Choosing a sunscreen is tricky because you can find fault with almost every one of them. Harmful chemicals, skin irritations, allergies, unpleasant textures, ineffective sun protection factors, unsightly white residues, greasy finishes, and the list goes on. What should be an easy purchase is becoming awfully complex.
I wear sunscreen every day, and have for the last 25 years. Rain, snow, wind, shine, hail, it doesn’t matter. I am extremely diligent about applying sunscreen to my face, neck and hands. I used to wear Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, but have switched after Greg’s and my recent appointments with our dermatologist. His suggestion was to choose a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide because they offer the best sun and UV protection. An SPF of 30 is sufficient. Also, mineral formulas are gentle, and will not irritate sensitive skin.
Last year’s list of best suncreens, which the YLF community assisted in creating, was extremely helpful and a good starting point. I have tried many of those recommendations, and several others too.
My current favourite sunscreen for my face is the CeraVe Tinted Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 30. It is tinted so it doesn’t make me look like I’m wearing a white clay mask. Of course the tint has to work with your skin tone. I lucked out that it absorbs well and blends well with my skin. It is non-greasy, light, paraben-free, fragrance free, works well with my tinted moisturizer, and does not irritate my skin. Zinc used to sting my skin, or at least I thought it did. But I seem to be over that.
For our bodies, we are using the CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 50, and the La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Gentle Lotion Sunscreen with SPF 50. They aren’t tinted, so they do make a big white mess as you rub them in. But they do absorb eventually, and the white residue goes away.
It feels good to finally have a fab assortment of effective mineral sunscreens that are subtle and gentle. Over to you. What’s your favourite mineral sunscreen?
