Sunscreen recommendations?

[nkereina]

Curious what everyone uses for sunscreen on themselves (adults) while in Hawaii. What brand, what level of SPF, and do you use spray or a lotion?

I've been on the hunt for a good one but everything has mixed reviews - it stinks, stains clothes, doesn't work, etc. etc. Hawaiian Tropics seems to have the best reviews so far, but torn on whether to get spray or lotion. Spray seems easier, especially if you can spray and go and don't have to get your hands gross rubbing it in.

And then what level of SPF? I know the sun is stronger there so we do want to prevent burns, but will also be laying out for some color at times too.

And how about standard sunscreens vs. sport sunscreens vs. dry oil (tanning) sunscreens?!

So much to know! LOL! Thanks for any recommendations!

 

[brimorga]

We started with the target up and up spray for the body and the up and up stick for the face. Spray is so much easier. Put it on about 4 times the first day and still got burned on my back. So then I bought coppertone sport lotion and applied that first thing in the morning up in the room, used spray the rest of the day, we didn't get burned again. I'd use the same combination in the future.

Not sure how much SPF matters once you are above 35 or so, but for reference, the sunscreen we used was 55.

 

[blondietink]

We use the all natural sunscreen with zinc oxide in it. There are several brands; Natural Tone, Tropical Sands, Absolutely natural, etc. these are more expensive than the chemical ones, but I have a reaction to the sunscreens that have all those chemicals in them, such as Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, etc. When we were in Hawaii in April we used SPF 30 and 15 and we did not get burned at all. My son has Vitiligo and he also did not burn with the SPF 30. The natural sunscreens are also safe for the tropical reefs. However, Hawaiian Tropic does make a biodegradable sunscreen that we have used in the past, but it is difficult to find. Perhaps you can find it on EBay.

 

[monorailsilver]

We use a mix. I use neutregena more so on my son. I put I think copper tone on his face in April when we were in fL and he got a little itchy so iwe t back to what I know works on his skin.

I will use that or Hawaiian tropic lotion that looks like it's a mix of 2 colors. Although I would love the oil, I just can't deal with all that oil in my adult hood!

As far as SPF, I stick with 30. I will get a 50 or 70 but we get no color with that but I will use that on burned areas if needed. I will use 15 but only if I have a good base and even then I will burn with the FL April sun.

I also get a mix of lotions and sprays. I can apply the when wet neutregena on my kids because it just works because they just want to stay sump merged in water and not dry off! Lotions definitely on faces and ears.

 

[Drusilla99]

We use a variety depending on the person. My Italian dh uses Hawaiian tropic spray lotion spf 8. My dd colored like her dad uses copper tone dry oil spray 30. My light skin, but can tan good dd & myself use target's up & up 30...at home we use the up & up 15. All the girls use coppertone faces 30 lotion, it's actually the moisturizer I use every day. Hope that helps!

 

[Mokat76]

My facial skin is very sensitive to the chemicals in most sunscreens. I get a chemical burn worse than sunburn. As a result, for my face I always use CeraVe SPF 50 Face Lotion, which uses invisible zinc. For the rest of me, I start with a decent SPF 50 spray (love Tradet Joe's) that I apply frequently. Later in the week I may drop down to a 35. Never less than that.

 

[buffettgirl]

My family has really good luck with No-Ad sunscreen. We've been using it for years. My husband burns to a crisp, and 30spf works really well for him while running and swimming or just sitting on the beach. He uses something else day to day for just normal life. Can't remember what it is. My son also uses the spf 30 and he's pretty much the whitest white person I've ever seen.
I use the 15 spf no-ad but I also don't really burn. For instance, in Florida at WDW, I never need sunscreen.

 

[WDW_Diane]

Great conversation....I just called my dermatologist's office to see what he recommends. He said Neutrogena Ultra spf 85 either spray or lotion.

 

[buffettgirl]

The neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch feels really nice on your face. I have some that I will put on the back of my neck when I go out for a walk. It doesn't get all greasy when sweaty.

 

[cgattis]

My facial skin is very sensitive to the chemicals in most sunscreens. I get a chemical burn worse than sunburn. As a result, for my face I always use CeraVe SPF 50 Face Lotion, which uses invisible zinc. For the rest of me, I start with a decent SPF 50 spray (love Tradet Joe's) that I apply frequently. Later in the week I may drop down to a 35. Never less than that.

Gasp! Had no idea CeraVe made a sunscreen!!! Thank you SO much! CeraVe is just shy of miraculous--stuff will pretty much heal any skin issue.

 

[crystal1313]

So I have been engrossed in research for this the past couple days! I thought I had a great sunblock, but we all got a bit burnt this past weekend and I DO NOT want that to happen in Hawaii!! Especially my DS6 who is a red head. Both my boys and myself also have SPF50 rash guards, my boys have SPF50 hats too. In any case, I found this site to be super helpful regarding the tons of different types of sunscreen: https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/

My main concern is how long the sunblock can stay on in the water, since I am pretty sure we will be living in the pools/beach......

