To ask for suncream recommendations because I am sick to death of covering every inch of my body?

[itstoohottofunction]

I am 99% sure my mother has lied to me about my father and she actually procreated with Casper the friendly Ghost.

I am so pale that I am translucent in places. I turn pink within seconds in the sun. Yesterday I was out for probably a grand total of an hour in a vest and im still pink. I used SPF50.

Ironically I love the sun and I am a heat seeker. I cannot stand wearing long trousers and tops all day, especially when I’m active in the sun. Ideally it’ll be a mist that I can spray over my shoulders while out and about to keep coverage up, but I think at this point I need an industrial strength one. Any recommendations?!

You don’t have to wear oversized baggy outfits. Just looser fitting as it’s cooler.

slim or not, there is nothing attractive about over sun exposed skin. It ages terribly. Especially if you are white.

https://www.boots.com/vichy-capital-soleil-solar-protective-water-enhanced-tan-spf50-200ml-10274326?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21319764377&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwQ8L89wdlMuK7Y5B4tt6elyT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1ril1oDYlAMVnplQBh0S0TIzEAQYBCABEgI7O_D_BwE

I kind of want you to ignore all other recommendations on this thread because this stuff is INCREDIBLE

OP I understand wanting to wear strappy tops etc if it’s really hot and you have lost a lot of weight (well done btw!) my advice is avoid the sun during the hottest parts of the day, get yourself a very wide brimmed hat and buy an Australian sunscreen. Aussie sunscreens have the strictest standards in the world due to our extreme UV over here. Cancer council is a good brand, money goes towards cancer research as well as being pretty cheap and not sticky or greasy. I really wouldn’t recommend the spray ones, it’s near on impossible to use properly and actually evenly cover your whole body and still get the spf rating on the bottle, especially on your back if you can’t reach.

I have the same (non)colouring as you! I've had success with Boots Soltan and Nivea. I always choose the 50 SPF. I start with the Soltan facial 'all day' in the morning and top up during the day. On my body I start with the Soltan 'all day' and top up during the day with either Soltan or Nivea.

This regime worked on a trip to Mexico recently, though I also wear a hat during the hottest part of the day and add an SPF lip balm. Using an aftersun lotion every night also seems to help moisture the skin.

Just came on to say, if a mist doesn't do the job, I have a device for putting cream on my back myself. It's like a little folding stick with a soft velour-like pad on the end! I'll find a link, but it's Bondi Sands and it's for applying fake tan (so 2 birds one stone if you're fake tanning too) but I use the sponge end for moisturiser between my shoulder blades / on my back where I can't reach. I have used it a few times for sun cream as well.

Here's the link

https://amzn.eu/d/06czirzL

Put suncream on - cake it on! Sit in house. 30 minutes later, repeat sun cream and go outside. Top up suncream every 30 minutes (I love the spray ones for a quick top up.)

After an hour or so of sun, head to the shade!

I’ve never had any issue as a pale redhead with mists. I do properly apply though and hang about semi naked while they dry and also seek shade etc, I don’t just do a sort of vague mist it’s more a proper coating

I'm a red head with very pale skin plus I have rosacea, so I'm very sensitive to the sun. Factor 50 is pointless for me, I burn through it and spend the entire time running from patch of shade to patch of shade feeling miserable.

I used Eucerin factor 100 and Neutrogena Beach Defence factor 70 depending on how strong the sun is. Both are good, non greasy and I don't burn. I'm also sensible, i don't sit in blazing hot sun for example.
Both available on Amazon and don't cost a fortune.

My husband uses a sun product called Pelotan. It was designed for cyclists, and it really does work, doesn’t seem to sweat off and you can spray it on too. Bonus is that it actually smells nice as well.

I’m similar OP! Shoulders and a particular part of my forehead go red instantly. I’ve tried every single suncream going.

I now wear by Aldi spray factor 50. It’s brilliant. It can stain white clothes so hold the sleeves back as you top up when out. I keep topped up during the day and basically don’t burn now. Woah I had used it years ago.

