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I half-jokingly refer to Colorado as "Solarado" because it is sunny most of the time. Sometimes it's even sunny while it's raining. Truly. Just today, I was wearing sunglasses while driving in the rain.
And it's not just sunny but SUNNY. Intensely sunny. No matter the season, when you step into the sunlight, you can immediately feel the heat on your skin.
Many people love this feeling. I suppose it's the same kind of pleasurable feeling that leads cats (and my dog) to bask in the sun.
I do not love this feeling. When the sun hits me, I feel like I'm being cooked. It's like I can feel the sun burning my skin. All I can think about is getting indoors or into the shade. I'm not precisely heliophobic, but being in the sun makes me VERY uncomfortable. This is mostly due to a bad experience I had at age 18.
I suppose shunning the sun earns me Goth Points. But the reality is that it's horribly inconvenient. I need to mow the lawn... but it's sunny. I want to go for a walk... but it's sunny. My neighborhood is great for walking, but I'm thinking of joining the gym so I can walk inside. It's ridiculous.
Fortunately, fabric is enough of a barrier for me to feel okay in the sun. Thus I wear long sleeves year-round. For summer, I have a couple of "suncoats" -- button-front cotton shirts with a collar and long sleeves -- that I can wear when I'm out. But I get awfully hot. :(
This year, I wanted to conquer my fear enough that I wouldn't have to wear long sleeves all the time. A warm, sunny day came along, and I decided to brave it. I put sunblock on my arms and set off to run some errands. I was feeling pretty proud of myself for wearing short sleeves on a sunny day... until I returned to my car and noticed white smudges on the interior. All over the interior.
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| smudges on the door |
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| smudges on the side of the seat |
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| smudges all over the console |
The sunblock was leaving white residue everywhere my arms touched. This angered me because I am very particular about my car. Through 48,000 miles, I have kept the interior practically immaculate.
Luckily, I was able to clean off all the sunblock smudges. Phew!
I'm back to wearing long sleeves. :/
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BEGIN REVIEWS
We're all advised to wear sunblock daily to ward off sunburn and premature aging. So we put sunblock on our face... and we discover that it feels greasy or causes acne or makes our skin shiny or ruins our makeup. :( It can be difficult to find a sunblock that is face-friendly.
I tried many before finding one I liked -- Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30 from DeVita. This stuff was awesome! It went on smoothly and then disappeared. It was expensive but I willingly paid the higher price because it was exponentially better than any other sunblock I'd tried. I used it happily for about 3 1/2 years. Then, inexplicably and with no warning, they changed the formula. It was terrible! It would not smooth on, instead gooping up into little balls and flakes, and it left a white cast on my face. SO disappointing! Alas, it was back to square one to search for a new sunblock. :( I've tried two so far:
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 70: The claim that it's lightweight is fairly accurate; that it has a "clean feel"... not so much. It leaves white streaks wherever the skin creases, such as on my neck. It also leaves white smudges on surfaces that I touch, such as my clothes and the interior of my car. I don't consider white smudges all over everything "clean." :P
Target's version of Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer SPF 15: Goes on smoothly, but makes my skin shiny. Even with powder, my face looks shiny within half an hour. Maybe that's what they consider "radiance"? It is acceptable for now (as long as I carry powder for frequent touch-ups!) but I will continue the search.
I am a goth weirdo who LOVES the sun. I am a lizard. But.... I have super fair peaches and cream skin with freckles, so sunblock after 15 minutes in the sun is a must!
ReplyDelete"I am a lizard." :D That is hilarious. I have fair skin but actually tan easily. Too easily for my taste... even though I put sunblock on my neck every day, it ends up darker than the always-fabric-covered parts of me. :/
DeleteYeah, I tan too, and always end-up with a stupid "Farmer's Tan". This would be acceptable, if I farmed anything.
DeleteYeah, I like the Devita too (out of the three, it doesn't have chemical nasties) - another non-chemical brand is MyChelle, as well as EcoLogical (though I think they're Australian), and UV Natural.
ReplyDeleteI generally go for natural skincare but I've used the drugstore stuff the past couple of weeks because it's what was available. Natural products are hit-and-miss, so I don't like buying without trying. There's a natural products store a couple towns over that sets out testers; I need to make the drive there. I know they carry MyChelle but I'm not sure about the other two brands you mentioned.
DeleteI prefer non-chemical sunblocks but found that they don't always play well with other products like eye cream and makeup (I assume because of the zinc oxide/ titanium oxide particles). I tried several that didn't work for me before finding the DeVita. But that was 3 1/2 years ago; maybe I'll have better luck this time 'round. :)
And I'll keep hoping that DeVita go back to their old formula!
My absolute favourite sunblock was the Petite Marie 30+ - unfortunately she's not making it anymore - isn't it disappointing when a favourite disappears or changes formula??!!