Here are my choices that I am going to try all of before our trip in July:

Blue Lizard: https://www.bluelizard.net/
This one will probably be used on both boys and for sure my DH and I faces. A friend who boats and is on the water A LOT, highly recommended this.

Banana Boat: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009FKNGRA...UTF8&colid=QUVIPSY8BAAL&coliid=I277IHF6PQ9QR8
This is what I think my DH and I will use most of the time. But I am also getting this to try:

Coppertone: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FO6U2Y...olid=QUVIPSY8BAAL&coliid=I2D7J2NM4S1BOI&psc=1

The banana boat and Coppertone are rated a 3 on the EEG website, and depending on which Blue Lizard, they range from 1 to 4. I cannot personally say these are great yet since I have not tried them, but I will report back. =)

The reasons I went with these are: Price; not super expensive, EWG rating, and reviews.

Everything I have read says that sunblock with zinc is best, but those are the harder to rub in lotions that usually leave a white residue. I don't mind that, even though it is more difficult to put on the kids. Sunburns are zero fun, and I am willing to spend more to prevent them.

 

[Mokat76]

Gasp! Had no idea CeraVe made a sunscreen!!! Thank you SO much! CeraVe is just shy of miraculous--stuff will pretty much heal any skin issue.

You're welcome. It's my holy grail. I don't use anything else on my face for protection anymore.

 

[crystal1313]

Banana Boat: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009FKNGRA...UTF8&colid=QUVIPSY8BAAL&coliid=I277IHF6PQ9QR8
This is what I think my DH and I will use most of the time. But I am also getting this to try:

Ok, I found the Banana Boat this weekend at my local CVS. We used it Sunday. We were at a park for a couple of hours in the sun the entire time in 90 degree heat. I re-applied twice and none of us got red. My kids even swam afterwards (I re-applied again before they went in the pool) and they were good. I liked the lotion a lot. It felt moisturizing and rubbed in pretty easily. Now to get the coppertone and see which one we like best. =)

 

[ktlm]

My main concern is how long the sunblock can stay on in the water, since I am pretty sure we will be living in the pools/beach......

Here are my choices that I am going to try all of before our trip in July:

Blue Lizard: https://www.bluelizard.net/
This one will probably be used on both boys and for sure my DH and I faces. A friend who boats and is on the water A LOT, highly recommended this.

Haven't used it in Hawaii (as we haven't been there yet), but we have used Blue Lizard at other beaches.

Blue Lizard is great to avoid sunburn. My DH has red hair and fair skin, and he does not burn with it. I'm very fair too and I don't burn with it either. We used it on DD until she was 8 or 9, and she could be out all day and not get burned. We had to use the sensitive skin/baby (they are they same- just packaged differently) on her and on me because we have sensitive skin and the regular would make us both break out. The only thing with Blue Lizard is that it is very thick and rubs on very white and is hard to get rubbed in. She never liked it and complained every time I put it on her, but it worked great.

I've never had much luck with Banana Boat or Coppertone brands -- I have burned with both.

We do well with Neutrogena and Clinique too. Neutrogena is a little bit heavy. Clinique is the best in terms of not being thick or greasy or being hard to rub in, but you will need to reapply it after being in the water a lot because it is not totally waterproof. DD doesn't complain at all about Clinique, but I do have to remember to reapply it if she is in the ocean for a while because she did burn one time when I did not reapply.

 

[crystal1313]

Haven't used it in Hawaii (as we haven't been there yet), but we have used Blue Lizard at other beaches.

Blue Lizard is great to avoid sunburn. My DH has red hair and fair skin, and he does not burn with it. I'm very fair too and I don't burn with it either. We used it on DD until she was 8 or 9, and she could be out all day and not get burned. We had to use the sensitive skin/baby (they are they same- just packaged differently) on her and on me because we have sensitive skin and the regular would make us both break out. The only thing with Blue Lizard is that it is very thick and rubs on very white and is hard to get rubbed in. She never liked it and complained every time I put it on her, but it worked great.

I've never had much luck with Banana Boat or Coppertone brands -- I have burned with both.

We do well with Neutrogena and Clinique too. Neutrogena is a little bit heavy. Clinique is the best in terms of not being thick or greasy or being hard to rub in, but you will need to reapply it after being in the water a lot because it is not totally waterproof. DD doesn't complain at all about Clinique, but I do have to remember to reapply it if she is in the ocean for a while because she did burn one time when I did not reapply.

Great to know about Blue Lizard! My order is supposed to arrive today. I know my kids will complain about rubbing it in, but as long as they don't burn, that is totally worth it to me! =)

 

[Dvc808]

Me and my family live in Hawaii and go to the beach regularly, and Aulani several times a year. I suggest using a broad spectrum sunblock. This covers uva and uvb rays. We personally use bullfrog sunblock. 35 spf works great for us but we are also tanned so some may want or prefer higher spf. Use the lotion initially then we reapply with spray if we have that. We have never gotten sunburned, lucky for us when using this one.