What kind of sunblock lotion do you use?

[pigletto]

Scary
After reading this I threw all of my Banana Boat/Hawaiian Tropic lotions away! What are you using now?

I wouldn't throw things away over one article. It really depends on the source, research, bias etc.
However.. reading this thread made me start digging. All we have ever heard is how dangerous it is to not use sunscreen. It never even occurred to me what might be in them or what I was putting on my kids. I thought I was doing the responsible thing.

Then to see how harmful some of the chemicals in sunscreens are, and starting to consider just what I am using.. well needless to say I will not be buying anything that I have been using again. I have a closet with about 10 bottles of different brands I have found on sale or had coupons for. Out to the trash they go.

Now to find out what to use! We're pale, we use sunscreen several times a day in the summer. So it has to be safe.
Does anyone use a sunblock they feel is more safe for their kids? Or know a reputable source for finding out what to purchase?

 

[fakereadhed]

Today I bought this one by Badger.
http://www.badgerbalm.com/p-462-spf-30-unscented-natural-sunscreen.aspx

I tested it on my hand and it didn't break me out. It goes on white, but we are pale anyway so nobody will know the difference!

 

[lukenick1]

I wouldn't throw things away over one article. It really depends on the source, research, bias etc.
However.. reading this thread made me start digging. All we have ever heard is how dangerous it is to not use sunscreen. It never even occurred to me what might be in them or what I was putting on my kids. I thought I was doing the responsible thing.

Then to see how harmful some of the chemicals in sunscreens are, and starting to consider just what I am using.. well needless to say I will not be buying anything that I have been using again. I have a closet with about 10 bottles of different brands I have found on sale or had coupons for. Out to the trash they go.

Now to find out what to use! We're pale, we use sunscreen several times a day in the summer. So it has to be safe.
Does anyone use a sunblock they feel is more safe for their kids? Or know a reputable source for finding out what to purchase?

I saw one today that was pure zinc oxide and it was clear. It was spf 50. That would be a good one if I could only remember the brand. If I do I will chime back in here. I bought Alba Botanica because it was rated safe on that web site. I also bought the Coppertone Pure & Simple for the kids. I plan to get the Badger spf 15 for me.

 

[staceyhzoo]

Love Badger!! DH, DD, and DS are all redheads and have fair skin. It's the only one that dd has never burned with! I used Banana Boat baby one time on her and she got burned so bad we had to take her to the doctor and file a report with the company. After reading that article a few years ago, I'll never use those products again.

 

[lukenick1]

Wish I never saw this thread. Now I'm all paranoid about sunscreen. Seems like sunsctreen is just as bad if not worse than the sun! Guess I'll go back to baby oil

 

[university]

If you want to look up your sunscreen to see how dangerous it is, the link is http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

You can look up all of your health and beauty items there including shampoo, soaps, etc. There are a LOT of toxic, carcinogenic ingredients in many so-called "natural" products that the public needs to be aware of.

 

[JerseyTink]

I use the Target brand lotion and spray. The spray is the best I've used. We go through a ton of sunblock here in TX and the Target brand works great without breaking the bank like some of the other brands. It smells nice, too, and does the job. No sunburns in 2 summers so far for any of us!

I second this and agree with everything above. Great minds think alike!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

We use Blue Lizard on the face and No Ad for the body. DD is still fairly pale, even though she's pretty much lived at the pool and/or beach for the last few weeks.

Where did you find Blue Lizard? Our CVS' don't have it & the website was "understocked" last time I checked.

 

[bridget]

I use the coppertone water babies pure & simple... no oxybenzone.

I've had melanoma at age 34. Pale, redhair, blue eyes.

I also wear hats, spf clothing, etc! (same with my children, although they did not inherit my skin tone)!

 

[Ephany]

Where did you find Blue Lizard? Our CVS' don't have it & the website was "understocked" last time I checked.

Drugstore.com. Our CVS no longer carries it, so I had to order it online. Walmart here is phasing out No Ad apparently, so I need to find another sunscreen for the body.

