Best Sunscreen

[rayoflight]

Something with minerals, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, preferably non-micronizer (a rarity these days) or the hi-tech Z-cote transparent particles. They form a thin layer on skin that reflects and scatters UV light, so they UV rays don't even get to skin, provided you use the correct amount and reapply often. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17493070
Reapplication is vital, cause there are no sunscreens that work all day long, most break down within 2 hours. Physical sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) do last longer, but still need to be reapplied.
Also don't be fooled by high SPF numbers, a SPF sunscreen wont protect you all day long, thats a common misconception. A SPF 100 sunscreen will still break down after 2 hours. http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDER/ucm106351.htm
But UVA protection is more important if you want to avoid pigment, zinc oxide and filters like Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S are the best for stable UVA protection that will keep skin from developing pigment. (and using lactic acid and or vitamin c products to help fight pigment production is also one of the many options)
I thought that L'Oreal suncreens with Mexoryl XL and SX are also good for that, but recently I had to find out that they are not wroth the hype. I used a Garnier sunscreen with SPF 50 and both Mexoryl XL/ SX and still got tan. They prevent burning, but not pigment and if I see pigment it means UVA rays got past their filters and I have sundamage now. So staying away from overhyped La Roche Posay, Garnier, Loreal, Vichy sunscreens might be a good idea.

 

[TianSoFine]

^Thanks for the tips, especially about reapplication. I guess I should really reapply more often!

 

[rayoflight]

If you want to avoid color then reapplication is your friend! Remember, UVA rays also penetrate through glass and clouds, so for pale skin you need a sunscreen 365 days a year, even when it rains, or you sit in car or office. And it's best avoid sun exposure at all between 10AM and 4PM, because no sunscreen blocks out 100% of sun's rays.

 

[indepwe]

I have a few favourites which I have used recently which are:
Peter Thomas Roth - Instant Mineral - SPF 30
Neutrogena - Age Shield + Repair Anti Aging Sunblock - SPF 55
and No7 - Anti-Dark Spot Facial Sunblock - SPF 50+

They just seem to work the best for me and I see great results with my skin after being in the sun.

 

[Kerry]

I'm using La Roche-posay anthelios for my face and neutrogena for my body.
But when I apply the anthelios I find some white powder-like thing coming out.Anyone has this problem as well?

 

[etceteraism]

I use La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF60 since I'm very pale. Then I use Clarins facial sunscreen in SPF40 for my face. The Clarins is not perfect-I find it a bit difficult to wear under makeup but it does do the job.

As for year-round, I wear Smashbox tinted moisturizer as my foundation (SPF15) although I want to switch after hearing about the negative effects vitamins A and D can have in sunscreen (which the Smashbox product contains)

 

[loonaka]

I've heard that the Shiseido one is the best...I've tried it out and it doesn't make my skin oily which has been a problem before when I put it on my face, but it kinda made my skin a bit dry I think..

 

[BibiRose]

^I also use Shisheido, works for me, absorbs really quickly, but after I apply it I also put on my tinted moisturizer.
I also love Avene Very High Protection Cream SPF 50, and their other sunscreen products, they are so gentle and don't irritate.

 

[limo]

Hi! I've searched online, but can't find a definitive answer.

How much sunscreen should be used on your face and neck?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rayoflight]

1.3-1.5 ml for your face and neck. It's actually 2 mg for each square cm of your skin, according to dermatologists, most people have about 700 cm/2 of skin, so you can do the math.

This link probably explains it better: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/93/letters/sunscreen/castanedo.html

It doesn't matter if you put on more (more is actually better, you do get more protection), but if you apply less, the protection decreases dramatically, for example, applying half of the recommended amount of SPF 30 sunscreen results in about SPF 5-10, I don't remember the exact number.

 

[limo]

Thank you rayoflight!

 

[CarolineRose]

I just ordered Kimberly Sayer Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer SPF 25 as my "winter" sunscreen. It has titanium and zinc, no oxybenzone, is 95% organic and is cruelty-free, and has good reviews on Amazon. The price ($32 for a large tube) seems pretty reasonable, especially since I am willing to pay a little more for high quality sunscreen. I will keep you guys updated! Has anyone else tried it?

 

[tiffany]

I'm using La Roche-posay anthelios for my face and neutrogena for my body.
But when I apply the anthelios I find some white powder-like thing coming out.Anyone has this problem as well?

I've had that problem with La Roche Posay's anthelios! At first I thought it would stop after the first few uses, but it didn't.

I switched to Avene after that and didn't have any issues

 

[KamenKutak]

is there a good combination of daycream and eye cream with SPF?? i searched, but it seems like there is only Elizabeth Arden 'Ceramide!?!

- Plump Perfect Moisture Cream SPF 15
- Plump Perfect Eye Moisture Cream SPF 15

is it good?? or is there another daycream/eye cream you can recommend?

 

[Cristina777]

For those of you who do outdoor sports: What's the best face sport sunscreen? Non-comedogenic and that does not leave a white cast, please.

 

[[vogue]]

I'm currently using the Shiseido Urban Environment SPF50 and really like it for a daily use - it's non-oily, doesn't leave a white cast, and gives me skin a nice glow.

I would also recommend Kose's SPF50 sunscreen (blue bottle), La Roche Posay SPF50 for outdoor sports - available in a spray version as well. Works beautifully.

 

[Georgi]

My vote is for micronized zinc oxide sunscreens which provide stable broad-range UV protection, unlike chemical SS that can break down in the sun forming free radicals. Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer spf 30 is a nice 19% zinc in aloe one that goes on totally invisible and is not tacky or greasy. Doesnt dry the skin like some zinc SS can. The glass airless pump bottle with removable top for getting the last bit out is nice too, but mind you dont drop it!

http://www.vitacost.com/Devita-Solar-Protective-Moisturizer-SPF-30

 

[ms-nietzsche]

What do you guys think of La Roche Posay's Cell-Ox Shield? Maybe I just haven't noticed it before, but it seems to me that La Roche Posay is moving away from using mexoryl and towards using this Cell-ox shield formula thing. They're super high in UVA protection though, so that's a plus.

 

[Georgi]

^^ I like the idea of using antioxidants UNDER sunscreen and have always worn a separate CE ferulic serum under my zinc oxide sunscreen. But combining an anti-oxidant within a chemical SS is a bit like trying to bale out a boat with a teaspoon. Im not sure it could keep up with the free radicals generated by the chemicals sunscreening agents breaking down themselves, let alone those generated by the UV rays.

 

[dsq]

I just ordered Kimberly Sayer Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer SPF 25 as my "winter" sunscreen. It has titanium and zinc, no oxybenzone, is 95% organic and is cruelty-free, and has good reviews on Amazon. The price ($32 for a large tube) seems pretty reasonable, especially since I am willing to pay a little more for high quality sunscreen. I will keep you guys updated! Has anyone else tried it?

i'm using this right now everyday. it's has a light consistency with a lemon smell, very easy to apply and doesn't leave your face clammy nor oily.