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What sunscreen are you currently using?


What sunscreen are you currently using? Share yours — love it or hate it?

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 – I like it – it’s very basic but gets the job done!

Thanks to Christy for today’s question!

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Elice Avatar

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream SPF 38 PA+++. I’ve been using this for a few years now and I love it! A little goes a long way, and it’s great for people with normal to dry skin.

candice Avatar

im using shiseido ultimate sun protection lotion spf 50 pa+++ (they make 60 now tho) and i love the liquidy texture. can u tell me how the cream compares to the lotion and which one u like more and why? or anyone who know! thx:)

Ivy Avatar

I thought that version only came out last year. I used the SPF 36 for years, which they discontinued to make the SPF 38. I had to give it up because it killed my face. It was better for oily skin. I’m still hunting for a replacement.

Val Avatar

I can’t use any sunscreen on my face because every brand I tried (even day creams with SPF) tend to break me out….it’s really frustrating because I know how important sunscreen is but I just can’t use any…

WithIt Avatar

I agree with Christine, try a sun blocker: something that physically blocks the sun. I use MyChelle dermaceuticals sun shield SPF 28. It has titanium dioxide and something they call “ZinClear,” so the zinc won’t give you that white cast some others do.
Not to mention, it’s vegetarian-friendly, and they do not test on animals. I love it!
It’s available at “natural” stores like Whole Foods or on their website:
mychelle.com

Nadia Avatar

I’m the same way, unfortunately. I don’t even have acne prone skin and have never struggled with that but most sunscreens break me out. I just was using a sample of Peter Thomas Roth (SPF 30) and it was a gorgeous, moisturizing one but my forehead is not looking good so had to stop using it. My Estee Lauder daywear plus moisturizer SPF 15 doesn’t break me out, however. But SPF 15 is too low. I want something higher…spf 50 or so. I just can’t figure out why some break me out and others don’t. I don’t want to risk my skin testing it out either 🙁

Angelcat47 Avatar

I can’t stand the feel of sunscreens so last year,I bought BareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen.It comes in a tube with a swivel up brush.It works great,is totally weightless and doesn’t break me out!

Eyeris Avatar

I am using kiehls new liquid sunscrean..its the best, not gready, not white, pfv and uva 50..the bob..you should upgrade cristine.

Lulee Avatar

Neutrogena Spectrum Plus Face Advanced Sunblock Lotion SPF 100+. it’s greasy and may be too much for ppl with oily skin types but i love it. the full spectrum protection is excellent and since it’s not too expensive i can use as much as recommended without breaking the bank (i’ve heard between 1/4 to 1 tsp for the face depending on the source).

Dianna* Avatar

I’m not actually using a separate sunscreen, just my trusty Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20. I will probably upgrade to a higher SPF sunscreen once the summer starts. I’m looking for something lightweight w/physical blockers. Any suggestions?

Tinna Avatar

Clarins UV Plus Day Screen High Protection (SPF 40) is absolutely wonderful. It’s light, non-greasy and doesn’t have a lot of chemicals in it. Its active ingredient is titanium dioxide.
I don’t know if you’ve read this yet but it’s important to wear spf underneath makeup even if it contains spf. This is because you need A LOT of the foundation or tinted moisturizer in order to actually achieve the spf rating. So for full protection, you want to layer. And UV rays exist year-round 🙂

Dianna* Avatar

Thanks for the info. I know that UV rays exist year round but I don’t spend much time outside in the winter (it’s incredibly cold here) so I figured that whatever was in my makeup would be enough. I’ll definitely check out the Clarins sunscreen, though. Thanks again!

Erica Avatar

I use Neutrogena SPF 55 on my face, and Hawaiian Tropic SPF 45 on my body. My doctor recommended Hawaiian Tropic, but it broke me out. Since I already bought the Hawaiian Tropic one, I decided to use that on my body.

Genevieve Avatar

I use Clarins UV Plus HP Day Sunscreen High Protection SPF40 PA+++. I love how it provides broad-spectrum UV protection and is lightweight. It’s a mineral sunscreen and also serves as my make-up base.

Mariella Avatar

For my face, I go back and forth between Clarins’s Super-Restorative Day Cream with SPF 20 and Clinique’s Superdefense cream, both of which I really like. I also use Lise Watier’s SunSmart, which is amazing stuff – sort of like a primer and sunscreen all in one. It leaves this wonderful, velvety texture.

ann Avatar

la roche posay anthelios xl spf 50 fluid extreme. The texture is great – it’s very liquidy which makes it extremely easy to apply and the sunscreen goes on matte! I don’t look oily at all. It’s also non comedogenic and I’m happy theres no oxybenzone in it!

ak Avatar

The SPF 15 in the Clarins Hydra Quench Lotion for normal to combination skin, as I think I ran out of the MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect with the SPF 50.

