National SPF Day 2023 ☀️

[ather]

Hello BIC, 

As you might all know National SPF Day ☀️ this year is rapidly approaching. May 27, 2023. I like to think SPF Day is every day because it is so important for our skin! I would love everyone to share their tips and tricks for sun safety and of course favourite sunscreens.

My favourite combo right now is using Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen 1.7 oz / 50 mL as my base and applying Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation 20 Mulholland  over it. Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen 1.7 oz / 50 mL I am still able to apply sunscreen over my makeup and it still gives a great finish and does not mess up my makeup! I also try to always wear a hat if I am going to be outside for an extended time and I never forget to protect my eyes with sunglasses 🕶️.

Right now I have been wanting to try these SPF:

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 P... 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sunscreen SPF 50 

Evereden SPF 50 Premium Mineral Sunscreen 2 oz / 60 mL 

Drop a comment below and share your favorite SPF or tips and tricks to enjoy the summer safely.

Happy National SPF Day!!!

[PinkGiraffeX]

Right now I have been using….

- Krave Beauty beet the sun 

- PCA Skin sheer tint spf 

I love both. I will say the “new” Krave Beet the Sun isn’t exactly the same as the original but I still really like it and it blends well, isn’t too greasy and it’s nice and light. The PCA Skin sheer tint is incredible, I don’t need any foundation with this, it’s like magic and just makes your skin

look great when applied. I love it 😍 

[BaseballJen]

I use Paula's Choice Mini RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 .5 oz / 15 mL  on most days. It's lightweight & hydrating but not greasy!

While I always try to use SPF 50, sometimes I'm short on time so I was always on the lookout for a way to skip a step to prevent any chance at piling - bc as I'm sure you all know it can happen easily if you're in a rush during your skincare routine! I found and ♡LOVE!!♡ Murad Invisiblur™ Perfecting Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ 1 oz/ 30 mL!! It's the BEST PRIMER I've ever used! It really does smooth & blur fine lines & wrinkles & minimizes pores as well as helping your foundation go on smoothly/evenly & last all day - but the BEST part is that it's also SPF 30! I always use it under my makeup w/or or w/o Paula's Choice! I totally recommend it! 

[CynthieLu]

Excellent thread idea 💡 👏  @ather 

Thank you for putting a spotlight on SPF. 

It's sooo important to wear it everyday, every season,  no matter the weather. And to re-apply throughout the day, often. 🌞 

Finding your best match in sunscreen... that's easier said than done. 

I love Elisabeth Arden's City Smart SPF ( it's SPF 50)  but it's sooo expensive. I might not repurchase because I've found more affordable ones I enjoy. 

I also use (and in rotation right now)

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 

Supergoop! Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Face Oil 1 oz/ 30 mL 

Keys Soulcare Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 1.69 oz / 50 mL 

With

Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 0.7 oz/ 20 g in my purse for on the go re-applications.

That's all for my face, which is finicky about anything I put on it. 

Luckily my body can handle anything so I use good ol' banana boat. 

I want to try 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sunscreen SPF 50 

And I have the user to try in my back up pile 

Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 PA+++ 2.4 oz / 71 mL 

Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 

💛 Keep SPF slathering and shield your skin  ☀️ 

[ather]

@CynthieLu  Great lineup!!! Can’t wait to hear if you try any new ones!

[CynthieLu]

I've tried a bunch in the past, last summer I tried a handful of new ones that advertised for face and sensitive skin.

I was finally branching away from things that burned or stung my face. 😄

So CeraVe and Neutrogena had good ones but the criteria for me, that I'm really looking for,  is that my spf dosen't feel too much like sunscreen.  So those were great options but they felt very sun-screeny.

Biossance had a mineral face SPF that was great on the skin ( felt like spf) but it had the effect of a good mousturizer, it was nice to my skin.  I can't seem to tag it thou. @ather 

This one was great Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 1.7 fl. oz/ 50 mL ( cons- it has a intense smell and was thick and stained my white clothes) but it made my skin look great, my skin liked it and the after effects of wearing it. Not a repurchase because the cons for me outweighed the pros.

