To not be able to work out what sunscreen is the ‘best’

[Testingthetimes]

seeking advice please.
my three children have very pale skin and I’m finding myself having to put sunscreen on them more days of the year, year-on-year.

I currently but Rochey Posay stuff which seems to do the trick. Its expensive, that’s for sure, but I know looking after their skin is v important.
I keep seeing stuff about how mineral sunscreen is better, in terms of less chemicals entering their bloodstream etc. Now I’m seeing stuff about Tallow sunscreen.

Like I said, they are wearing more and more of it.
so I’d really like to use the best stuff I can. despite reading about it I can’t seem to work out what that is. I don’t have access to a dermatologist or someone more qualified who can tell me.

had anyone out there don’t the research and have s brand they would recommend?
Should I be using mineral ones and if so, which brand?

any suggestions would be very gratefully received.

They all advertise themselves as being better. You can find stuff about coconut oil or raspberry leaf being a sunscreen if you look hard enough. Doesn't mean I'd trust it! Just use any affordable, functional, 5* rated cream. I like Altruist because it works, doesn't make my eczema prone cold flare too badly and doesn't sting eyes.

Bondi sands for me. Face and body.

You dont need best you need "good enough"

Look at altruist.
Its a NFP set up by a dermatologist with a child who has albinism

I’ve used zinc on my face and 50+ from the cancer council (charity in Australia) for decades because I’m from Scotland and live in Australia and people like me
die from melanoma.

I was just about to mention Altruist.

There was a good program on R4 about the doctor who developed it.

Aldi sunscreens are pretty good. They test well too, apparently.

I recently switched to Altruist (and we have a redhead in the family). Previously used Boots Soltan which I also found good but Altruist seems to sink in immediately and no stinging eyes so I am a convert!

I used to use La Roche Posay on my face and neck, but have switched to Beauty of Joseon as it leaves less of a shiny face (still some shine which I put primer over - I'm not a fan of the shiny/glowy look, I just look sweaty!)

Plus it does not sting, even round my eyes. For everywhere else, Nivea invisible spray.

Another vote here for Altruist. I used to buy it from Amazon but noticed Sainsbury's stocks it now.

We use blue lizard

I think some of the budget creams outdid the expensive brands in a recent which survey. I’ll see if I can find the link.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/best-sunscreen-spf-testing-which-b2773310.html

I'm just checking out Altruist now, that is excellent value. I've only just bought a new Beauty of Joseon but once that's used up I will definitely be trying it out.

Is it the face fluid @Cleansofa that you use?

Thanks for replying. This is mineral based one, I believe. Were you recommended mineral ones?

The best one is the one you use. Any sufficiently strong sun cream is fine.

Altruist all the way. We are a family of gingers and I won’t use anything else. I’ve never ever , not even once, been burned while using altruist and I’ve tried tons of sun cream. To put it into context, I’m taking my incredibly pale skinned ginger DGS age 4 to Corfu next week for his first holiday and I’ve got half a litre of the stuff. It stinks into the skin like a moisturise, it’s not at all greasy, and it isn’t heavily perfumed at all. Is the very best I’ve ever used, designed by dermatologists and I will never ever swap

I haven't tried the face one, I just put the regular one on my face. It seems a lot less greasy than other sun creams

Thank you everyone .
I have bought some altruist to try.

and I know there was a comment and not needing the ‘best’ and needing ‘good enough’.
im a firm believer in ‘good enough’ for most things but I will spend so much money over the years on sunscreen and what I probably should have said is ‘i’d like to make the most informed choice’.

thank you for the suggestions.

is there anyone who firmly believes in using Mineral sunscreen and can point me in the right direction of some resources?

Yes, we have people in our family severely affected by skin cancer so I understand.

can I ask, what brand zinc do you use on your face?

It’s such a relief when you feel you can trust a product. Thanks for the feedback and enjoy the holiday!

Peter Attia did a deep dive on one of his very long podcasts. Bear in mind, apparently, US suncreams aren't as developed as European standard ones, so it's not even a level playing field. I think Aussie suncreams tend to be more mineral-based sometimes, but not sure.

I get the feeling you're trying to avoid using standard suncreams (as do I by mainly staying indoors!) but it's really hard to actually get a definitive answer. I think I tried Altruist and wasn't a fan. I can just about tolerate Roche Posay and Aldi!

You're never going to know for sure, unless you try them out and even then, you won't know the results for years.

I’ve used Soltan since I was a child, it does what it’s meant to and the smell always reminds me of childhood holidays

I meant good enough in that it meets the requirements of being a solid 50 spf that lasts.

Something like Roche Possay def absorbs into my skin better but at 3 x the price its not worth it for me. I dont care enough...

Well i use P20. I'm pale and freckly as as my boys and we've never burnt and I feel like we don't need to keep applying it all day.

It's pretty chemically though but it takes the worry off on holiday.