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mrfusion

10 internet points if you can point me to a sunscreen that’s sweat resistant, non greasy, and non toxic (physical)

I’ve been trying to find one for months.

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Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50. It also is free of benzene, unlike many other sunscreens:

https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/cancer-causing-compounds...

warning: it is expensive but worth it

I usually get some SPF 50+ kids sunscreen. The one I use has the downside that one looks like a mummy, but I guess that's the price one has to pay for physical protection (titanium dioxide usually IIRC).

Personally I'm the kind that turns from ghastly pale into red-like-a-boiled-crab at the flick of a switch, so I tend to wear long-sleeved shirts and a wide-brimmed hat as much as possible in the summer.

I just hope the titanium dioxide is as non toxic as we hope, since it's damn hard to avoid, including in stuff that you put inside your body as opposed to just on it. I failed to get a toothpaste without it, but it's in other stuff I consume, too (for no particular reason other than optics).

I imagine the toxic method of action is similar with zinc oxide, but it hasn't been widely used in food. Or maybe it has?

Titanium dioxide is no longer considered safe as a food additive in the EU at least. Hopefully it's not as problematic on the outside of your body, but you never know...

I learned that countries in Europe and Asia have better sunscreens because the bureaucracy of the FDA in America makes it too difficult to get those sunscreens imported here. I like using it though. If it's good enough for Europeans it's good enough for me.

I think ISDIN carries those sorts of sunscreens: https://www.isdin.com/en/product/fotoprotector-isdin/fusion-...

It was the first time I realized sunscreen doesn’t need to be greasy and/or a thick paste that never absorbs. And my Mexican girlfriend pointed out that state of sunscreen tech is much better than what we have in the US.

It blew my mind to use sunscreen that spreads like a watery cream that instantly absorbs and leaves behind no residue. I finally became a daily user.

It's it possible to have sunscreen that is sweat-resistant and non-greasy?

Coppertone Sport SPF 50 (in the blue bottle) seems to be the best I've found. It's used almost exclusively in the sailboat racing communities, particularly in sunny areas like south texas.

Not greasy?

Not in my experience. The boat is a pretty active, highly dynamic place, you need a good grip, either on the boat to steady yourself, grabbing/working with lines (ropes) or working the winch handles. We wouldn't use it if it were greasy. EVERYBODY in the fleet uses coppertone sport spf 50. About six years ago I noticed that big box stores have started offering generic version in a similarly sized/shaped blue bottle, but can't confirm it's the exact same formula.

It might be greasy for the first 5 minutes while it dries/cures but after that you don't know it's there. We usually reapply every 3-4 hours as we're in direct sun for 5-8 hours typically

It's a clear liquid spray.

Comes in both lotion and spray types. Seems like spray is more popular on the east coast for whatever reason. Almost exclusively sold as a lotion in Texas based on my personal subjective experience.

Get some Korean/Japanese sunscreen from Stylevana.

For example:

https://www.stylevana.com/en_US/kao-biore-uv-aqua-rich-water...

The watery gel stuff isn't approved by the FDA, but it feels a million times better than anything we can get here. Absorbs nearly instantly, doesn't feel greasy, and over SPF 50.

Contains benzene still so probably not what the parent comment is looking for.

Another one I've used is https://www.stylevana.com/en_US/isntree-hyaluronic-acid-wate...

Seems OK based on https://incidecoder.com/products/isntree-hyaluronic-acid-wat...

They also say "Skin irritation test completed: Proven to be hypoallergenic with skin irritation index of 0.00"

I hate sunscreen but I have pale skin that burns in an instant. I've been going for the mineral based products for the last few years. Though they are mostly greasy and need to be reapplied.

Hero Cosmetics's line has worked pretty well for me (for a face sunscreen). Zinc oxide only, doesn't make me (a white guy) look ghostly.

Supergoop and kinship both make pretty great non toxic sunscreens.

Lightweight clothing covering your skin is the best way

Unfortunately my hands, feet, neck, and ears sunburn easily, and can’t really be covered when swimming or on the beach, so a sunscreen is still needed

Zinc oxide for the best protection, titanium dioxide for less oil, less visibility, and less irritation of skin acne. At least 8% content for both. If you want to go expensive, La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60, if you want to go cheap try Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 or Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50. Reapplying every few hours is important.

This is gold, thank you

beware with La Roche-Posay line! Well, most mega corp cosmetic chem corps have this exact same problem.

They use the exact same brand/package design/names for completely different products, depending on where you are.

For example, USA you get "Anthelios 60 Mineral", with 8% Ti dioxide and 6% zinc ox. In the EU you get 6% Ti diox and 12% zinc ox. In south america you get Oxybenzene and no minerals :shrug

Now, guess which one you will end up getting on the cheaper listings on amazon even in the USA.

It absolutely is not. Thin clothing is bad at blocking UV. For example, a cotton t-shirt blocks 41% of UVA and 40% of UVB. That's like wearing SPF 1.7 sunscreen, i.e., you're getting twenty times the UV exposure you'd get wearing bare-minimum SPF-15 sunscreen.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4414538/

I am extremely sensitive to the sun and have NEVER been sunburned through a t-shirt or other layer of clothing. I still think it's a valid defense.

I've been sunburned through a linen shirt (white color shirt and lightweight).

Did you just take two random numbers from that paper without reading any of it?

Their black cotton shirt blocked >99% of both UVA and UVB and the white one roughly 90%.

Hat

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