What's the best sunblock?

La Roche-Posay

A parasol and veil.

MD Elta

Elta

Is this for the body or face OP? For the face I like Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen SPF 50. Comes with or without tint.

I second La Roche-Posay

Biore UV AQUA Rich Watery Essence Water Base SPF50+++. I get it from Korea but think it’s on Amazon and many other places. It’s in the blue bottle. Excellent block. Lightweight and a huge seller in Asia.

Staying inside.

Baby Oil. Let us know how it works out; pictures preferred.

For the face.

I "third" La Roche-Posay, specifically Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Lotion Spray. I have a history of skin cancer and my doctor recommended this brand. For my face, I like Anthelios 60 Cooling Water-Lotion Sunscreen because it is easier than a spray to apply to the face.

I have tried many premium brands (Shiseido, Clarins, Kiehl's, Lancaster, Jack Black) and a few luxury brands (Sisley, La Mer) and La Roche-Posay is the best quality vs. cost. The absolute best I've used was Sisley Sisleya SPF 50+ but it is insanely expensive ($315.00 for 1.8 ounces).

Nobody has ever had any problems with irritation from the La Roche Posay products? I have the daily moisturizer with sunscreen, and my face doesn't love it (their Effaclar Mat is great though, I switched back to that).

The Badger Balm clear unscented Zinc oxide cream is pretty great, at least for me. It’s broad spectrum, water-resistant, and doesn’t contain too many toxic nasties, and my skin looks very healthy when I’ve been using it for a few weeks. There’s a baby version too, for very sensitive skin.

You can get sunscreens with a low number of dangerous chemicals that are also cruelty-free from Blue Lizard, Kinship, and Coola. I’ve heard some good things about Coppertone, REN, and Bioassance, too, but haven’t tried them.

[quote]You can get sunscreens with a low number of dangerous chemicals that are also cruelty-free...

I prefer both chemicals and cruelty.

Supergoop or Klairs.

R13, doesn’t Badger leave white residue?

I also recommend La Roche-Posay, its thin and non greasy, plus you can get it from Target.

Really happy with Eucerin lightweight 50+.

Dear Klairs

Bain de Soleil White Creme

what are you guys using? I'm looking for MINERAL ones.

I bought the Avene mineral sunblock. It didn't work, ie, did not protect against the sun's rays, and stained my white clothes orange.

R22, thanks for the feedback and warning.

I hate creamy sunblock and only use the invisible sprays that dry quickly so you don’t feel it on your skin.

Any fairly inexpensive face sunblock that doesn’t give a white cast?

About 75 sunblock products are being petitioned for recall because they contain benzene.

[quote]Biore UV AQUA Rich Watery Essence Water Base SPF50+++. I get it from Korea but think it’s on Amazon and many other places. It’s in the blue bottle. Excellent block. Lightweight and a huge seller in Asia.

Another vote for Biore, I use it on my face.

For body I use Nivea Sun Water Gel.

Both are available on Amazon.

Another vote for LaRoche-Posay, Best I've ever tried, and it feels so smooth and light on the skin. It is completely worth it. every time I go to Europe in the summer (which is most years until 20209 and 2021) I buy some as soon as I've settled in my hotel.

Body Shop Vitamin C sunscreen.

R22 you know it's interesting that I hear so many rave about how great mineral sunblocks are and how bad the chemical stuff is and yet I have had repeated failures with the physical spfs. And I am not particularly fair skinned.

You mean you get a burn with the mineral sunblocks, R30? I switched to mineral three years ago after I started having skin reactions with conventional sunscreens and they’ve been more effective for me. Of course, I look like Casper the Ghost.

I ain’t want none a that raunchy poosay stuff on my face.

Thanks for all the suggestions and warnings!

R31yes. Some of it may be due to the ultra 90 percent humidity summers where I live, but the zinc stuff (even the ones labeled sport) in particular seems to simply melt off while the chemical sunscreens do a better job staying put.

There are tinted mineral ones, so you won't get a white cast.

R21 as others pointed out, If you want mineral sunscreen that don't leave a white cast you need a tinted one. Colorscience sunforgettable face shield I like but it breaks me out sometimes. First aid beauty has a tinted one that is constantly praised. ILYA makes one that's basically a skin tint (i.e. it has some coverage) that comes in 18 shades. If you need an inexpensive option the inkey list makes a tinted sunscreen (I didn't try it though) and cetaphil as well (be warned though as this one is extermely orange and will probably only work on medium skin tones)

Sheseido

Another thing with mineral sunscreens - it is said that the micro-particles of zinc and titanium oxide get into the bloodstream.

Sun Bum 50 Lotion (cruelty free)

Banana Boat Kids Sports 50+ Lotion

Both sink in, leave no residue. Both are sting-free, great if you live in a humid climate and/or do a lot of outdoor activity. Neither appear on R26's list.

Olive oil

There was a recent report on TV that they said sunscreens close to their expiration dates became toxic or something like that...I don't remember the specifics.

R42 see R26

Being Black, by George Floyd

The sun will bounce off of you just like a 2X4 on the head of a BLM protester in Kentucky!

Chrissy Metz

There was a similar thread on here years ago and someone recommended SARAFIT Aqua (which IS actually a Japanese sunscreen like you mentioned) because it leaves no white caste and actually absorbs into the skin. I ended up buying it and really enjoying it. It actually does absorb and is 50+.

I also recently tried Venus Williams' Eleven By Venus sun serum and sunscreen and both are AMAZING. They're a little expensive but if they go cheap at some point I would wear them every day. It takes a while to rub in but COMPLETELY disappears into the skin and seems to be high protection.

La Roche-Posay is good, but it's not worth the price IMO just for a daily-wear sunscreen. I happened to find a bottle of one of their sunscreens on a clearance rack at Target once for $8.99 (still not sure why it was so significantly discounted—it was not expiring and had not been opened, so possibly a return?) and while I liked the consistency, I wouldn't pay the running price of around $30 for 4 ounces of it.

Neutrogena makes some good chemical sunscreens, but their mineral versions are wretched—horrible, gluey consistency that makes you feel like you've just doused yourself in dirty motor oil. They also leave an egregious gray/blue white cast that is even noticeable on me, and I am as pale as you can get. I personally like Eucerin's face sunscreens, but they're kind of hard to find, at least in my area. Target and Walgreens tend to be the best bet. Like most brands, they have some mineral-based and others chemical. I like their Daily Protection SPF 30 (which is mineral-based, lotion-like in consistency, and doesn't leave an extreme white cast), and their Age Defense SPF 50.

While I prefer chemical sunscreens overall, I have to be careful with them because I have well water with a high iron content. Little-known fact: Avobenzone, a common chemical sunscreen filter, reacts with iron and will leave rust-colored stains on fabrics. I've ruined several shirts because of this—stubborn stains all around the neck and the cuffs. I tried everything to get them out, even using liquid rust remover, but had little success. Now, if I am going to wear a chemical sunscreen that is likely to come in contact with my clothing, I make sure to only wear dark fabrics that won't stain. This is less of a problem if I'm only applying the sunscreen to my face.

Isntree Watery Sun Gel 50+ which should be on iherb, definitely on stylevana

OP, try not to rely on sunblock alone. Ten minutes in the sun and if you can at least ten out of it. Not just an umbrella, but inside. The ultra violets will penetrate anything.