Need recommendations for a good sunscreen

Charming1 · ‎05-09-2013

I’ve been researching them at the ewg site and there’s so many. I’m currently using Trader Joe’s with zinc oxide.

I thought zinc oxide and titanium oxide were safe, and safer then chemical sunscreens, however there’s conflicting info on the web about safety.

I just had mohs surgery on my face and sure don’t want to apply something that has the potential to cause cancer.

I was thinking of trying bare minerals as makeup but see it has titanium oxide and am leery about it. I’ve never watched any of the presentations to know if titanium oxide gets discussed or not. Maybe someone can educate me!

Also I’ll continue using my current skincare products in the hopes of preventing further damage. Even though the damage is done in there past I did ask my derm if it could also be just too much sun expose currently and he said could be both.

I now am more mindful of the clothing I wear outside too.

Please share any recommendations, thoughts, opinions, etc. Much appreciated.

ETA: I asked my derm for a recommendation and he actually had his staff send me to ewg.org site which I was already familiar with...so no recommendation from him.

TIA!

“There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.” Author Unknown

FUTURE · ‎04-11-2010

I've actually never read conflicting information about physical sunscreen being less safe than chemical ones. Could you provide links? I wear physical sunscreen when at all possible, so about 95% of the time. I also try to avoid foundations with chemical SPF, as I apply my own physical sunscreen under it, anyway. I prefer Elta MD 41, Devita, or Paula's Choice has a few great physical ones I like. Also, Colorescience powder (physical/mineral) is great for touching up, and comes in a handy portable applicator. HTH!

namaste000 · ‎03-13-2010

I'm in my 60s and have had several basal cell skin cancers including one MOHS surgery on my face.

From what I understand the skin cancers that appear now are from damage done years ago. I have always had porcelain skin and have stayed out of the sun all my life but no one is safe. Some key factors are:

-years ago the 'sunblocks' that were sold were really not blocking uva/uvb rays. So we would cover ourselves and think we were safe. We weren';t (

-even if you are covered with clothing, some sun damage can still occur. Now they sell clothes with built in spf...that is safer. I have several hats like this.

I have always gotten rashes from chemical sunscreens so I only use protection from zinc oxice and titanium oxide. There is some controversy about the nano particles of these minerals being unhealthy because you can inhale these particles. A few companies have started labeling their products with 'no nano particles'.

http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/nanoparticles-in-sunscreen/

I use Yes to carrots daily facial moisturizer with spf 15 all year round. For my body, I like Badger zinc oxide sunscreen cream spf 30 and alba botanica very emollient sunscreen mineral protection spf 30. I am also a big hat wearer even if I'm just going small distances.

Charming1 · ‎05-09-2013

@FUTURE wrote:
I've actually never read conflicting information about physical sunscreen being less safe than chemical ones. Could you provide links? I wear physical sunscreen when at all possible, so about 95% of the time. I also try to avoid foundations with chemical SPF, as I apply my own physical sunscreen under it, anyway. I prefer Elta MD 41, Devita, or Paula's Choice has a few great physical ones I like. Also, Colorescience powder (physical/mineral) is great for touching up, and comes in a handy portable applicator. HTH!

Thank you for the info Future. I'm going to take a look at those products.

I didn't mean to imply physical ones were less safe than chemical ones (sorry about that). It appears the physical is the better of the two however, I was reading conflicting studies on the safety of the physical ingredients. Sorry I don't have links to share...I didn't save any. My eyes were tired of reading the other night!!

At the ewg.org site you can search sunscreens and when clicking on the product ingredients it will show if if has the potential to be an allergen, irritant, etc. and zinc shows up as having a very, very low risk for cancer. I'm probably being over cautious given my recent surgery.

“There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.” Author Unknown

Charming1 · ‎05-09-2013

@namaste000 wrote:
I'm in my 60s and have had several basal cell skin cancers including one MOHS surgery on my face.

From what I understand the skin cancers that appear now are from damage done years ago. I have always had porcelain skin and have stayed out of the sun all my life but no one is safe. Some key factors are:

-years ago the 'sunblocks' that were sold were really not blocking uva/uvb rays. So we would cover ourselves and think we were safe. We weren';t (

-even if you are covered with clothing, some sun damage can still occur. Now they sell clothes with built in spf...that is safer. I have several hats like this.

I have always gotten rashes from chemical sunscreens so I only use protection from zinc oxice and titanium oxide. There is some controversy about the nano particles of these minerals being unhealthy because you can inhale these particles. A few companies have started labeling their products with 'no nano particles'.

http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/nanoparticles-in-sunscreen/

I use Yes to carrots daily facial moisturizer with spf 15 all year round. For my body, I like Badger zinc oxide sunscreen cream spf 30 and alba botanica very emollient sunscreen mineral protection spf 30. I am also a big hat wearer even if I'm just going small distances.

Yes I read that too about the nano particles. Thank you for your recommendations too. You ladies are great!! :-)

“There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.” Author Unknown

Charming1 · ‎05-09-2013

I wear hats now too but mine don't have the built in spf. I'll have to look for those. I also live in a warm climate and the sun just seems more intense than up north. I have handbags that fade just going from the car to the store and I swear I get color myself that way. I was always running around in a flip flop or some kind of open shoe. I now even cover my feet more.

“There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.” Author Unknown

Iwantcoffee · ‎03-11-2010

@Charming1 wrote:
I wear hats now too but mine don't have the built in spf. I'll have to look for those. I also live in a warm climate and the sun just seems more intense than up north. I have handbags that fade just going from the car to the store and I swear I get color myself that way. I was always running around in a flip flop or some kind of open shoe. I now even cover my feet more.

I, too, wear closed shoes. Sunburn feet are painful.

Tricolor · ‎04-19-2010

For my face I swear by Josie Maran SPF 47. My skin is dry and this moisturizer keeps me hydrated plus the benefit of having an SPF.

NeNe1010 · ‎03-26-2010

I love ASDM Mineral Sunscreen. I am 62 & still have oily skin. I cat stand the slippage and greasiness of a lot of sunscreens. ASDM is mineral, lightly tinted and my skin just feels like my skin after I put it on. It laters nicely over serums and cream also. It is SPF 35 and reasonably priced. Their web site is ASDM Beverly Hills.

SLCchick · ‎09-28-2011

I do not like a dewey finish so I love love love Paula's Choice Matte spf. It's a decent price normally, but she always offers 15%-20% off sales with free shipping frequently and her customer service is the best hands down.