Sunscreen Product Dilemas...
Posted by poopinshmicken on Jan 22, 2009 · Member since May 2008 · 112 posts
Hey VegWebbers! After about 2 years of maintaining a constant tan, I've decided to pale it up a bit. (Pale is the new tan...) Anyway, I'm trying to lighten my skin and my body is pretty slow at doing that in the first place so I was wondering...
1. If anyone has any tips to speed the lightening process along, or
2. What's your favorite brand of sunscreen? I HATE that thick gooey stinky stuff so I'm hoping someone has run across a light nonfragrant easy-to-apply concoction.
Thanks guys!
I have a bottle of No-Ad Sport that I've had forever (it's a giant bottle) and I like it (not sure of it's vegan-ness, though). It's not greasy, doesn't have much of a smell, and it works really well.
(Pale is the new tan...)
i waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of the curve on that one.. i'm practically translucent!
Does anyone listen to Paramore? Great band. Their lead singer, Hayley Williams, has some awesome skin. That may just be lighting though...
Banana Boat has some really great sunscreens. As far as I know, they do not test on animals. :-)
Does anyone listen to Paramore? Great band. Their lead singer, Hayley Williams, has some awesome skin. That may just be lighting though...
Yeah I've thought that before, think it's the natural redhead thing. Curse her!
First, stay out of the sun when possible. Wear light garments that protect you like a cotton gauze long sleeved shirt that is loose and flowy over a swimsuit or rather than a tank top.
Next, think about head protection. Straw wide brimmed hats can be fun!
And finally, pick a good level of spf protection. I dont know if 70 works better than 30, but I always get it anyways. Typically that is always Coppertone spray on for me, but I am sure that is probably animal tested.
I always buy whatever sunscreen has the highest spf. I tan very easily. You might really like the Ultra Sheer Dry Touch by Neutrogena because it isn't greasy at all. There was some great sunscreen I got in France but I've forgotten exactly what is was. Soleil Lait or something maybe. I also wear facial moisturizer with sunscreen. The highest spf I can find in that is 15 so if anyone else knows of one higher, holla back.
To lighten up, there are products available in France, China, Japan, and Korea I know. I think I've seen some products at Indian grocery stores in the States too. To do it naturally, lemon juice! Welcome to the Pale Force.
To lighten up, there are products available in France, China, Japan, and Korea I know. I think I've seen some products at Indian grocery stores in the States too. To do it naturally, lemon juice! Welcome to the Pale Force.
Firstly, thanks for the welcome Captain.
Secondly, some of those lightening products from the asian nations have extremely high mercury levels or they contain hydroquinon (sp?) which may or may not be a carcinogen. I have been looking at the Elizabeth Arden line called "Sheer White" that's supposed to lighten skin (not as well as the Foreign brands though) and it's supposed to help with leftover acne marks (which I have all over my cheeks).... so if anyone can recommend a better product, it'd would be well appreciated. :D
I've been looking for a good facial moisturizer/sunscreen combo. Most I've tried are very oily. My skin is fairly sensitive. It's prone to dry out easily or soak up oils like.... something that soaks up oils and remains oily. So I have to go totally oil-free and preferably fragrance-free. Any good suggestions?
I've been pale for a few years now, but in high school I was a tanning bed junky. I look good either way, but decided if I want to keep my youthful complexion I had better ditch the tan. Besides, now I can color my hair red and it looks great!
;)b
jeanacorina - i use aubry organics sensitive skin mosturizer, its spf 15 i think? They have tons for different skin types too, i've only used sensitive though.
And in terms of sunscreen, baby sunscreen would probably be ideal to avoid any tanning. I've used aveenos baby sunscreen, its spf 60 i think? It can be expensive, i've never bought it myself though so i dont remember how much the cost is. I'd say look around at other baby ones! toys r us has them! haha
Secondly, some of those lightening products from the asian nations have extremely high mercury levels or they contain hydroquinon (sp?) which may or may not be a carcinogen.
Which is exactly why they work. Again, I would suggest lemon for a less abrasive lightening.
I use Neutrogena spray stuff. It's the only stuff I'll actually put on every day because it isn't at all greasy and it goes on really fast cause of the spray thing (even when you spray it in your hands and rub it on your face). It absorbs really fast and you don't have to rub and rub.
To me, the best sunscreen is the one you remember to put on every day. I'm so pale I burn in the dark in winter so I have to be careful.
