What's the most effective sunscreen?
 

*EDIT* Or Sun block

In the search, keyword-->Titles Only-->Road Cycling, "sunscreen" a few results showed up. One was a year old, the others over 3 years old.

I'm starting to get a bit annoyed from the sunglasses tan that's developing rather quickly, and I'm hoping that sun block will help. I have really dark skin, and so I'm not as sensitive to the sun as other people are. In fact, I've never got a sun burn.

Over the span of 3-5 years, have there been better sunscreen products since then?

To make it simple, what sunscreen are you currently using, how would you describe the effectiveness, and how does it put up with sweat, water, and the comfortability.

Hopefully within the few responses I get, I can determine the most popular.

There should be an entire thread I started not long ago for sun protection. I have used Coppertone Sport spf50, then switched to the spray on Sport 70, but it stained everything (jersey, sock, hats) so now I am back to the normal Sport 50. I am as pale as it gets. YMMV.

I use No Ad 50 from K-Mart. No odor. Seems to work just fine. Cheap.

Oh man sorry, I was pretty sure there had to be more threads about this. Do you know the link to it?

Any 30+ SPF is fine, but I prefer

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_wyr-0yVtOoI/TE...0/bullfrog.jpg

I use this Aveeno one that I stole from my girlfriend.

It works great, and leaves me smelling niiiiiiice.

Non nano zinc-oxide.

All the other junk contains benzophenone derivatives (e.g. octocrylene, oxybenzone) that could leak into your skin. while this in its own won't do much, the molecules will absorb sunlight & turn into organic radicals...

This right here tells me your concerns are different than most people's. Sunblock isn't really designed to prevent sun tans, but I imagine the highest SPF possible will make them the lightest. Bullfrog and Banana Boat seem to be people's favorite brands. The only other thing you can do is a little bit of sunning without the sunglasses to even things out a bit. I know people who ride with their sleeves and shorts rolled up varying amounts to make a smoother transition. Me? I look like I have a white t-shirt and shorts on all the time :D

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/full-report/
good place to start

Good information.

I've managed beaches for years and the most popular among the staff is Coppertone Sport and Bullfrog. Burt's Beeswax is the most popular lip balm.

This is what I was originally looking for
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/fin...st-sunscreens/
to find the sunscreen you want.

But you kinda have to know what you want to filter before doing that, in which case the other link comes in handy for
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/full-report/

I use this because of its ease of application, and the way it feels when applied (cooling, yeah it really does, also doesn't feel greasy).

http://images.shop.neutrogena.com/im...k-SPF70-lg.jpg

For my face, I've used both of the following. The stick doesn't provide as much protection, but it's easier to apply while on a ride (no greasy hands)

http://images.shop.neutrogena.com/im...n-SPF70-lg.jpghttp://images.shop.neutrogena.com/im...k-SPF30-lg.jpg

Yep, I guess I'm partial to the Neutrogena stuff. The first I tried was the spray and when I looked for something else I figured I would stick (no pun intended) with a brand I liked...

Charles

I like the Target version of the Neutrogena cooling mist.

I use Coppertone Sport SPF 30. The newest ones have Avobenzone that many people are allergic to. I'm not. I put this on about 10 minutes before I head out and I have never been burned - and that includes 4 hour rides. I use a Halo head band but before that it would get in my eyes and sting. The Halo head band channels it all to run down my cheeks and I've had zero issues with stinging.

I also buy it at Target, for like $8 for the big container. Lasts all summer. Cheap protection.

for my face
http://www.prestoimages.com/store/rd...d1936319_1.jpg

regular banana boat stuff on the rest of the body :p
http://www.uniquesportsaccessories.c...s/pt-10943.jpg

Bullfrog Surfer Formula stays on the best of all I've tried. To me, that stuff is pretty uncomfortable feeling on the skin though, so I usually go with No-Ad and reapply every 3 hours of sweaty time in the sun and right after a dip in the river. Typically don't have to reapply Bullfrog Surfer after swimming.

Any SPF over 30 is good (technically there is no better protection than 30, numbers like 35, 40 and 50 are just bs). The best kind for me is the spray bottles, I hate the lotions.

You had to mention that. I just checked my latest favorite sunblock - Ocean Potion SPF 30, with an anti-aging formula (vitamins, olive, fruit, and algea oil extracts). It applies easily, but I do have to wash my hands after application. One of the main reasons I like it is because I don't stink after a few hours of sweating like others I've tried. The smell stays pleasant. And it's effective as a sun block. But, it does have oxybenzone and a bunch of ingredients that include prefixes and suffixes like polymer, butyl, ascetate, ethyl and propyl.

Most sunscreens/sunblocks leave my skin feeling sticky, damp, greasy and generally horrible ... and therefore when I lived in Canada, I rarely wore sunscreen. I could get away with that in Canada because, in the parts of the country where I lived, there'd be 3 days of decent temperatures and sunshine each summer. :lol:

But I was concerned when I moved to Australia because skin cancer is a big thing here, and the summers here are a lot longer. So I looked at heaps of sunscreens and finally decided to try the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30 ... and I really like it. It leaves my skin feeling dry and smooth and is really comfortable to wear. I've been able to get a light tan through it, but have not burned at all when I've got it on.

http://images.shop.neutrogena.com/im...k-SPF30-lg.jpg

The helioplex(nothing special, just a mix of blocking agents) is good(and expensive) but, you need that good UVA/UVB combo. The best though is a physical barrier such a coated jersey coated in the new "UPF" treatment.

The most important thing is to use the stuff properly... don't simply go by the UPF rating, the sunscreen has probably been sweated off before you have to worry about running out of UPF. Reapply every 2hrs at least.

There are inorganic sunscreens such as the zinc ones.. but they are a bit tricker to work with, search the long-distance cycling forum there was some discussion there.

According to the ewg.org website, oxybenzone is a synthetic estrogen that absorbs through the skin, and one of the reasons they flag a sunblock product as a potential health risk.* I stopped drinking soymilk because of the estrogen boosting properties.

*Their disclaimer section is worth reading for those skeptical about faceless watchdog group health claims.

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/bes...rt-sunscreens/

Take your pick from that list. I use Johnson & Johnson Baby Sunscreen SPF40 because it's on that list and I can buy it locally (Target and Walgreens both carry it).

Coppertone Sport 50 because it doesn't burn like a mother when you sweat it into your eyes. I also apply about 30 minutes before riding to make sure it is well absorbed.

I like something different - Sunsmart waterproof sunblock. SPF30, but the base is zcote - a zinc oxide base - that really works. I'll go out for a 4-5 hour ride and come back with no color at all - not tan, not burned, nothing. The stuff is pasty, and doesn't rub in well, so it probably won't ever be a real commercial success, but if you want to minimize sun exposure while outside, this stuff will do it. It doesn't run when I sweat, either.

This stuff is mostly available through dermatologists, but you can order it directly through the comany website at www.atforyou.com

JB

Haha, i have the same. My hands are pale white compared to my arms due to the gloves. I try riding without the gloves sometimes but i don't like not having any grip once my hands start to sweat.