Ok all you cruise experts…How much sunscreen is needed?

[AquaDame]

FYI - Currently, several companies behind some of the most popular brands of sunscreen are involved in massive litigation with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office stemming from a dispute over whether the companies’ claims that their chemical sunscreens are harmless to marine environments are accurate.

According to SFGate, in the last several months, Santa Clara prosecutors settled civil lawsuits for $350,000 against Supergoop and Sun Bum for $300,000 in civil penalties. In addition to the financial penalties, the companies can “no longer advertise that their chemical sunscreens are harmless to marine environments, and must also contact every California retailer that sold their products and ask that they cover up the references to reef safety with a sticker.”

After those victories, the DA’s office has moved on to suing Edgewell, the country’s largest sunscreen manufacturer behind the Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen brands. The brands are accused of using chemicals that are harmful to reefs, and misleading consumers with “claims not supported by research.”

https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/bay-area-da-exposes-sunscreen-industry-s-dirty-20390478.php

300K is such a slap on the wrist compared to the money they made and damage they caused. Sigh.

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

Entirely depends on your habits... it would not be enough for us, we'd need twice that. We wear low socks with shorts and I wear tanktops frequently which needs more to cover more skin. On the cruise we live in sandals and I wear a two piece so there goes even more for my belly and back. We try to put it on every two hours and after a swim/shower before we head back out. I'm always shocked at how little I ever see folks' reapplying in the parks. We've even had comments about it when we do so - some folks say they'd rather just burn, which... you do you!

I'd also like to plug using reef safe if you can and plan to go into the ocean at all. Zinc oxide is the ocean's friend and not all brands are hard to rub in, plus its less likely to contribute to cancer. Win win! Whatever is left over you can use at home over the summer or on your next trip... truth is most of us don't wear it as often as we should (myself included, don't get me wrong - I want to get better about it!)

What mineral brands do you like best that rub in?

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

Our family of 5 is doing a 7night Eastern Caribbean cruise in a few weeks and I had this same question. I think we are bringing 5 bottles of spray (6-8oz) and one lotion. I did verify this past week that one spray can only lasted about 4 days between my kids and that was just for pool afternoons only. My 9 yo and 11 yo also went through 1 bottle during a week of day camp.

 

[lmhall2000]

I rarely use sunscreen- only if I'm ON the water- jetski or kayak- I wear full sun protection shirts/long shirts (even on the Aqua slides on the ship)- I'll take them off and wear a swim coverup/sunhat- I don't like the chemicals in them- there's always a film to wash off- I just think people have sailed/cruised for decades/centuries before sunscreen- just be sensible. Saves us quite a bit-

 

[AquaDame]

What mineral brands do you like best that rub in?

We usually use Blue Lizard. It does take more effort to rub in, but it will fully!

 

[Dug720]

I just think people have sailed/cruised for decades/centuries before sunscreen- just be sensible.

Yes, they did. But cases of skin cancer have been on the rise - and often it's people with the "people did x for decades without sunscreen" mentality.

 

[clh2]

Yes, they did. But cases of skin cancer have been on the rise - and often it's people with the "people did x for decades without sunscreen" mentality.

I agree completely with this comment.

I ultimately ordered a bunch of Blue Lizard during Amazon Prime days. If we run out…my daughter and her family are also on this trip, she is bringing a ton too. And if we decide during our park days that we are running low, we can pick up more while we have rental cars before the cruise!

Now…first piece of business…checking the expiration date when it arrives.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes, they did. But cases of skin cancer have been on the rise - and often it's people with the "people did x for decades without sunscreen" mentality.

I agree completely with this comment.

Ditto.

 

[lmhall2000]

Yes, they did. But cases of skin cancer have been on the rise - and often it's people with the "people did x for decades without sunscreen" mentality.

If you read my response- I take clear precautions just like they did 100 years ago- as a chemistry major- the cure is worse than the cause. If you're not a high melanin skin type- best to cover up- not repeated applications of chemicals on your largest organ of your body.
If you want cause/effect- look further into the causality tied to sunscreen use:
The researchers tested 16 octocrylene-based sunscreen sprays and lotions purchased in France and the U.S., and all of them tested positive for benzophenone.

“Benzophenone is a suspected carcinogen, and we know that this chemical reaction causing the degradation of octocrylene is occurring in sunscreen over time,”
I used to work for Johnson & Johnson- any articles purporting their safety comes from funding paid by the manufacturers who stand to lose $$$ if you're convinced they are unsafe.

 

[lmhall2000]

If you read my response- I take clear precautions just like they did 100 years ago- as a chemistry major- the cure is worse than the cause. If you're not a high melanin skin type- best to cover up- not repeated applications of chemicals on your largest organ of your body.
If you want cause/effect- look further into the causality tied to sunscreen use:
The researchers tested 16 octocrylene-based sunscreen sprays and lotions purchased in France and the U.S., and all of them tested positive for benzophenone.

“Benzophenone is a suspected carcinogen, and we know that this chemical reaction causing the degradation of octocrylene is occurring in sunscreen over time,”
I used to work for Johnson & Johnson- any articles purporting their safety comes from funding paid by the manufacturers who stand to lose $$$ if you're convinced they are unsafe.

https://assets-global.website-files...572e9ee_FDA-2021-P-0497-0001_attachment_1.pdf

Lists over 70 tested- you're not in the clear if your fave is not on this list- they had to draw the line- but after this report JnJ recalled all their sunscreens mentioned- NOT the ones unmentioned- liability is a beast. Just be sensible- limit direct sun exposure and use limited sunscreen.

 

[stout]

We usually use Blue Lizard. It does take more effort to rub in, but it will fully!

I second this! We discovered this brand earlier this summer and it is the best. My daughters are going through about a bottle a week of Blue Lizard cream sunscreen due to marching band, but even with being in the sun 9am-4pm, they haven’t burned yet.