NOTE: I’m breaking the sun protection series into small chunks because I can only take so many -enzones before I want to pull my eyes out. If it seems a little disjointed, bear with me. Making a series like this coherent may prove to be my biggest challenge! I hope you find it useful.
Talking about sun protection is such a minefield and I’m certainly no expert, infact I’m not in any legitimate place to be talking to you or posting about the topic. So why am I?
Well, for all the science and controversy that surrounds the subject… as a consumer, I just want to know one thing.
Which easy-to-wear sun protection should I buy to give me the best UVA/UVB protection without risk of potential harm from its formulation?
It’s not much to ask is it? So why am I still searching?
photo credit: D Sharon Pruitt
Let’s break the question into its three key segments to ensure we’re on the same page before continuing with the series. What I’m essentially looking for is…
1). Sun protection that wears like a dream. For the majority, this means: A lightweight formula that applies like an invisible veil alongside other products I use and causes no skin irritations, breakouts or dryness.
2). The best UVA/UVB protection available that will protect my skin both from burning, sun sensitivity and cancers but also prevent premature aging.
3). NO risk of interaction with my hormones, winding up those pesky free radicals and preferably doesn’t penetrate the skin at all.
C’mon… we can put man on the moon but we can’t create a simple answer to an ideal sun protection?
Coming up next, Sun Protection 101: Part 2 – What we’ve got…
Agreed I’m still on the hunt for a sunscreen that doesn’t dry out my skin/break out my skin and doesn’t contain nasties, I have heard the Marie Veronique one is good but that shipping to Australia is too bloody expensive!
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My fave is Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF 100, a French brand. It’s sold as SPF 50+ in the UK, due to labelling regulations, but this is the same product: http://www.leguidesante.co.uk/15D/118/148/get/face-care-protection/?MID=14
I have extreme UVA sensitivity, and this is the only thing that prevents me from getting a red rash!
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I use Eucerin Sun Fluid Mattifying 50+ for my face since due to burning really easily and using chemical peels I really need that 50+ SPF for my face. For my body I honestly don’t care as much, atm I use Piz Buin SPF 30 Allergy (even if I don’t get rash from sun). I use SPF 50 if I know I will be in the sun more than 1-2h that day.
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Have you tried Lavera sunscreen? Non chemical SPF. I have very pale skin, hardly ever tan but burn quickly and I’m very happy with it. Are you going to try out dome mineral sunscreen?
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I think you are making this sound a lot more simple than it actually is – i work in the chemistry industry and it is a lot more difficult than people think to prevent side reactions etc. The amount of ingredients in suncreams etc. mean it’s often hard to work out where the problem is and often if alternatives are found then any bad points aren’t actually discovered until later! Anything that you slap all over your body may at one point be found to harmful! x
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Hi Siobhan,
I’m making it sound simpler than it is because I’m writing as an exasperated consumer who doesn’t understand these things. This is the first post in a series and if I knew all the answers now, there would be much point to it
Your point about about anything we slap over our bodies being potentially harmful is interesting.
I agree that I am quite hypocritical when it comes to non-natural products. I don’t question the ingredients in my face creams in terms of safety but that’s because I’m not beseiged by fears about them in the media.
And the difference with suncream and other products we slap all over our bodies is that we’re not specifically advised to use these other products. If there were any concerns about the safety of my body lotion, I just wouldn’t use it. But I don’t have those kind of alternatives with suncream. I have 3 choices. Use it, Burn or Stay Indoors. x
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We are on the exact same wave length as to what we want.
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
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Can’t wait to read the series! The Environmental Working Group’s website (ewg.org) has some great information that might help you (us) on the journey to finding the perfect sunscreen.
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i am also looking forard to this series. around holiday time i just seem to wander aimlessly round boots looking at the masses of sun products not knowing what to buy!
also would you be looking into afterun? this is something ive been thinking about lately – is after sun better than a general body moisturiser?
sun care is something we are all aware that we must use, especially when on holiday, yet most of us do not fully understand what we’re using or what we need to effectively protect ourselves
i enjoy your blog and am looking forward to this series
nicola xx
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I’m so surprised to see that someone uses Eucerin Matiffying fluid spf 50+. I thought that thing was HORRIBLE! It left my face SUPER shiny and “burns” on my skin. So far, I only tried 12 face sunscreens and that one takes the price as the WORST sunscreen.
I also want a sunscreen that I could easily re-apply or even better, I don’t have to.
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I dreamt it, lipglossiping wrote it. I assure you, i was tweeting about this wanting a blogger to do a little spf series and there you come, making my dreams come true.
what a cracking intro and tease trailer.
“A lightweight formula that applies like an invisible veil alongside other products I use and causes no skin irritations, breakouts or dryness” <– yes yes yes yes.
when do we want it?
NAO! XX
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Oh Lord yes, yes yes! Non-greasy so I don’t look like a chip pan after putting it on!
I’ve been using Clarins shield for a while and this year I’ve bought L’Occitaine’s brightening shield. Both are good on the ‘veil’ side, but I don’t know how effective they are as sunscreens.
I’m looking forward to reading your series!
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