Q&A: sunscreen

I've gotten a few requests, coming on the heels of the bug repellent post from a few weeks ago, for recommendations of sunscreen.

Bear in mind, please, that I'm not a doctor or a dermatologist of any sort. I am, however, a very fair-skinned, light-eyed person, and my mom had her first skin cancer at the age of 47. So sunscreen is definitely a priority for me, but I'm not super-anal about keeping up with the exact latest. I feel like it's better to be consistent about using something good than always chasing the best thing.

I definitely choose a physical sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen when I can. I don't understand the chemicals or how they work, and that makes me hesitant to spread them all over my kids' biggest organs. (The ingredients in physical sunscreens have a longer record of use and known effects, just because they're less complex.) But lately they've been lobbying me to get the spray-on sunscreen because it takes less time to apply.

So I need some recommendations from you all. Are there sunscreens for kids that come in big enough buckets that I won't have to repurchase every week, and that aren't so thick that it takes forever to apply them? And that are actually affordable, since we go through so much?

I continue to be in love with the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 for my face. It's a mineral powder (meaning it's a physical sunscreen instead of a chemical sunscreen) that comes in a tube with a brush, so you just brush it on your face like you would a loose powder. It's got a touch of a sort of generic beige-ish color to it if you apply a ton, but it doesn't look fake on pale me or on one of my medium-toned black friends. (It looks like they now have it in "Oily Problem Skin" formula and SPF 45. Awesome.)

The SPF 30 only works if you get even coverage, so make sure you spend the minute or two it'll take to really dust it on evenly. The best part about this sunscreen, IMO, is that reapplication is a breeze, and it absorbs oil instead of making you feel like a grease slick. It hasn't been such an issue so far in this damp June, but when it's 90 degrees F at 9 am I'm happy not to be putting anything moisturizing on my face. It's very pricey at $30, but I'm almost at the end of mine after using it all last summer and whenever it wasn't raining or snowing over the winter, so I've definitely gotten my money's worth. Two of my friends got it on my recommendation last year and are now evangelizers for it, so it's not just me.

A reminder that if you can get your kids to wear hats (and wear them yourself) you'll be providing a lot of sun protection. Lots of kids think rash guards are fun to wear while swimming or playing in the water, and you can get them with SPF built into the fabric.

Don't forget eye protection, either. My uncle the ophthalmologist is pretty vocal about getting everyone to wear good sunglasses, including kids, to protect their eyes.

Did anyone try the Peter Thomas Roth and either love it or hate it? Please tell me what sunscreen to use on my kids. And are my kids the only ones who seem to compulsively lose or break sunglasses?

Comments

[Abacaxi Mamao]

For those with allergic kids who can't figure out which ingredient causes it, I was allergic to all chemical sunscreens from when I was 7 until some point in my early 20s. (It may have stopped earlier, but I didn't really try testing chemical sunscreens again until I was in my early 20s.) I found out because I put sunscreen ALL over my body, wearing shorts and a tank top, when my family went to Sea World in San Diego when I was 7. I ended up covered in the most hideous rash/hives that not even Benadryl could calm. I had to sit in the car for the drive back to LA with the world's itchiest legs (including the backs of my thighs, which were touching the car seat). Ugh!

I used titanium dioxide-based sunscreens as a kid. They don't soak in at all, or at least they didn't back then, so I was always covered in a thin white film. The other kids made fun of me, so I guess it had the advantage of toughening me up. I also would often wear more clothing/bigger hats to avoid having to use it (or staying indoors in midday), which was probably more effective than any chemical sunscreen would have been. (I avoided burning, because my grandmother had a melanoma.)

When I tested again at some point, I was fine. I mostly use the Neutrogena Dry Touch now, since it totally soaks in and totally disappears. I know it's full of chemicals, but I suffered using physical sunblock enough. I also try to wear a hat when I remember.

