slo’s MONDAY 7/22 poll - Sunscreen 🧴

[BrianL]

If I am going to be spending a lot of time in the sun then I absolutely do, especially at Disney. It was on one Disney trip as a kid that I got the worst sunburn at Typhoon Lagoon - it was really bad! I swore I would never get a burn like that again and I never have. I am very aggressive with the sunscreen!

 

[ronandannette]

I'm seldom outdoors more than a few minutes at a time, so don't usually apply sunscreen. At WDW, I'm all the way to a 5. I use lotion and the Sheer/dry stuff posted upthread is absolutely the best.

This is me. I really don’t spend much time at all outside on the daily. When I’m going to be out for recreation or especially on vacation, I wear it religiously.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I'm a 4 now. My DR still tells me to do better!
I walk outside regularly and always spray sunscreen on before I start even if it's 9am. BUT, when I'm outside later in the day pulling weeds and watering the flowers and refilling my watering jugs I'm not protected again. If I'm going on the riding lawn mower I remember to spray again!

This has been an eye opener:
Plastic anything, that stays outside in the elements like flower pots, deck furniture, even kid toys, it's shocking to see the fade of color in one season. Think of what the sun is doing to your skin!!

 

[Schneewittchen37]

It really depends. If I'm super pale and it's spring break or early summer, I'll wear sunscreen. SPF 30. Sometimes spray, sometimes cream.

I usually wear it at the beach, usually not at the pool or on a long bike ride. At this point in the summer, I'm pretty tan, so I don't need it as much.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Dad daily uses right now in summer, a sunscreen cream. God willing one day when I am fully recovered depending on the weather I will do likewise. To me putting sunscreen on is a simple way of taking care. Be safe everyone and please also stay hydrated.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Fanatic about the use of the product for the past 20 odd years so I’d say 4.5. The only time I don’t wear it on my face is when wearing a broad brimmed hat.
Currently using a 45 SPF serum so guess that’s a lotion.


Noticed I’ve a few dark spots developing so am hightailing it to the dermatologist; hopefully she can zap them outta existence. Suspect she’ll tell me it’s sun damage from my misspent youth. Sigh.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Day to day at home, a 1. At Disney, a 5. I visit the dermatologist 2-3 times a year. Every time he is taking some cancers or pre-cancers off my head/face/arms. I still am so lax at home. I guess I'm a product of the 50's baby oil and iodine with aluminum reflectors to get that under chin area while lying in the sun. When I use, I use lotion on face, spray (rubbed in) elsewhere.

 

[leebee]

I don't wear sunscreen. About the only time I use anything outside is when I'm going to Disney, and then only lip protection and a swish of some kind of solid stick on my nose. If we go to the beach, I only stay about an hour as I don't enjoy being sweaty and sandy. I can't remember the last time I had a sunburn.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I put myself at a 4. We’re in the sun a lot due to softball. We always have spray, lotion and a facial stick with us. My regular face lotion is SPF 30. My issues are threefold…
1. I don’t always apply evenly and tend to get patchy burns
2. I don’t always reapply in time.
3. Sometimes my face doesn’t cooperate. Every now and then, I’ll get a burning sensation from using anything on my face.

Interesting information- I had a melanoma removed from my leg a few years ago. It was serious enough that I was referred to the big cancer hospital. When my full excision results came back, the area showed little to no sun damage.

 

[Imzadi]

If anyone knows of a good brand that won’t do that, I’m all ears!

I switched to a new sunscreen after a friend turned me onto it. I used to use the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer that Slo recommended on my face & neck. (Still use it on my body.) But, I wasn't good about making sure it got well rubbed into my face before running out the door. And my friend would have to tell me I had a white streak here and there.

This new lotion goes on white but melts and sinks into the skin so it's clear. It's rather expensive. But, Judging from my friend's face, and she's been using it religiously for a few years, it's worth it. I was able to get a slight deal during Amazon Prime Day. It's still on sale.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen For Body & Face

 

[CynBeth]

I gave myself a 2. I don’t use it if I am out in a short walk usually only when out in the sun for the day and probably do not put enough on and a lot of times forget to reapply.