[Mel231]

I love Bananna Boat Sport Stick 50+ for my face.  It does not irritate my eyes at all, and I can even apply it to my eyelids.

[CynthieLu]

@Mel231 that's so awesome!

[RhysMajor]

If there is a National SPF Day established in the future, it would likely be a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of sun protection and the use of sunscreen with adequate Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to prevent skin damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. To stay informed about any upcoming events or awareness days related to sun protection, you can follow reputable health organizations, dermatology associations, or sunscreen manufacturers that may announce such initiatives in the future. https://balancedwellnesshub.com/ikaria-lean-belly-juice/

[WinglessOne]

Someone asked me how to find out which UV filters are used in Asian sunscreens, particularly Korean and Japanese product labels that don’t list UV filters as active ingredients like US product labels do. You have to know the INCI name of each filter so you can find them in the ingredient list. 

Here's a table I wrote up last year that might help other folks: 

UV type "UVA" = both UVA1 & UVA2. Screenshot excludes columns for nm peaks and other notes.

UV types: 

Spoiler

These ranges are measured in nanometers. UVA is split into 2 ranges; UVA1 = ultra long wavelength. UVA are the rays that penetrate glass windows and bounce off surfaces (including sidewalks). They dive much deeper into skin than UVB rays. 

UVB: 290–320 nm 
UVA2: 320–340 nm 
UVA1: 340–400 nm 

SPF ratings are only for UVB rays. 
PA+ ratings are for UVA rays. 

In the US, avobenzone is the only approved "chemical" UVA filter. It's notoriously photo-unstable though, which is why stabilizing filters are added to US chemical sunscreens. Some folks are skin-sensitive to some of those filters. If the FDA would approve a highly photostable UVA filter like mexoryl 400 or triasorb, then US sunscreens could just rely on those filters for fantastic (much better than avobenzone) UVA1 & UVA2 protection and wouldn’t need additional stabilizing filters, thus reducing potential skin irritation. But, well... sigh. 

For the heck of it, lemme see if BIC/Lithium will post a reasonably legible table. This is the same info that's in my screenshot; I'm just copypasting it here in case someone wants a text version. Can't guarantee this table won't look weird since we can no longer code or adjust HTML here on BIC; this'll be the forum auto-formatting things and I can't change much of that: 

Spoiler

Name	INCI name	Other names	Acronym	UV type
Uvinul A Plus	Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate		DHHB	UVA
Avobenzone	Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane			UVA
Tinosorb S	Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine	Bemotrizinol	BEMT	UVA+UVB
Tinosorb M	Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol	Bisoctrizole	MBBT	UVA+UVB
Mexoryl 400	Methoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate		MCE	UVA+UVB
TriAsorB	Phenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine			UVA+UVB
Zinc oxide	Zinc oxide			UVA+UVB
Uvinul T 150	Ethylhexyl Triazone	Octyltriazone		UVB
Octinoxate	Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate	Eusolex 2292, Uvinul MC80, Octyl Methoxycinnamate		UVB
Octisalate	Ethylhexyl Salicylate	Octyl Salicylate		UVB
Octocrylene				UVB
Ensulizole	Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid			UVB
Uvasorb HEB	Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone	Iscotrizinol		UVB & UVA2
Titanium dioxide	Titanium dioxide			UVB & UVA2

Hope some of this is helpful to someone. Remember to wear the hecking sunscreen! All year long! Regardless of weather or season! 

[StephanieA1982]

I can't wait to try L'Occitane Almond Delicious Paste 7 oz/ 200 mL 

[WinglessOne]

@ather  Hooray for sunscreen! I recently posted elsewhere that it's a bad idea to have many sunscreens open at the same time (sunscreens do expire) as a self-ding because I usually have 5 or more open at once. 😂 I like to have options, so I rotate through several sunscreens throughout the year. Plus, I'm always testing new-to-me sunscreens. For the last few years I've been looking for a new favorite hybrid sunscreen, since my old Japanese fave was reformulated to something I can't use on my face. 