DeleteI think the other 2 brands I mentioned may be Australian, so maybe MyChelle is your best bet! I found it was fine under makeup (I only use mineral makeup and non-chemical skincare too). Good luck!
Yes, it was horribly disappointing! So many people complained that DeVita now have a little blurb of semi-apology on their website. They've supposedly corrected the "emulsification issues," so I might give them another try. But I'll check out MyChelle, too, in case I need a backup option!
DeleteI'm completely incapable of wearing sunblock on my face, they all, without exception, seen to cause my skin to go haywire. I can wear most of the ones designed for sensitive skin fine on my arms and shoulders... for just long enough to think I've found one that works; then I start getting spotty!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try a powder sun cream this year on my face (if we ever get a summer =P) and cover the rest up as usual!
Good luck in your hunt though, I know your pain and if you find a good sun block I'll definitely try it out. I don't cope well in the sun and heat in general (lucky I live in rainy England eh?). Parasols are lovely, but not very practical for mowing the lawn! Unless you could make a full sized version of the ones they make for prams and attach it to the mower handle =P
Powder sunblock sounds intriguing. Seems like a great way to beat the "sunblock shine" problem. I will have to look into that! :)
DeleteSometimes I think I should have moved to rainy Seattle instead of Denver. But prolonged overcast weather adversely affects my mood, while sunny days make me feel happier. I just didn't realize how intense the sun is at 5,500 feet and how uncomfortable I would be under such intensity.
They do make sun shades (more like a convertible top than a parasol) for riding lawnmowers. But it seems shades for push mowers are an untapped market segment! ;)
Most mineral powder makeup acts as a natural sunblock. Even the drugstore Physician's Formula brand (USA) mineral powder protects!
DeleteI haven't been able to find a mineral makeup that matches my skin. They're mostly too dark; the light ones are too pink. Apparently I'm a freakish shade of pale yellow. :P A translucent sunblock powder would be ideal.
DeleteYou should try Clarins sunblocks for the face! They are expensive but great and they don't leave greasy, nasty marks everywhere. I use it on my face and hands. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! :)
DeleteYeah, I'm a pretty much stay-in-the-shade kind of summer person. And a walk-in-the-evening kind, too. So unfortunately, I can offer no advice for sunblocks because I don't use any. :P
ReplyDeleteLuckily you were able to get that nasty stuff off your car. I'd be choked, too!
I used to get up early to walk before the sun rose. The advantage of my current unemployed situation is that I'm free to siesta in the afternoon and then do yard work or errands after 7:00 p.m. when the sun is setting. With many stores having long hours, I can grocery shop after dark. :)
DeleteI was very relieved that the smudges cleaned off the car! Otherwise the nearest Neutrogena executives might be in danger of harassment. :P
I usually use kid's sunblock because my skin is sensitive, easily offended, and gets cranky on a whim. When I'm re-applying, I hide the label of the bottle so no one sees that it's for kids. ;P
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. Honestly, after trying so many brands, I wouldn't care if it was sunblock for iguanas as long as it worked! ;)
DeleteI think it's great you tried to overcome your unpleasant feeling of the sun. I lived in Israel all my life and there the sun is basically "cancer sun" that makes you want to die without thinking twice.
ReplyDeleteI remember that someone recommended me sun block in spray form. It should not be that greasy and not leave stains. But I'm not sure. Good luck!
It's amazing how different the sun feels in different areas of the world. It's a pleasant warmth in some places, while in others, altitude or environment can make it feel like you're cooking to death the moment you step outside.
DeleteI used to live in Colorado and I understand the pain (and 90 degree weather) that you're going through. It doesn't get nearly as sunny here in Oregon, but it gets awfully humid (which in my opinion is almost worse). I've gotten into the habit of bringing my sunscreen with me everywhere and lathering some on every half hour or so. I burn super easily and am a bit paranoid. I just wish there were some lotion-y body sunscreens so that I don't feel all greasy and gross.
ReplyDeletePart of the reason I chose Colorado was to escape humidity. I grew up in hot and humid Georgia, where I was MISERABLE eight months out of the year. People joke about the "dry heat," but I can tell you that 90 degrees at 25% humidity feels a lot different than 90 degrees at 80% humidity. The former is actually tolerable if I'm in the shade while the latter made me want to die. :P I like the dry, sunny weather...I just wish I weren't unreasonably averse to being in the sun.
DeleteI also feel like I am being cooked by the sun. And I don't tan, I burn. Skin cancer runs in my family, so from April to October, I don't venture out without a hat or parasol, and I wear sunscreen year-round. For a walk, even with sunscreen and long sleeves, I would still carry a parasol, since I can easily tilt it to catch the sun.
ReplyDeleteSince I have sensitive skin and I'm veggie, my options are more limited. Trader Joe's sells a SPF 15 daily moisturizer that I like a lot. If I'm venturing out for more than running errands, I'll use something stronger: Kiss My Face and Alba Botonica have sunscreen that I'd rate as acceptable. I haven't tried Yes To's line of sunscreens, but I like their other products, so I think I might give them a shot.
