Which sunscreen?

[BikeFreak]

Hi,

As part of my tour across on the TA I will of course need plenty of sunscreen.

Reading the back label of common sunscreen is a full list of chemicals which sound very toxic and harmful.

Are there any good brands available in common super markets like Safeway, Walmart etc. By good I mean sunscreens which have a low level of harmful chemicals - something organic maybe?

Lucas

[johnsondasw]

I don't know about organic sunscreens or any of that.  I just bring SPF 30 or above and use it on face, arms, legs and don't forget back of the neck.  I don't have a particular brand and just get what looks like the best deal. 

[Pat Lamb]

Long sleeves are the "safest" -- unless you're on the verge of heat stroke.  Titanium dioxide is probably next in line, except it needs some goop to make it stick to your skin.

I prefer gels, partly because I could never rub the creams into my skin so they didn't look like I was a leper.  Apply twice daily to start, once daily after you've got a nice tan, and wash off at night.

[George Mc]

UP and UP from Target, got pretty good ratings.

[litespeed]

I've degraded the skin on my forearms from touring in tee shirts. To keep it from getting any worse I now wear Under Armour long sleeve jerseys whenever I'm on my bike. I don't bother with sunscreen as it seems almost impossible to put enough on to really do any good.

[peterharris]

REI sells several long-sleeve button-front and t-shirts ranging from UPF 15 up to UPF 50. These would have the advantage of almost total torso and arm coverage when you need it plus the ability to roll or slide the sleeves up if you wanted to. They're not cheap but they're not terribly expensive either. If you're pretty much dead-set against slathering yourself with regular sunscreen, this might be an option to consider. And REI is having a sale right now so you might be able to find something at a great price.

I'm sure there are many other places besides REI that would carry these UPF protective shirts.

[crosari2]

I use "No-Ad" rated at 45UPF. Recommended by Men's Health Journal. Very inexpensive and you can find it at some of the chain drugstores like Walgreens. Also, Performance and Nashbar sell long sleeve jerseys rated at 30 and 50 UPF at about $35 each.

[DaveB]

Reading the back label of common sunscreen is a full list of chemicals which sound very toxic and harmful.

Are there any good brands available in common super markets like Safeway, Walmart etc. By good I mean sunscreens which have a low level of harmful chemicals - something organic maybe?
Lucas

Those chemicals which "sound very toxic and harmful" aren't.  They work and are safe. There are some sunscreens that claim to be "organic" but are generally ineffective and why is "organic" automatically assumed to be safe?

[hem]

Neutrogena helioplex 70 spf

[Patco]

My dermatologist suggested using Coppertone Sport SPF 50 (he said anything over SPF 30), and using the stick for around the eyes because it doesn't run. I apply once in the morning and reapply once midday. I have never had a problem finding Coppertone when on the road.

[DaveB]

Neutrogena helioplex 70 spf

My dermatologist suggested using Coppertone Sport SPF 50...

These contains the same "very toxic and harmful" active ingredients all effective sun screens do. 

[bogiesan]

Sunscreens are easily researched on the Net but even the medically sound the information is often inconclusive. There are two kinds of UV penetration prevention, chemical barriers and radiation barriers. They're weird chemicals but there's nothing toxic about them. There are various types of carriers for the barriers like evaporatives, solid and liquid oils and totally waterproof stuff made for swimmers. An SPF value over 20 or so does not appear to add any measurable protection in tests conducted by outfits by Consumer Labs so beware of marketing claims.
A bicyclist needs to consider convenience, how long an application will last, and how it feels on your skin. I also look at the packaging. I don't want a screw cap that can get lost; I want a captive snap cap. And I want a small size. I often decant to little squeeze bottles with flip tops but you've got to label them carefully and permanently or you can end up with sunscreen in your oatmeal. I use a separate product for my lips because my favorite body screens taste awful.
I prefer longsleeve jerseys these days and carry UV arm protectors like Sunskins.

[bogiesan]

http://www.consumersearch.com/sunscreen
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/07/20/natural-sunscreen-review-do-mineral-based-sunblocks-work-2/

[hem]

These contains the same "very toxic and harmful" active ingredients all effective sun screens do.

Well skin cancer isn't exactly the best thing that ever happened to me either.  If I were younger I would take the  risk of the "very toxic and harmful" over the more probable skin cancer. Every year I have the pleasure of donating some skin because I did not use sun screen.

And plastic surgery hasn't been a real joy either.

[indyfabz]

These contains the same "very toxic and harmful" active ingredients all effective sun screens do.

Well skin cancer isn't exactly the best thing that ever happened to me either.  If I were younger I would take the  risk of the "very toxic and harmful" over the more probable skin cancer. Every year I have the pleasure of donating some skin because I did not use sun screen.

And plastic surgery hasn't been a real joy either.

I think you missed what DaveB was saying, which is that the alleged "very toxic and harmful" ingreedients the OP says are in common sun screen at not toxic and harmful at all.