About my skin (because we don't all have the same skin type/behavior): 

Spoiler

I have mostly-dry combo skin on my face, very dry skin on the rest of my body, and quite reactive/inflammation-prone skin on my whole body. My torso has flushed red and welted up simply because I had the audacity to apply body lotion 🙄 —the rubbing/friction was enough to throw my skin into tantrum mode. 

My eyes are fairly sensitive and hate most US-available UV filters. My skin tone’s in the “medium-deep to deep” range. And I live someplace that gets all 4 seasons—sometimes within one week, and often to the extreme. (The joy of midwestern spring and fall, and having a Great Lake in your city's front yard.) I make skincare adjustments to fit current weather conditions, and that includes which sunscreens I use. 

My SPF must-haves and dealbreakers: 

Spoiler

Must-haves: 

• Minimum SPF of 30 
• Broad spectrum 
• Natural, radiant, or glowy (but not greasy) finish; preferably a naturally radiant look* 
• Blends easily; doesn’t require lots of rubbing (otherwise my skin will flush red and possibly welt up) 
• Bonus points for at least one good moisturizing ingredient (dimethicone, shea butter, squalane, etc.) 

*In winter, I don’t mind heavier greasy sunscreens. They’re an extra layer of protection from windburn and deep-freeze dehydration. But during summer, those sunscreens are usually too much for my facial skin to handle.  

Dealbreakers: 

• Noticeable white/grey/purple cast 
• Eye stinging (if I plan to use it on my eyelids and undereyes) 
• Itchy reaction 
• Pilling 
• Essential oils 
• Lavender extract, water, or oil 
• Strong fragrance 
• Very matte finish 

Currently using:  

• Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 - many people's favorite chemical sunscreen. Need I say much about this one? 😄 Natural skin finish, invisible, and very reliable. It's the sunscreen I always travel with. 
• Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 - the hyped up Unseen Sunscreen dupe, and for good reason: phenomenally low price point for what seems like a very good sunscreen. It's thicker and greasier on my skin than Unseen Sunscreen. 
• Native Unscented Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 30 - my current favorite mineral sunscreen. No tint, natural skin finish, and almost no white cast on my skin. I recently bought the body version but haven't tried it yet. If the body version performs as well as the face version, I'll buy that one from now on. 
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Hydrating Cream Fragrance-Free SPF50+ - I ordered this chemical sunscreen from Portugal last year. It contains chemical UV filters we can't get in US sunscreens (gee, thanks FDA), including LRP's new Mexoryl 400 filter. It's pretty shiny/greasy but I can tame the shine with a little sheer powder foundation. And this sunscreen plays nice with my eyes, so I often use it in that area and apply a different sunscreen on the rest of my face. Contains a tinosorb (one of the UV filters we don't get in the US) which can leave a white cast, but on me this only happens when the sunscreen pools in my deeper wrinkles. 
• Bondi Sands SPF 50 Fragrance Free Sunscreen Lotion (body version) - another chemical sunscreen I use on both my face and body. Moderately shiny/glowy finish. 
• Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotic SPF 50+ - hyped Korean chemical sunscreen that uses better UV filters than we have in the US. Another sunscreen with a tinosorb, so beware of potential white cast. 
• Eucerin Age Defense Face Sunscreen SPF 50 - cream moisturizer texture that blends to a radiant, sometimes dewy finish. Never creeps into my eyes, thanks to its texture. Can feel thick/heavy in warm weather, so I’m now using it more on my neck, décolletage, arms, ankles, etc. than my face. In cold weather, my face loves it. 
• Dermstore Collection Daily Sheer Tint Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 - very silky mousse texture that blends easily to a nearly invisible natural (eh, mildly matte) skin finish on me, leaving a barely noticeable cast (the tint helps mask it). Plays nice with my eyes and doesn’t pill. Total sleeper product that Dermstore should market more heavily. 
• Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF 50+ - Korean chemical sunscreen stick containing the newer and better UV filters. (Seriously FDA, just approve the new filters for us so we can stop relying on avobenzone for UVA protection!) This is now my on-the-go reapplication sunscreen, if I don't carry a tube of Unseen Sunscreen with me. 