 

[design_mom]

I am pretty diligent about sunscreen but I still burn sometimes and have some sun damage.

I think lotions work better but are hard to apply (too thin of a layer won't work). Sprays seem to give better coverage. If I am going to be in a super sunny environment (hiking, beach, etc) I have been known to layer both. I know you can't "stack" SPF but I hope that the lotion will cover most and the spray will get anything I missed with the lotion. My issue is remembering to reapply.

A few years ago, I found these though and they're kind of a game changer:

They're a little purple sticker-dot you put on your skin before you apply sunscreen. Once you apply sunscreen, they turn clear... as they absorb UV, they change back to purple. When they're purple, you know you need to reapply the sunscreen. They last all day and stay on in the water. (Looks like there's other companies that make similar things now, but I vouch for this brand.)

 

[DeeBee3]

Just here to say that I'm 50/50 and I am really fair skinned. When at Disney, we are super diligent about sunscreen. We use Blue Lizard lotion. It is amazing. None of us get burned. I remember being younger and getting burned easily. Now I almost never get burned and I'm the type that I can burn just walking to my mailbox and back. No joke.

 

[Toolulu22]

My moisturizer has sunscreen, but if we’re going to be outside in the sun for hours I’ll apply an actual sunblock. I use a spray on my arms and legs, and Josie Maran sunscreen SPF 47 on my face and upper body- it smells great.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I constantly check the UV index. If it's high, I wear sunscreen if I'm going to be out for more than 15 minutes. If it's a 4 or lower, I won't put it on unless I'm going to be in the sun for more than 30 or so.

I'm a very pale redhead so I've been cautious about sunburns my entire life. My husband was diagnosed with melanoma and a basel cell carcinoma in recent years which was a huge wake up call for him so he's really good about sunscreen too.

We use Think Sport lotion sunscreen. It's spf 50 and I reapply every 1.5 hours - 2 hours. It's zinc based and works really well and doesn't stain my clothes.

I hate the sprays. They are really bad if you accidentally inhale it. I also hate when people in public spaces (like Disney parks) just spray them without considering people in close proximity.

 

[fla4fun]

I’m very rarely outdoors, other than vacation. I go to the grocery store when it first opens, so the sun is generally not up, I do my lawn trimming before dawn to avoid the bees, and, well, it’s Florida, so it’s too hot to do anything when the sun is up. When I am on vacation I am very diligent about using sunscreen, and my makeup has an SPF in it.

I use a lotion because I feel breathing the spray while applying it can’t be all that great for my lungs.

 

[Skywalker3]

I"m probably a 4 for my face, but a 2 or 3 for the rest, BUT I rarely spend much time in the sun, unless it's at Disney, or similar. I"m a hermit, and do very little outdoor activities. The few beach trips we've done, I've lathered myself in thick cream....sprays didn't help much.
I still should do better. My mom had skin cancer. always a few spots burned/frozen off at her yearly appts, and surgeries to remove cancers on her face, like nose, ear, several cheek, then needed reconstructive and skin grafts, I've mostly chosen to look like a ghost, but I made many mistakes as a teen, suntanning, not wearing sunscreen, etc.
In my mid 50s now, and have already had 2 spots biopsied/removed on my back, and now, another spot biopsied/removed , and 3 frozen off....I"m supposed to keep eye on the last removal, and recheck in 6 months..
I foresee a lot of dermatology visits like that in my future.

 

[1420Elexismc]

I am disciplined when I know I will be outside for an extended period of time. I am not someone who wears it daily though

 

[MIGrandma]

I’m a 1 - should be better, I know. My face moisturizer has sunscreen, which is good because I have had skin cancer on my face and had mohs surgery for it. Rarely use anything on my arms and legs though. Can’t use sunscreen on the top of my head, but do try to wear a hat if I’m going to be in the sun awhile as my hair has gotten super thin and I’ve had pre-cancerous spots zapped with liquid nitrogen but my dermatologist.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I do not wear facial sunscreen because I cannot find one that does not burn my eyes.
I only wear body sunscreen if I will be in the sun a lot. I prefer to wear hats and long sleeves.