Sunscreen Suggestions

[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.

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

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 ). 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?

[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 ). 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.