Sunscreen news

[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

[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.