Amanda Avatar

On a daily basis I wear my Clarins moisturizer with SPF 20. When I need extra protection I go for La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+. I like it because it doesn’t mess with the rest of my make up!

caglayan Avatar

i used dermologica (spf 50)and coppertone (spf 45) so both of them broke me out. now i use dead sea spa magik spf 50 that has biege color. it is like tinted moisturizer and it has not got white effect. i love this

Karyn Avatar

Avene Hydrance Optimale UV Light. It’s a french sunscreen, avobenzone free, lightweight and doesn’t smell gross. It has a PPD of 10 so it’s not super protective but I’m rarely in the sun and my dark skin affords me some natural protection anyway. In the summer I’m going to switch to Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ with a PPD of 20 🙂

jgoreham Avatar

After fall back, I don’t wear sun screen because the logistics of my workplace afford me very little exposure to natural light, so I keep that stuff off my face so that the very limited time I spend in sunlight (on the bus on the way to/from work- my commute isn’t long) I absorb the good parts of the sun. Also, I use a mineral loose powder and I understand that mineral makeups afford some protection from the sun. So, when there isn’t a lot of sun through the winter, I don’t wear sunblock. After spring ahead, I start cycling to commute and wear whatever sport sunblock I can find that I don’t mind, and wear it for face and body (then I scrub it off and put on my face when I arrive at work).

Ashley Tatton Avatar

I’ve been using Origins VitaZing with SPF 15 and it has not only been evening out my skin tone with it’s lightly tinted formula but when it’s not on I can see a big difference too. I have very sensitive skin and break out easily and this doesn’t trigger anything but a teeny bit more oil on my forehead that I control with blot powder mid-day. Before this the only SPF I could use on my face was Aveeno Baby sunscreen.

Whitney Avatar

I use this too! It’s the only spf that hasn’t caused my skin to break out. I set it in the morning with setting powder because it does tend to make my face shiny. I wish it had a higher PPD though!

Julia Minamata Avatar

Keys Soap Solar RX. It’s SPF 30, made of natural ingredients, and is a physical sunblock that doesn’t leave a white cast on my skin. It’s not waterproof, which is its only drawback. But I’m not much for running around in the rain or surfing — and if I was, I’d use a sport sunscreen for those times!

I tried a few natural sunscreens before settling on this one. Badger (leaves white cast, greasy), Aubrey (horrible white cast), John Masters Organics (expensive for the quantity, faint white cast).

So far this is the best one I’ve found, and it’s about $27 for 100ml. It’s in a great pump, too!

Rose Avatar

I like the Keys Soap also but I have found the tinted 30 by Marie Veronique to be better and it is equally rated by the EWG as a 1. It is also a natural, physical sunscreen w/o synthetic ingredients. No, I do not work for the company, I am just a sunscreen fanatic and have spent years searching for the elusive “perfect” one.
Hope this is useful to you.

Anita Avatar

I love KINeSYS performance sunscreen. It’s oil, alcohol, paba, preservative and paraben free, but best of all it feels like nothing on your skin once it dries. I am a runner and I have never burned or been disappointed with this product.

lazeny Avatar

I’ve been using my Shu Uemura UV Armor in SPF 50 PA +++. This is a little pricey but I like it better than my previous Neutrogena sunblock because it can be a good base for my makeup. Or I can use it under my normal base and it doesn’t affect my makeup negatively like other sunblocks do.

Lee Avatar

Elta Clear 46, recommended by my dermatologist. It’s great, goes on very light and is good under foundation and is intended for break-out prone skin.

Eileen Avatar

I have super dry, sensitive skin. I use Chanel’s Essential SPF 50 on my face, neck, and décolleté. It a physical block. It looks kind of white going on as is the case with most physical sunscreens, but it dries clear. It contains skin tone evening ingredients, light moisturizers, and anti-oxidants as well as a nigh level of SPF.

I use Neutogena Spectrum on my hands, arms, and any other exposed part of my body. Don’t forget the tops of your feet! They can begin to look like leather without sun protection.

Whippetlady Avatar

Estee Lauder Cyberwhite, 50 SPF. LOVE this product, wish I could find it at the counters in the US. It stays on, and provides hours of protection even ( gasp) on a tropical beach! I just returned from 7 days of beaching and I am not sunburned on my face at all. Wish I could say the same for the body sunscreen. I cheaped out and used CVS spf 30, ‘very water resistant” sun lotion. Umm. Yeah. Not so much. Should have stuck with a name brand.

Karin Avatar

None. There’s really no need for it in Scandinavia in winter… But during the summer months I use Clinique Super Defense (SPF 30 I think).

NadiaH Avatar

IM still looking for a good one. my face is very dry but no matter what sunscreen makes my face extra greasy but if its like a lotion with spf it work ok i guess i really dont know if its working.

Kate Avatar

Only 15? Dang girl, I’m need SPF 60 in the summer. I’ve never found anything except for oily goop at the strength I need – so summer is the oily season for me.

happybadfish Avatar

Paula’s Choice spf 15 moisturising daily lotion with antioxidants. I love it because it doesn’t leave a white residue and it gives me a great base for foundation.

Kris Avatar

Hi there, I use Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer Defense Lotion is SPF50, never break me out, no colour, no shine on my combi skin. I love it. I tried Clarins one previously, kinda dry out my skin and very EX for small bottle.

Adelita Avatar

Now I can happily say goodbye to sunscreen… It’s because my new HG foundation has a high spf, Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 PA+++.
This stuff is amazing, not only it protect me from sunburn (I live in a tropical country where the sun is torrid all year round), but it also stay on like nobody business. It says “very water-resistant”, well, INDEED! I sweat like crazy & not to mention my hyper oily skin, but this stuff really stay put from am to pm. Love!

Orange Avatar

I use a sunscreen formulated by a local dermatologist 🙂 SPF PA+++ 40 and it’s non-sticky, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic. It’s great! It even won a Cosmo Beauty Award.

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