (so don't forget to slather the stuff on under yhour chin!)

[Tuckervill]

I picked up a bottle of sunscreen this weekend that was like an aerosol. No rubbing it in...just mist it on. It worked great. The can is in the car, so I can't look at it, but I think it's Coppertone. I usually use Bull Frog spray on, but you have to rub that in, and if it's breezy it just blows away. But the aerosol-like stuff just coated my skin and you can do your BACK with it!

I spent about 10 hours in the sun on Saturday at my son's baseball tournament and nothing burned.

Karen

[Brandi]

Z-Cote is the trademarked name of a formulation of zinc oxide. Usually zinc oxide is white (the stuff surfers put on their noses) but some company found a way to make it transparent. They are my heroes! Supposedly zinc oxide is the only sunblocking chemical that no one has ever reported any allergic reactions to.

I use a similar sunscreen to what Brandi uses. I have really sensitive skin - most sunscreens make me break out in full blown hives almost instantaneously... except for sunscreen made with Z-Cote.

That is another reason i use it. My skin is sensitive too. But my derm Dr said zinc is truely the only really good protection. And the fact that you can get it clear and it isn't greasy like reg white zinc. That is another reason I like it. One of the brands we use is called dermatone, got that at the surf shop And my bottle says water proof.So I don't know why knottedyet"s isn't? And I just found one at the healthfood store called Aquasport by All Terrain.I haven't tried it yet but it says ultra sweat proof and no slip dry grip. Both are over 30 spf uva uvb etc.....

[Deanna]

I'd recommend most of the Neutrogena formulations, EXCEPT for the new "cooling mist spray". This might work for the recommended "wear sunblock all the time" situations where you're in and out of the sun, but it most definitely does not work in an active situation. Trust me--I learned the hard way.

[Lenusik]

Neutrogina products are great. However, I tan so quickly, it is not even funny. Luckily I do not burn. So, for the fast tanners: I found a sport sunblock that has +65 protection in it. It really helps me from the Arizona sun.

[caligurl]

i just use the no label stuff from walmart... SPF 30.... sport one! works good for me!

[KnottedYet]

Brandi- my Dermatone says it's waterproof, too. I wore it kayaking several times, and always when I got wet or sweaty the Dermatone "reappeared" as white smears and washed off right before my eyes. And I got burned. Maybe it just doesn't work well with my skin.

Whatever sunscreen/sunblock I use, I always make sure it has ti dioxide or zinc oxide block, even if it has other chemical screens in it.

Can't beat a physical block!