Yea, a question for Heli...do you know if Cancer Society sunscreen is animal tested? Because I like their sunscreen a lot but don't know...
I have really sensitive skin too, so normal sunscreen on my face = instant breakouts. But the only facial sunscreen around and/or moisturisers with sunscreen I can afford are by brands I don't buy because of animal testing.
Quite a dilemma really:( I'm putting off doing anything about it for now.
I was actually 'alergic' to the sun for years because of my birth control pills. (took me 7 years to figure out what the problem was) Anyways, I've tried so many sunscreens, it's not even funny. Ombrelle is a really good brand, by L'Oreal, its not thick, but I presonally find it a bit oily. The best one that worked for me was Baby Aveeno I think it's SPF 45. I use it for both my kids and I. It is think, but it rubs into the skin fairly easy. It's not that expensive, like 10$ (in Canada anyways).
Okay, I started this so I'll address some of the ones that stuck out to me. But I really want to thank everyone who contributed to this discussion - it was unbelievably helpful when I went to the store.
I use Neutrogena spray stuff. It's the only stuff I'll actually put on every day because it isn't at all greasy and it goes on really fast cause of the spray thing (even when you spray it in your hands and rub it on your face). It absorbs really fast and you don't have to rub and rub.
Okay I bought it and I LOVE it. For anyone who's curious, it's Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock. I bought the SPF 45. You spray it on and it doesn't need to be rubbed in or anything! It's very very light and dries almost instantly. It still has a hint of that chemical smell but it's not too bad. I think perfume would be able to mask it if it really bothered anyone. I wouldn't substitute it as a moisturizer or anything. However it doesn't say anything about not being tested on animals. :(
Secondly, some of those lightening products from the asian nations have extremely high mercury levels or they contain hydroquinon (sp?) which may or may not be a carcinogen.
Which is exactly why they work. Again, I would suggest lemon for a less abrasive lightening.
Good point. I would try the lemon, but it's acidic and I already have SEVERELY dry skin from this Pennsylvania winter and I'm just afraid it would dry out my skin. Although I am curious to see if it would work... I know from my middle school years that it's effective on hair. :) I did end up buying some of the Elizabeth Arden Sheer White from over the internet. It's supposed to lighten skin, especially age-spots and ance marks, using a derivative of vitamin C. I'm skeptical but I'll use that on my face and maybe I'll try the lemons on my arms, since my arms are always darker than the rest of my body.
I've been looking for a good facial moisturizer/sunscreen combo. Most I've tried are very oily. My skin is fairly sensitive. It's prone to dry out easily or soak up oils like.... something that soaks up oils and remains oily. So I have to go totally oil-free and preferably fragrance-free. Any good suggestions?
I've been pale for a few years now, but in high school I was a tanning bed junky. I look good either way, but decided if I want to keep my youthful complexion I had better ditch the tan. Besides, now I can color my hair red and it looks great!
;)b
Ooooo.... couple things here...
1. Mid-way through my college freshman year I discovered the beloved tanning bed and now I'm a junior, so between those times I've been constantly tan, so I understand where youre coming from. Idk if it was the stress or the tanning or a combo of the two but my wrinkles under my eye have deepened and multiplied! Argh! But I digress...
2. I've got the exact same skin type I think. Like, it's always dry and more so after you wash your face, but it's constantly under a sheen of oil. Prone to breakouts too? I definitely am. (If you are, don't bother with Proactiv either. I tried it for 4 months and it doesn't help an inch.) Anyway, along with the neutrogena spray sunscreen for my body, I bought Banana Boat Sun Wear Faces Oil-Free Daily Sunblock Lotion SPF 30. (Quite the mouthful!) It's got some organic ingredients, but it doesn't say "not tested on animals." I've used it once and it's still a little greasy-feeling and its got a little bit of that sunblock smell, but it's tolerable, so you could consider that. Or Neutrogena has a decent moisturizer with SPF 15. It's not quite hydrating enough, so you'd have to apply it multiple times. But it doesn't smell and it's not greasy.
3. I'm going to the "dark side" for several reasons, but a little part of me wants to dye my hair some sort of red shade and that's a bit of a motivator! I've had my hair a dark ash brown for a couple years now and I like it but I'd always hit the tanning bed so I wouldn't look like I was emo (not that there's anything wrong with that). So I'd really like a change... but I thought it was interesting that we had some stuff in common.
Also, my pale vegwebbers, I read somewhere that skin repairs itself easier with fairly large doses of vitamin A. Anyone have any information on the subject?