My few tips & tricks: 

• To avoid white cast with mineral sunscreens, apply it in several thin layers instead of one big glob. I mean, still apply the generous amount necessary for adequate UV protection. Just do it a bit at a time, so you can blend out each layer before applying more. This doesn't eliminate white cast with all sunscreens, but it's worth trying. 
• Body versions of sunscreens can be used on the face. With most brands, a body SPF comes in a bigger tube/bottle and costs less per ounce. 
• Sensitive eyes like mine? If you're gonna wear concealer and eyeshadow anyway, apply a mineral sunscreen around your eyes and a different sunscreen everywhere else. Your makeup will cover any white cast left behind. Or if there's a particular chemical sunscreen you know your eyes will tolerate, but you don't wanna use it on your whole face for whatever reason, apply it just around your eyes. 
• Any sunscreen that doesn't play nice with your facial skin might work well on other body parts that are exposed to sunlight: arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles, feet, nape of neck, etc. 
• When using a sunscreen stick, apply it in multiple passes/layers. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) recommends 4 passes for adequate UV protection, but I apply many more than that, especially with Abib's very smooth stick because it's hard (for me) to tell how much product is actually staying on my skin. 😄 Also, after applying all the passes/layers, use your hands to spread the sunscreen around your face to make sure everything's covered. I know folk want sunscreen sticks to be 100% hands-free, but that's not really how they work best. 

On deck to test: all of these just arrived from Stylevana. (The cream in the green tube is a moisturizer, not a sunscreen.) 

Happy National Sunscreen Day (May 27, 2023)!

The Verdio sunscreen is the current version of my old favorite Japanese sunscreen. Japanese skincare brands tend to reformulate their products on a near-annual basis, including sunscreens. When this one was reformulated a few years ago, it included ingredients my face hates, so I couldn't restock the sunscreen. Hopefully this new version works well! I checked the INCI list before ordering and it looks harmless for my facial skin, so we'll see how it performs. 

[PrettyPaint]

@WinglessOne Thanks for this info. I am terrible about consistently applying sunscreen. I’m decent about putting it on my face, but not so much the rest of my body. Do you have any recommendations for something that would absorb quickly on the legs? I hadn’t been to the dermatologist for a couple of years and just went last week and learned I need to be much more careful. 

[WinglessOne]

@PrettyPaint  I wish body sunscreens were more comfy to wear on legs. Many US chemical body sunscreens are greasy and can feel kinda sticky, which isn't so bad until you try to wear any fabric over your sunscreened legs or feel that sticky feeling when standing up from a plastic or wood seat. 😓 

Eucerin used to make a decent SPF body lotion. It wasn't very high protection, definitely under 30 SPF, but it was good to wear under pants or skirts that covered all that skin because it felt more like Eucerin's body lotions than a sunscreen. It did have that weird plasticky sunscreen smell though. I don't know if Eucerin still makes it or is replacing it... I just tried looking for it at their US site and couldn't find it, and I haven't seen it in stores lately. I still have a tube of Eucerin's SPF 30 hand cream that I use throughout the day. 

Aveeno now makes a promising looking body sunscreen that's SPF 60: 

I haven't tried it yet, but I'll look for the smaller size (comes in the pump bottle and a 3 oz tube) on my next Target run. I might need to use a regular body lotion/cream under it since I have dry body skin. But if this sunscreen absorbs as nicely as Aveeno's regular body lotions, then it's a good option to consider. The INCI list includes fragrance... hopefully it's not obnoxious and just light enough to mask that typical sunscreen scent. 

