recommend a sunscreen that won't bring me out in zits

[_angel_]

I thought you meant them but didn't realise they extended to sunscreens, I thought it was just home and garden gear.

 

[Poi E]

SunSense SPF 50 from Australia is the best. Get the one designed for toddlers.

 

[pogofish]

I don't know where pogofish gets his information from but all the advice form cancer charities and health professionals is to use it.

Mostly from the same places & I don't think I've seen any that don't make it very clear that sunscreen alone is not a reliable method of protection. IME, they always stress the importance limiting overall exposure as well.

eg - Here, points 1,2,3,4 & 5, stress limiting exposure, sunscreen only makes it in after that at no 6.

http://www.cancer.org.au//File/Cancersmartlifestyle/LifestyleseriesBeSunSmart.pdf

CRUK says it with less words:

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/sunsmart/staysafe/sunscreen/?a=5441

The link to the Mointuriser/cosmetic thing was on an earlier sunscreen thread that may not have survived the board crash but here is a reference to the change in Australian product description law that resulted from it. Where they were amongst a range of products stripped of any theraputic/effective value altogther:

Cosmetic Standard

Finally, a new Cosmetics Standard 2007 was made under the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 and which came into force on 17 September 2007. The Cosmetic Standard changed the status of six categories of products (personal lubricants; face and nail products with sunscreen; skin care [moisturisers with sunscreen and sunbathing products]; antibacterial skin care; anti-acne skin care products; oral hygiene [teeth and mouth products]; and anti-dandruff hair care products) which previously treated as therapeutic goods and contains requirements regarding the composition and what claims can be made in relation to those products.

This Standard illustrates the various ways different products are regulated in Australia which sometimes is not self-evident. All cosmetic products and their ingredients must comply with the legislative requirements for cosmetics under the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS). New cosmetic ingredients (ie. those ingredients not already listed on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances are subject to notification and assessment under NICNAS (unless exempt) and all companies and individuals which import or manufacture cosmetic ingredients or products must be registered with NICNAS. In addition, a consumer product information standard made under the Trade Practices Act also applies to cosmetics and toiletries.

http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=58812

Also Garland/Garland/Gohram is IIRC still the main research study into innefectiveness of sunscreens. Abstract here:

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/82/4/614

Only the US seems to have taken much notice of its findings & put protection claims under any sort of legislative control.

More recent stuff includes concerns about what sunscreen agents are doing to the world's coral. It seems that even a tiny amount of the stuff can do a lot of damage:

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/10966/10966.pdf

FOE on nanoparticles, which are another cause for concern (& not just in sunscreens):

http://www.foe.org/nano_sunscreens_guide/Nano_Sunscreens.pdf

Other nasty stuff - also applicable to many cosmetics:

http://www.sickamongthepure.net/avoiduvr/sunscreens/chemicalbarriers.html


Finally, if you can put on makeup over sunscreen, you are not applying it properly so its protection is negligible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5190214.stm

 

[Geri]

I can't see anything in any of those links which says you shouldn't wear sunscreen. Two of the links are to cancer charities which specifically say that you should. Even the article about nano particles says it's unwise to stop using sunscreens, you should just avoid ones with nano particles in it.

I agree than suncreen alone should not be relied on for sun protection, but I think it's quite irresponsible of you to suggest that people should go without it - it flies in the fact of all the evidence and advice from skin cancer charities.

 

[Cloo]

I've never seen one marketed just for faces. (Any ideas?) I already use a foundation with a SPF in it and I am not a sun worshipper at all. I have incredibly pale skin though, and am just trying to do what I am being told to (ie cover up)
Every summer I get horrible skin cos of sun lotion on my face.

I can't use standard sun lotion on my face - spot city! There's plenty around for the face. The Simple sunscreen for the face is good and very mild, not expensive either.

I do use it in summer and I also try to wear hats and generally stay out of the sun when gets over about 20C, but then I don't like tanning and I certainly don't sunbathe (just get bored and too hot usually!)