Protection From The Sun ...
 

Looking for recommendations on good strategies for protection from the sun.

Any favorite sunscreens?
What about the head?
Caps, or covers that remain cool yet keep the sun off?

Sunscreen on the forehead is NOT an option as it just creates a constant burn in the eyes once the sweating starts.
Being of the nordic persuasion I realize I am going to need something on my head.
SPF 50+ seems to work okay on the arms and legs. I keep a tube in the jersey and reapply every two hours.

I goop up from the cheeks down for the reason you stated--avoids stinging eyes. Between my glasses and helmet, the top part of my face fares OK in the sun. I also put my favorite goop on my arms and legs, though I often wonder how effective that is with all the sweating, but it seems to work.

One trick for keeping the sweat out of your eyes is to put chapstick on your eyebrows. Being a Fred, of course, I usually just wear a bandana headband.

Coppertone Sport works for me. It's very common and easy to find. The big thing for me is to just consistently use it. Never think that it's cloudy or you're just going for a short ride and you won't need it. Those are the days you end up getting burnt.

I can't help you with the head. I've never had that issue.

Kinesys sunscreen + cycling cap

SPF100 Banana Boat Sport for me. It doesn't seem to run at all when I sweat, but I use a bandana to cover most of my forehead anyway... and when I'm sprotin' a skinhead I use the same bandana to protect my noggin too.

I like the Neutrogena SPF 50. It rubs in quickly, isn't oily and protects both UVA and UVB.

I also use one of these to cover my head and direct the sweat away from my eyes:

https://store.haloheadband.com/v/vsp...-cap-photo.jpg

More info on HALO products here.

Neutrogena SPF 80 on the face, ears and neck (stays kind of goopy however) and Coppertone Sport SPF 50 on everything else. Nothing on the forehead because of the sweat/sunscreen in the eyes like everyone has mentioned.

I'm really sensitive to the sun. Sunscreen below the eyes, on the ears, on the neck on any day with sun. I wear one of these even on hot sunny days:

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1019128_-1___

Bananaboat ultra mist spray - they do various SPF but I normally use 30. I can easily ride 5 hours in full caribbean sun without gettting the slightest hint of sunburn. And when they say it is water/sweat resistant, they really mean it - no problems putting it on my forehead as it simply will not run off with sweat, period.

I use waterproof 50 on:
back of neck
forearms
top to thighs
forehead
top of cheeks

I have a visor on my helmet and it helps.
I wear "head sweats" under my helmet

SPF 100 Banana Boat Sport for face and neck. Arm covers white on hot days and black on cold days. Banana boat Sport Chap Stick 50 spf.

Am going to try some arm and leg coolers this summer for commuting so I don't have to put sunscreen on every day - except my face!

+1 on the Halo products, they are great. I have the head band for warmer days and the full cap for cooler. Definately keeps the sweat out of your eyes/glasses.

Coppertone Sport.

+1 on Coppertone Sport. And I put it on the forehead without "eye stinging" as long as I put it on far enough in advance to let it absorb (at least 30 minutes before sweating).

KINeSYS spray on back, arms, etc. On my face I use the KINeSYS stick - it's not as prone to run and drip into my eyes. I also use a headband on hot days and a full skullcap on cooler days. Last week I learned that I need to carry sunblock with me and reapply during my ride. The KINeSYS spray bottle is too big to bring along and the stick gets melty so I picked up a key chain-sized bottle of Coppertone sport that fits in my saddlebag or jersey pocket. Not sure what I'm going to do about my face but it seems like my helmet and position on the bike provide it with a certain amount of shade. After last week's ride my face was okay - it was my arms that were crispy.

+1

High SPF stuff is just a marketing gimmick. You sweat the stuff off anyway, so you will need to reapply. I have been told that SPF 15 is about as high as you need to go, and for years it worked for me.

BTW I am fairly white, and I live in the sub-tropical zone. The tropical zone northern boundary is the Tropic Of Cancer, at 23.5 degrees north. I am at 25.5 degrees north. if I go south 120 nautical miles then I am officially in the tropics.

Anyway, my first love is boats. The bike thing is somewhat new for me. Out on the water you have the UV from the sun, and more UV reflected off the ocean water. You can get cooked in the shade of my boats t-top!

My FAVORITE sunscreen is Bullfrog SPF 36 "surfer gel" formula. It does not stink like a coconut, it is not greasy, it is waterproof, and it works. You do not feel greasy.

A close second place choice is the Bullfrog sunscreen in a can stuff. You spray it on. It is alcohol based and dries almost instantly. No greasy feeling, and the police will not want to take your BAC because you stink like a pina colada.