This reminds me that I have a tube of Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Body SPF 40 3.4 oz / 100 mL to test. I've only used it on one forearm so far and need to wear it a few more times (on more body parts, including my face) for better feedback. Supergoop also makes a more traditional body lotion/cream sunscreen but I've never tried it. 

I hope your derm appointment went well, aside from the UV exposure warning! 

[PrettyPaint]

@WinglessOne Thank you so much for such a helpful reply! I agree that a lot of the body sunscreens I've tried just aren't very comfortable. I really hate the feeling of pants sticking to my legs. I think I will give the Aveeno that you posted a try. It looks to be reasonably priced, and I think having a pump on top will encourage me to use it regularly (and maybe it will help eczema issues in the process). It looks like Supergoop also makes a body mist. I wonder if that would be more comfortable than a lotion. It was good that I went to the dermatologist because they found a melanoma. I think that they found it early enough that it should be okay, but it's definitely a good reminder to start applying sunscreen more consistently.

[WinglessOne]

@PrettyPaint  Whew, I'm glad your doc caught it in time. ❤️ 

And I hope the Aveeno sunscreen works out for you! Sunscreens masquerading as body lotion are a good way to get folks into the mental habit of daily body SPF application. I used to be awful about not applying sunscreen to my exposed feet and ankles, even if I did apply it to my legs. Same goes for my hands, even if I applied sunscreen to my arms and shoulders. I need SPF that doubles as body moisturizer to Jedi mindtrick myself. 😄 

I've never tried Supergoop's body mist, but that's definitely another option if it doesn't leave a sticky finish. Though with any SPF mist, make sure you apply enough for adequate protection, and spread it around with your hands to make sure all areas of skin are covered. The main reason I don't use sunscreen sprays on my face and body is not being able to tell if I've applied enough product. I do have a Coola sunscreen spray; I bought it specifically to try on my scalp where my hair's parted. I still haven't tested it yet though, since my scalp hasn't been exposed lately (I haven't been parting my hair lately). Gotta pull that sunscreen out so I'll remember to try it. 

[CynthieLu]

Guilty as charged. I often have many open at once, when I'm doing my best at wearing it everyday I like to have options too, I relate to that @WinglessOne 

Thank you for the info.  I do 2 swipes with my sun stick, eeep! I gotta aim for more,  I didn't know 4 swipes was best for adequate protection. Yikes!

[WinglessOne]

@CynthieLu  Heh, glad I'm not alone on the gimme options front. A friend once joked that I swap out sunscreens like I swap out sunglasses and umbrellas*—and you know what, maybe if more folks thought about sunscreen as both essential skin protection and a useful accessory, they'd actually use sunscreen more often. 😄 Well, also if sunscreens were less pricy considering how quickly one can use up a tube/bottle of the stuff. And especially if brands would stop fear-mongering against chemical sunscreens. But I digress. 

Definitely get into the habit of at least 4 swipes with a sunscreen stick, and be sure to finger-spread it around. I think more about layers than swipes, which helps me apply enough product since I apply all types of sunscreen (even the 100% invisible chemical ones) in multiple layers anyway. One full face layer with a sunscreen stick is 4-6 swipes on each major area of my face (forehead, both cheeks, nose bridge, chin, jawline) and neck which I then finger-spread around. Then I apply another layer of the same number of swipes all around my face. I often apply a third layer. It takes me longer to reapply with a stick than it would with a tube of sunscreen I can just measure out on my fingers. But the stick's more convenient on-the-go, even if my fingers get sunscreened up either way. 

*Surely I'm not the only person who has, um, a lot of umbrellas and sunglasses? I LIKE OPTIONS. 🙃

[CynthieLu]

Oooh Kay 4-6 swipes with the stick.I am drilling that knowledge in. I want my attempts at spf protection to be helpful to my skin. 😉

I also like the way you describe it as layers. That does change the way we think about it a bit,  a few layers rather than trying to goop on a ton all at once,  that's more do able and less goopy. I like that way of thinking @WinglessOne

Thank you 💖 🙏 again for the explanations!

