Let's talk Sunblock!

[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/me...en-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.

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.co...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

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...)