[Abacaxi Mamao]

P.S. It wasn't the PABA. I tried at least two PABA-free sunscreens and an allergist tested me to see if I was allergic to SUNLIGHT before concluding that it was all chemical sunscreens. (Very glad I'm not allergic to sunlight!)

[Taylor Mom]

TRUKID Natural Sunscreen has no vitamin A in it! It goes on very smoothly and it is great for sensitive skin. Another plus is that it smells very good and it's healthy for you're kids.
You can buy it at Trukid.com or Amazon.com

[Vania]

how to reduce the apaperance of dark circles under the eyes?I am only 16 years old. does anyone know of any eye creams that will help reduce the apaperance of these dark circles? it is really hard for me to find the best one because they are all for wrinkles and puffiness. i tried neutrogena and olay and they did not work. does the Ulta Dark Circle Intensive Eye Treatment work? which eye creams would you recommend for me? Thank you

[Shrestha]

wrinkles under your eyes are only natural. eye camers do absolutely NOTHING at all, it's all a ploy. accept it. everybody will get wrinkles under their eyes at some point, some people just get them earlier because of the way their face is shaped. i got under eye creases at 12. it just happens because we smile and squint and cry and laugh. to prevent any more from appearing, show no emotion for the rest of your life.

[Adeel]

I've been using Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion along with Moisture On-Call for years. This winter has been eselicaply brisk, so my skin was still dry no matter how much product I put on.This weekend, I saw the Olay at my local warehouse store (3.4fl oz/100ml size) and decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the results! My skin now feels soft and moisturized. I will continue using this product because it is fragrance free (so is Clinique), but in additon: oil-free and has SPF-15.

[Alberto]

Are Botox Complications Rare?My wife has been dropping hints about haivng treatment for wrinkles under her eyes using botox. I have however heard of people haivng botox surgery around the eyes which have resulted in side effects afterwards such as the eyelids drooping. My fear is that whilst the botox injections are painless the after effects of this cosmetic procedure may not be. Can anyone advise me

[Xula]

Should I get Botox to get rid of bags under eyes and how much will it be?I have tried almost every trmenaett known to man. Over years of being up late at night and not getting enough sleep has caused me to have bags/ wrinkles under my eyes that I can not get rid of! I've tried almost everything! SO my last resort is botox. How much will it be if I was to get botox for my eye bags?

[Murat]

No cream will take wrinkles away they can soetfn wrinkles and make them look less apparent they will also hydrate and protect your skin(if it has SPF) Creams can be a preventive treatment to help slow the aging process. Dehydration,pollutants,both internal and external factors all age the skin prematurely. The more expensive creams usually have better texture,scent and more advanced technology and materials used in them. The expensive creams won't do what botox can do but it also is not being injected . Botox users should still protect and keep their skin hydrated.There are many great skincare lines that can change the appearance of the skin. Botox erases the wrinkles for approx. 6mos. but some people do not like needles or are not sure about injecting into the skin.

[Barbara]

What Is The Best Anti-Aging System Out There?I am looking for the BEST anti-aging sytsem for under eye treatments.. I hear gel is what I need to use since I am only 24 I will be 25 soon and i am noticing wrinkles and dark spots under my eyes.. I need some tips / advice / recommendations on products that will fix and help prevent this from happening for a long time! Also what are the pro's and con's to these methods.

[Senada]

Hey Ross! Thanks for the review! I wish I had sent one prdcuot from each collection since the botanical blends are the same in all four prdcuots in each collection. Normal has all those berries, wines and great antioxidants you mentioned. Sensitive: Kelp, Spirulina, Chamomile, Red Seaweed, Green Tea. Dry: Cactus, Yucca, Sage, Aloe, Licorice. Oily: Violet, White Willow Bark, Lavender, Dandelion, Echinacea, Tea Tree. Oh, and BTW the peppermint is just a natural fragrance not in an active amt. GD Star Ratingloading...GD Star Ratingloading...