Um, I felt validated when I read you had a few sunscreens on the go.  I just switch it up depending on different things, but I do like wearing it when there is a bit of variety in the mix. The same thing everyday is just not the best method for me. 😅

[CattyT3]

I'm making note of all of the ones I haven't tried as I have almost every deal breaker in common with you (recent lavender allergy diagnosis - yay). The BoJ one is a favorite of mine as well and I've had my eye on the Skin1004 range for a while now. LRP sunscreens seem to not agree with me oddly enough apart from the Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer + SPF 30.

> I have a couple of Korean and Japanese recommendations too if you haven't given them a go yet:
Canmake Mermaid sunscreen (leaves the skin looking so naturally dewy),
Heimish Artless Glow Base looks lovely even alone on the skin as well and it didn't look like artificial shine when I used it,
CosRX Aloe sun cream (my family all love this one for how undetectable this looks), 
Krave Beauty Beet the Sun (US-Asian) - really lovely formula I don't need to use moisturizer with as a forever dry skin club member! A similar dewy finish to the Canmake,
Naturium Dew Glow (US- Asian) - this is the product that helped my skin become tolerant of other vitamin C products I was having trouble with trying to use prior to beginning to use this on and off for a couple of months. Keeps you very glowy the entire day in the best way.
 

I have not experienced any white case with these nor has my partner who I also give my sunscreens to who is a bit darker than me and has oily skin.

Thank you for the detailed insights and hope the new sunscreens work out well for you : )

[WinglessOne]

@CattyT3  Quick BIC tip: be sure to "@" the person you reply to, so they'll get a notification. Otherwise they might never see your reply. 

Thanks for the recommendations! Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV (clear version) was actually my second favorite hybrid sunscreen, especially in cold weather. It always gave me super dewy glass skin in the frigid depths of Chicago winter. 🤣 I think Canmake reformulated it one year to something I could no longer use, and I haven't checked the current INCI list. Another annoying thing about Japanese skincare products is that some brands never post ingredients on their own site. They figure there's no need because they reformulate often; apparently customers in Japan agree with that. So I have to hunt down INCI lists elsewhere. (Thank goodness for INCIdecoder, plus retailers like YesStyle that usually post ingredients nowadays.) Note to self: check latest ingredients to see if you can bring Mermaid Skin back into the fold. 

I've looked at that Heimish sunscreen before and decided not to try it because it contains peppermint plus fragrance components. But I've never checked out Krave Beauty's sunscreen... I'll add that to my list of potentials. I also need to look at the COSRX sunscreen again; something about it initially stopped me from trying it, but I don't recall what that was. 

LRP's US sunscreens aren't the same as their European sunscreens, mostly because they can use better UV filters overseas. I do like a couple of their US sunscreens, and I've got their Toleriane sunscreen in my box of things waiting to be tested. But I know someone who's had issues (mostly pilling) with the LRP sunscreens he's tried. 

Also, sorry you're also in the no-lavender club. 😞 There are a couple sunscreens folks keep recommending to me that I can't touch because they contain lavender. I've even had to stop using 2 of my favorite hair products because keeping them off my face and neck was too difficult, and they probably contributed to my recent scalp issues. Interestingly, I can use fragrances that contain lavender, but only if I keep them off my neck and face (I apply fragrance only in my elbow pits or occasionally on my wrists). I can't use any body wash or body lotion/cream that contains lavender. I never even realized how many products contain some form of lavender until I had to start avoiding them—and I was super stubborn about quitting those hair products I mentioned because they worked really well on my coils. 🤦‍♀️ Thankfully I've got good substitutes now. Anyway, this is more than I meant to ramble about my skin's arch nemesis. Hope you're able to dodge all the lavender out there!