CDTraveler

The Environmental Working Group just issued a report on nearly 1500 sunscreens that they tested. The bad news is ~73% do not work as they claim to. There's quite a lot of interesting info in the report - the value of Vitamin A, European vs. American products, SPF info and more.

http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/

Finkface

I use a similar product called Lac-Hydrin. It works miracles! I have tried both and I prefer Lac-Hydrin for the texture and the smell. Amlactin seems a bit gluey to me.

As for sunscreen, I swear by EltaMD UV Daily 40. I have tried a million different facial sunscreens and this one beats all.

Redhead

Face Aveda moisturizer with spf 30 as recommended by my dermatologist - year round

No-Ad or Neutrogena SPF 50 or higher for whole body when outside in summer. Re apply frequently

I'm a vampirically pale redhead with family history of skin cancer on both sides. I go to dermatologist every year and she says i'm pretty good thus far. Thank go my mom slathered me with sunscreen as a kid - not because we knew about skin damage but she just didn't want me to cry from being burned

jerseygirl

My dermatologist used to prescribe lac hydrin as lotion or cream
Now it is over the counter supposedly Amlactin is the same formula

It's essentially an exfoliant
I use this all over in winter to combat dry skin and it is many times better than any moisturizer, also it does seem to stop any small keratosis patches from increasing and most times these will disappear

Buster

I also use EltaMD UV Daily, but mostly in winter. It is great and works well under makeup, but I don't find that it gives quite enough sun protection in the summer.

rsqrott

I refer to myself as Nosferatu because I have no business being outside during daylight. Though not milky pale I am fair and will crisp almost instantly. During the summer I take the clothing over skin approach whenever possible. So yes, I'll be the one at the water park in ball cap, board shorts and a work shirt over my swimsuit.

I wear sunscreen year round. My go to, every single day for face is Shiseido Urban Environment Oil free UV Protector SPF 42. It comes in a 1 oz bottle and I keep one everywhere from handbag to desk to carry on. This is the one sunscreen that I have found that goes on absolutely matte and does not irritate my eyes. Pricey but well worth it and the bottle truly does last awhile if I'm only using it on my face.

For the rest of me I prefer the Shiseido (blue bottle) sunscreen. In and out of water, days spent in the sun and it hasn't let me down yet.

MoreMilesPlease

For anyone wanting/needing high SPF in a physical sunblock look at SolRX. It is waterproof for 8 hours and is a physical zinc barrier. They also have chemical sunblock that lasts 8 hours in a single application.

The matt zinc is amazing for sensitive skin and very fair skin.

https://www.solrx.com/

turnleftbrighteyes

I somehow lost my only remaining tube of my usual sunscreen, a Bioderma one not easily available in U.S., so needed an immediate replacement. I ended up buying Clinique Pep Start SPF 50, because it was cheap ($19.50), at my local Sephora, and a mineral formula.

It's fine, but I still like the Bioderma better. Texture-wise, it reminds me of the various La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreens I used to be able to wear. It's got a lightweight, runny texture, but weirdly, I think I can still feel it on my skin, hours later. It might be slightly drying, even though I'd say the finish tends toward the dewy. I'd actually say that wearing the Clinique sunscreen gives a similar finish to the Glossier Skin Perfecting Tint, by which I mean, there's next to no coverage, just a hint of something and some dewiness. It's got a slight peachy color, but it doesn't appear noticeable on my skin.

Given the name, I assume this has peptides (I might be wrong. I didn't look that carefully at the non-sunscreen part of the ingredient list), which is good, I guess.

This isn't the sunscreen to end all sunscreens, but it's not too dark or too pink, doesn't feel awful, and is cheap.

freecia

Gothamista has some recommendations for
Mineral based face sunscreen
Reef Safe body sunscreen
I don't tend to experiment with my spf a lot (probably because I prefer to cover up rather than slather on and reapply) so I am excited to see some smooth mineral sunscreens which aren't loaded with silicone and alcohol as well as the spray on mineral sunscreens for those awkward to get solo applications.

I like Lands End Swim Tee rash guards as cover ups. They have decent airflow so I'm not sweltering and look like normal long sleeved tops https://www.landsend.com/products/wo...54?sku_0=::YO4
They do get wrinkled when packed but wrinkles do come out with water spritz and hang.

Low Roller

Wow - thanks for that list ^ I didn't think anyone made spray-on mineral sunscreens. Hopefully I can find a supplier who will ship to Canada.

Buster

I also noticed a Pacifica spray-on mineral sunscreen at Target the other day. Not sure if that is an easier brand to find.

Low Roller

Thanks- I'll take a look

Hoyaheel

The Today Show last week (?) had a segment on sunscreens and had a couple of the spray-on mineral options. I can't handle sprays (they just bug me) so I didn't pay a ton of attention, but their website probably has the video/story....

Thinking of you all now - working outside today, at home, no one else around - so I'm trying to use up a zinc oxide version that husband (picky picky) hates. Well, I can see why - it doesn't spread for crap and I looked like a white ghost for 2 hours before it soaked in/evaporated Oh well, I hate waste, so.....Just have to remember to cleanse well tonight!

ETA - Today Show. I forgot - there are mousses now too (I saw it on the supergoop website when I was ordering earlier this year but forgot - didn't feel like trying. OK, and Hoda put on enough for 4 people ;-)

Coola - SPF mineral primer
Skinmedica & Supergoop setting spray SPF

travelmom4

Freecia, thank you for the video and the details. Very useful!

Finkface

Don't do it! Trust me on this.

For context, I do not burn easily, have olive-y skin, and usually use SPF 30 on my body if I will be in the sun - generally Target's own brand, Up&Up Sport Spray SPF 30 or Coppertone Sport Spray SPF 30.

After reading these posts, I decided I'd try Pacifica. I bought the SPF 50 spray, figuring it would be overkill as 30 is perfectly fine for me. While it definitely felt nice on my skin (it is very moisturizing), as a sunscreen it does absolutely nothing.

I was outside for about 40 minutes and I am burned red! And this is a stronger SPF than I am used to using. I used my usual 30 for the past week for longer periods in the sun with no issues but yesterday, using Pacifica SPF 50 (and using a LOT of it as the spray comes out very liquidy) my shoulders are red, burned and sore. I am annoyed.

So take it from me, this is not a good sunscreen. I shudder to think what I would look like if I had fair, easily burned skin.