You could try looking for products with high PA ratings.
Thanks for all your thoughts on this.
My facial skin just can't do creams that are like Dulux emulsion or jam on the face. After years and years of hunting, I am currently trying Roche 50+, which has a PA+++ rating. It doesn't break my face
out into large painful red spots, if using it every day, unlike most Dulux creams, but I'm still going dark after an hour. Roche are a skin care company, I guess, rather than sunblock specialists, but still, it's disappointing to find it doesn't work for me. It's all such a waste of money, if nothing else, and bad that there isn't a cast iron, working standard for the industry.
It's a good thought to put on three to four times as much as you think you need - several teaspoons on the face alone. Measuring works well with regular creams, but not so much for other forms like sprays and gels (these are often easier on the pores).
I do really need one that works for using every day, not just when it's very hot, and one my skin is happy with. The hunt continues. Scarves, hats, long sleeves and sunglasses for me, then; Cutting a slightly apocalyptic figure in the sun, and not that practical for hot gardening.
I use a daily SPF30 moisturizer, and just rub a puddle between the fingers on both hands and pat it on my face rather than spreading it around. This is because I have an acne cream layer underneath and don't want it rubbed off.. but it also helps apply a thicker layer. It's usually all absorbed by the time I finish making a cup of tea.
I have a skin cancer on the face, and complained to the dermatologist that my skin really hates the normal sunblocks. The products they recommend are sun sense; Australian I think. They gave me some free samples. I’m not recommending them, as I haven’t tried them yet, just thought it was another option for you Fire.
I burn easily and I've found that the spray on 50+ Malibu brand stuff works pretty well. It's cheap, too, so I bought a bottle to keep by the back door.
I burn easily and I've found that the spray on 50+ Malibu brand stuff works pretty well. It's cheap, too, so I bought a bottle to keep by the back door.
I use that one too. I have what a colleague of mine calls "ginger celt skin" - pale to the point of blue-white where it doesn't see daylight, freckly where it does, burns really easily - but without the red hair.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
My problem is this very fair skin which is also very sensitive to most creams, gels and sprays - the malibu stuff Mander mentioned brings me out in a really itchy rash just on my legs. On my face it would be agony within 10 minutes. I tend to go with the long sleeves, floppy hat approach and limiting time in the sun. I do use Clinique SPF creams and sun blocks but I can't say I've rigorously tested them because I do just stay in the shade, mostly. Their SPF 40 stuff seems to stop my nose burning without giving me spots, that's as much as I can offer. Everyone's skin is different, I think, and what works for some will either not work or cause some other problem for others.
My ex SIL - ginger - used to have sunscreen prescribed by the GP. Not sure which brand it was, but has your doctor got any advice, @Fire ?
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
My GP is as useful as a chocolate teapot, so no, not help there @raisingirl
I'd ideally like to find shops to try all the different types without buying (and wasting) a whole bottle. I will make a new list and try and work my way through it.
I do find that rigorously and religiously cleaning off sunscreen at night does help a bit with avoiding spots. All a bit of a palaver.
I've found no difference once one goes over 30spf and for me (ginger with freckles) 30 does it in all weather including the carribean. the one I like is the clear spray from Ambre solaire. I think the fact that it evaporates rather than having to be rubbed in helps with getting enough on. don't breath the stuff in though!
I get the impression that sunblock technology has come on far in the last few years, managing to move more away from Dulux. It's such a shame they are not using the opportunity to standardise efficicacy and labelling. As ever, I don't suppose they were will until forced to.
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I use that one too. I have what a colleague of mine calls "ginger celt skin" - pale to the point of blue-white where it doesn't see daylight, freckly where it does, burns really easily - but without the red hair.
My problem is this very fair skin which is also very sensitive to most creams, gels and sprays - the malibu stuff Mander mentioned brings me out in a really itchy rash just on my legs. On my face it would be agony within 10 minutes. I tend to go with the long sleeves, floppy hat approach and limiting time in the sun. I do use Clinique SPF creams and sun blocks but I can't say I've rigorously tested them because I do just stay in the shade, mostly. Their SPF 40 stuff seems to stop my nose burning without giving me spots, that's as much as I can offer. Everyone's skin is different, I think, and what works for some will either not work or cause some other problem for others.
My ex SIL - ginger - used to have sunscreen prescribed by the GP. Not sure which brand it was, but has your doctor got any advice, @Fire ?
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”