Parasols are great. Portable shade! I don't get to use one as often as I'd like because of the wind.
DeleteTrader Joe's is due to open in Denver late this year. I plan to check it out once the initial frenzy dies down. I believe my local natural products store carries all three brands you mentioned, so I'll be able to give them a try. :)
I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid on my face every day. I have very oily skin and I hate the feel of most sunscreens but this has worked for me. It's a very thin liquid that absorbs quickly and cleanly. My Colorado relatives use it too. For the rest of my body I use a spray on sunscreen. They don't have that too-thick lotion feel and smell of regular sunscreens and they've protected me from the California sun.
ReplyDeleteI want to try a spray-on. I think it would be especially convenient for applying to the back of my neck.
DeleteI've been reading your blog awhile but never made myself known. But a post about the sun makes me have to comment. So hey, nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI guess I earn a lot of "goth points" for my intense hatred of the sun. It started out that I simply didn't want skin cancer or wrinkles (my grandmother always talked about how her fondness for sunbathing when young made her skin the way it was in her 70's -- wrinkled and leathery -- while her sister who avoided the sun had smooth white skin into her old age). My skin doesn't really even burn or tan anyway, but I still didn't want to take that chance. So I protected it really well and it is pale as humanly possible, I think. I actually HATED being pale, but thought it was worth it. I'm obsessed with India and exotic cultures, so I wished that I could just be naturally tan. Then I became kinda obsessed with a certain guy who had a goth-girl fetish and he made me feel like my pale skin was beautiful, so now I prize my white-as-a-ghost skin! I also get lots of compliments on how smooth and "milky" it is.
My main way of keeping it this way is using an umbrella. Seriously, it's SO much easier and less messy/greasy/nasty than using sunblock. I get a lot of stares and an occasional nasty comment, but I just say, Screw you, don't be jealous that when I'm 50 I'm going to look 20 years younger than I am! For the sunlight that might reflect off of pavement, my makeup has SPF 17 in it so I'm pretty well protected. I walk to work and to the store, etc., so my umbrella is my best friend. I have one with a really strong frame and a special fabric inside that is supposed to be anti-UV.
Of course I have sunscreen as well, because sometimes it's just impossible to use an umbrella, but like you, it bugs the hell out of me that it leaves greasy residue on anything that touches my face, even if I talk on my cell phone it gets all over it. Yuck.
Hi! Thanks for commenting! I agree, an umbrella is a great way to avoid sun damage. I like to use one when I'm walking around outside, like at the Ren Fest or the outdoor flea market. I recently saw a tutorial for an umbrella holster, which I thought was a brilliant idea.
DeleteI get the occasional stare when I'm wearing long sleeves in the summer, but I just ignore them. The rare comment is usually something like, "Aren't you hot in long sleeves?" To which I usually say, "Yes, but I don't do well in the sun." Though sometimes I'd rather say, "Yes, but I have this horrible, contagious flaky skin condition. Want to see?" :P
In my days of indiscretion I tanned easily and it looked lovely but am now terrified of looking like a lizard so I slather on sunscreen every day. I have used neutrogena dry touch for years and even the outside of my car gets white fingerprints! I agree it's annoying, but it works so well and feels nice. I spend LOTS of time outside and don't color up. I used the Davita stuff all last summer and then my arms started to itch. I don't know if it's the Davita or not but I'm reluctant to try again. It is lightweight and chemical free which gives it lots of brownie points. Mychelle it's spendy but I'm looking forward to trying that and the other recommendations.
ReplyDeletePrior to my sun-related trauma, I kept a tan just from being outside a lot. Now I'm so pale that my veins show. I'd prefer they didn't, but better that than more wrinkles!
DeleteHi, if anyone checks back here can you let me know if any of the sunscreens you mentioned are really non-greasy, like they don't make your face look greasy even without makeup over the top! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI use Garnier's even tone daily facial moisturizer with SPF28 on my face, followed by my favourite BB creams. I have combination skin that gets oily in the summer and I find I just need to blot/powder once or twice a day. I don't know if you regularly wear makeup but if you do I suggest trying out some BB creams. Many Korean ones come in super pale shades and they have a high SPF.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of trying a BB cream. I'd love something that would even out my skin tone a bit without feeling heavy like regular foundation tends to. Thanks for the tip.
DeleteLadies, what is bb? I tried a mychelle today and found it a bit too thick for my taste. I tried a facial chem-free rose sunblock by badger today and it was dreamy but quite expensive, even with sunscreen on sale at whole foods. The quest continues!
DeleteBB stands for Beauty Balm. My understanding is that BB creams are supposed to be all-in-ones -- anti-aging treatment, moisturizer, sunblock -- that provide light coverage to even out skin tone.
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