It also helps to wear more clothing. I have a long sleeve shirt made from the same stretchy material bike shorts are made from that I wear on the boat during the summer. The material acts like SPF 50 sunblock, and never washes away.

Look for the Bullfrog "surfer formula" gel. It works great. It is about all I use anymore.

As far as the sweat into the eyes deal...I had a slight issue with it on really hot days last summer. If its a problem again, I think I might consider getting one of these.

As someone who just left Southern AZ after 9 years, I can tell you that this is flat out wrong if you don't live in crazy humid climates like FL.

Coppertone Sport. It works for a long time, doesn't drain into the eyes and doesn't stain clothes!

As someone that currently lives in a crazy humid climate that is FL, I'd still say that it's flat out wrong. You have to reapply the SPF15 and 30 stuff just as often as the 50 or 100; and with some peoples' skin being more sensitive than others, the higher SPF can indeed make a big difference.

Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock

This, so I don't need to put anything on the arms: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...1511000_400061

And I have never needed to put anything on the forehead, because that is shaded by the helmet.

Something most people don't realize, is that most sunscreens are a *sacrificial* chemical.
i.e. the active ingredients are chemicals that are broken down by UV radiation.
And as they break down, they become ineffective.
So you need to reapply regardless of sweating or swimming.

Exceptions are sunscreens containing zinc-oxide or titanium-oxide.
These physically block UV but look white, so people generally don't like the appearance.

Maybe. But it is not just me who says this.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...re-they-better

SPF numbers are sort of like mega pixel numbers. Marketing departments like to make large labels claiming large numbers. But would you rather have a 5 MP camera with an excellent lens, or a 10 MP camera with a small crappy lens? If used properly, SPF 15 is really all you need. If you are super sensitive to the sun, or already have skin cancers, then bumping up to SPF 30 is not a bad idea. But the SPF scale is NOT linear! 30 is not double the protection of 15. As it turns out, SPF 30 only blocks about 2% more UV and 15. SPF 100 probably only blocks less than 4% more than 15.

And if you really want the ultimate SPF - it is called more clothes. No sunlight = no sunburn.

Personally, I use SPF 36 stuff - but this is only because I like the Bullfrog surfer formula gel, and it only comes in SPF 36. The SPF 15 stuff I find is that white goop that reeks like some tropical fruit (banana, coconut, pineapple, etc). I do not like that. The other Bullfrog stuff I use comes in the spray can, and is alcohol based. I like that stuff because it dries clear and does not leave a heavy residue on my skin. But the surfer gel stuff wins out (usually) because it is a lot more waterproof.

Exactly. No matter what, you will have to reapply sunscreen from time to time. Even if you are in the desert (I stayed in Arizona for two weeks about 10 years ago and LOVED IT) you still sweat - even if the sweat evaporates rapidly and actually cools you off. In Florida the sweat just sort of lingers, eventually forming a pool around you and rusting any steel parts on your bike.

The problem with the high SPF stuff is that many people THINK that they can apply it once and be good for days, simply because the bottle says "75 times your normal protection from the sun". Well heck, I can last at least 1/2 an hour with no sunblock - so SPF 75 means I am good for 37.5 hours! Cool.

BZZZZZ. Learn the hard way, lobster man.

So my rule stands as follows. Anything less than SPF 15 is cooking oil. Anything over 15 is adequate for fair skin in full sun. Higher SPF is fine, just do not pay a whole lot more just to get a larger SPF factor - and remember to reapply depending on activity. If you are sweating hard - you need to reapply more often than if you are not. If you are swimming, then that counts as sweating really hard.

So I will reapply when I think I am feeling the sun. Being somewhat fair skinned and living in Miami - this is a vital survival skill for me. The time period for reapplication can be hourly, or it can be only twice in one day. It all depends on where I am and what I am doing. On the boat I need more. On land less. The more active I am the more I use. It really does vary - but when in doubt Ill slop more on.

But regardless - I still say that the Bullfrog "surfer formula" gel is THE BEST. When I use it, I do not resemble a lobster. This alone is enough to make me very brand loyal to the stuff.

Plus it is fragrance free, is not that white goop stuff, and does not seem to rub off onto everything you touch. It covers you well with only a minimal amount of product.

DO NOT use it on your face - unless you only use a small dab and rub it in well. Although it is "waterproof" it can still run into your eyes - which sucks. But you can put it over your ears, on your neck, and pretty much anyplace BELOW your eyes. Be careful with the forehead area, and use a sweatband