 

[lukenick1]

Went for the less chemicals sunscreen and it made my son break out in a rash. It was Alba Botanical sunscreen. Bummer I will try the Coppertone Pure and Simple next.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I have a skin condition called Polymorphous light eruption. The only thing that keeps me from getting a horrible, itchy rash at the beginning of every summer is Neutrogena with Helioplex. It has saved my summers and vacations. I developed PMLE in my late 20's/early 30's and had my first big break out on my homeymoon. The rash is burning, itchy and prickly... and it will destroy a vacation and makes me miserable for a week! Every few years I call my dermitologist to see if there are any new products and this is the one he swears by.

Basically I lose my tolerance to UV over the winter and each spring/summer I need to build up my UV tolerance again in small doses (i.e. just wearing a short sleeve shirt and walking around for a little while.)

 

[Mom2micayla]

We almost exclusively use Up & Up (Target). It works as well, if not better, than the "name" brand ones we've use. I really like that the lotion kind of thicker. I'm always surprised at how runny ones like Banana Boat, Coppertone, etc are. The fact that it's a lot cheaper is definitely a bonus too.

 

[MrsPete]

My dermatologist tells me to use VaniCream sunscreen. It's kind of expensive, but I don't use it all that often. I use the same brand for soap and moisturizer. It's done wonders for my Exema and Rosacia. VaniCream is hard to find; my Target keeps it behind the counter in the pharmacy, although it isn't prescription -- you have to know to ask for it, and it's not advertised, so I guess people usually buy it because of doctor suggestions.

The other brand I really like is TruBlue from Bath & BodyWorks. I like the smell, and it's so thick and creamy. It's expensive though, so I won't buy it unless I have a coupon; fortunately, that's easy to get.

 

[Aisling]

I've always used sunscreen, any brand, didn't matter as I went by the lowest price. But a couple of weeks ago I found out I have a pre-cancerous area on the top of my foot from sun exposure (I never protected my feet) and the dermatologist said that I must only use sunBLOCK from now on, not sunSCREEN. I'm pale skin with light hair and eyes. I never knew there was a difference.

So I go into Walgreen's and the shelves are filled with all brands of sunscreen, no sunblock. I had to ask, and the clerk found the only sunblock they carry, Bullfrog. And it was $11.99 for a small bottle!

I basically wanted to mention to be sure you're buying what you need, sunscreen vs sunblock. And to be prepared that, as far as I know, sunblock costs a lot more than sunscreen. If anyone knows of a less expensive sunblock, please let me know. I'm going to go broke protecting myself from the sun this summer.

 

[Swimalie]

Scary
After reading this I threw all of my Banana Boat/Hawaiian Tropic lotions away! What are you using now?

We now use Wegman's brand which has zinc oxide in it as it's main chemical. Goes on super thick but works really well.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I use Banana Boat Sunblock for kids. 50 SPF. It is unscented and hypoallergenic. It's not the spray one, but the thick white lotion. For my face, I am using Ocean Potion zinc oxide 45spf. It dries clear, it's the one that comes in a little pot. Got them at Walmart.

I have very sensitive skin and have to use sunscreen every day-I work outside. Ones with scents and the sprays, make my skin feel like it's on fire and sometimes gives hives. So I go for the plainest ones with the zinc oxide.

 

[miralys]

I use whatever goes on dirt-cheap sale combined with coupons at the store. My only requirement is it be at least 30 SPF and be a spray, because the lotions make a mess and leave a rash. Most of the time I hit up Aveeno and Neutrogena from CVS.

 

[desilu1975]

My 12-year old daughter has had PLME since she was 4 (maybe before but we just noticed it at age 4).

She has come into the age of acne and we are having a problem keeping the sunscreen on while using a Benzoyl Peroxide which makes her extra sensitive to the sun.

I have purchased the most expensive sunscreen for non-clogging pores but she seems to be getting worse. She says it feels like her skin is burning now when she uses the sunscreen.

She used the Benzoyl every day for weeks and her face was clearing nicely. She complained of burning and I wasn't sure if it was new soap, sunscreen, sun, or what so I asked her to stop everything. Her face is back to being full of acne and with this hot weather the PLME is real bad!

Any ideas on how to keep the acne at a minimum and keep her skin protected from the sun?


Thank you!
Carrie

 

[PatriciaH]

Badger and California Baby. We threw out all of our Nutrogena, Coppertone, etc.