The one you use today - doesn’t have high UVA and UVB? Surprisingly a lot of expensive ones don’t have high ratings for both! Aldi does.

La Roche face cream is also excellent, spf 50 and I’ve been recommended Cosrx factor 50 too (believe a Korean skin care brand).

Having tried a lot of the big brands, we’re firmly converted to Soltan by boots. However, as with all suncream, application is key. They also do a tan enhancing option, which is good.

Always ultrasun for me 👍 though honourable mention for Aldi spray….

I’m similarly pale and use ultrasun - it’s classed as a ‘once a day’ cream but I do reapply through the once or twice if I’m out for the whole day. It stops me getting prickly heat which is a bonus!

For your back you need a Backbliss! It’s like a sponge on a stick so you can apply cream to your back. It’s £15 which seems really expensive for what it is, but I’ve had mine for a really long time and just replace the pads every year. It’s a game changer, previously I was having to leave my hair down to block the sun from my back which was working poorly and making me insanely sweaty 🤣

I might try this, description mentions applying to face. Is it for everywhere?

I have looked at soltan because I want to do a boots click and collect before going away.

i know that in the grand scheme of things covering up etc is key and I do that for probably 95% of the year. But this holiday has been in the works for a long time for me and involves an outdoor event that means the sun is pretty impossible to avoid, and if I cover up I will be so hot I’ll probably pass out

As another pale person, with red headed DC, part of the way we manage avoiding burning is by tracking hourly UV on weather apps. UV is often highest earlier in the day, not the hottest part of the day (which can often be 3-4pm). So tend to hit the shade/cover when UV highest, but can be more relaxed in hotter parts of day - when UV has dropped.

I lived in a country 35+ degrees. Noone wanders round in backless strappy tops in the heat of the sun. If you are as pale as you say you are and burn so easily its just absolute madness. You can get cool tops and short dresses that cover your back and shoulders.

P20 is the best sunscreen. You can get factor 50 l, its sweat and waterproof and you dont need to reapply through the day.

European/UK sunscreen has rules about how they describe their protection, so price shouldn't be a factor. The more expensive ones may just feel nicer, but must describe their protection just the same way as Aldis or Lidls. You are looking for SPF 50 and five star UVA, and they are available at all price points.

American SPF 70 and 100 aren't used in Europe as they don't offer any real addtional protection over factor 50. Australian suncream is often great, but is less regulated than EU so aren't always as trustworthy.

No sunscreen provides 100 per cent UV protection https://share.google/idNtYnQz47Q18rC2o

I looked at the one that you are using and I can't see how many stars protection it is for UVA, just the SPF which is for UVB. Make sure you are using 5star UVA as well as a high factor. A lot of more expensive ones don't have I like P20 for an all day, boots soltan and also Lidl do a dry misting spray which is great for topping up when you are out and about as you can do a quick spray all over on top of what you have already applied.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NIVEA-Refreshing-Water-Resistant-Immediate-Protection/dp/B07FFQHNQC/ref=asc_df_B07FFQHNQC?mcid=bc226564dc003c99869b6c95e5dc000d&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697283620021&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12750140434575153762&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9207293&hvtargid=pla-1322049884144&psc=1&hvocijid=12750140434575153762-B07FFQHNQC-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

This is great. It sprays on easily and quickly. The spray is like hairspray.

Soltan once a day

i used that in Australia and had zero issues

I agree re p20 - used it for years but do they do a spray 50? I’ve only ever used normal 30 in p20 and that’s been amazing. Used soltan 50 once a day in Australia and tbf did the job but no better than p20 30! I’m not a fan of sprays as you waste so much so never looked for a p20 spray! It’s why I bought soltan on a buy 3 for price of 2 deal

P20, it's a spray and lasts 10 hours between applications. It does turn clothes yellow if you put them on too soon after application but fine once dry. I have fairish skin and have never burned since I started using it

i use Vichy Capital Soleil - it's an oil but very good xx