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Product of the Month

Sunscreens & Sunblock


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Sunscreens may be your single most important skin care product.  Because it is the sun that causes all that damage we try so hard to get rid of after we're about 40 years old, like brown spots, redness, blotchiness, sagging skin, leathery texture. 

Also, don't forget to see my article on sunscreens which reviews how to choose a sunscreen and how to understand SPFs.

Here are a range of sunscreens I highly recommend for different skin types (dry to mature to oily and acne prone), different climates, different sports, like water sports, spray-on sunscreens for golf and fishing.  I have also included lip and eye protection skin care products.  As with every product on SkinTour.com, I have personally tested and used every product recommended: 

Elta MD - UV Daily SPF 40 Pump

Elta MD

UV Daily SPF 40 Pump

$23.80

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Normal - Light, sheer Daily SPF 40 with 9% Zinc Oxide for very strong UV-A and UV-B protection. For the face, either alone or under makeup. Glides on easily and absorbs quickly into the skin. Hyaluronic acid to increase skin smoothness, softness and to decrease appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Paraben-free.

Elta MD - UV Physical SPF 41 Chemical Free Tube

Elta MD

UV Physical SPF 41 Chemical Free Tube

$27.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Chemical Free/Sensitive - This is a sunblock that is chemical-free, with natural mineral UV Protection SPF 41 with 9% Zinc Oxide and 7% Titanium Dioxide for true broad spectrum protection. Oil-free, paraben-free and fragrance free. Ideal for very sensitive skin and children. Absorbs quickly. Our office and most of our patients love this one.

Elta MD - UV Clear SPF 46

Elta MD

UV Clear SPF 46

$29.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Oily/Acne - 9% zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate for true broad spectrum protection. Niacinamide to calm and protect sensitive, acne-prone skin. Oil-free, good for sensitive skin. Paraben-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic.

Elta MD - UV Facial SPF 30

Elta MD

UV Facial SPF 30

$27.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Dry Skin - A daily sunscreen that works really well for dry skin, post laser treatment, and in very dry climates. Combines chemical and physical sunscreen with hydration.

Colorescience - SunForgettable Powder SPF 30 - All Clear

Colorescience

SunForgettable Powder SPF 30 - All Clear

$49.50

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Water/Sports/Melasma - This is a great invention, and I use it all the time. It comes in a small tube, with a self-contained brush. You just shake the powder down, and brush on the powder. The powder stays on your skin, and the high zinc and titanium content gives you great UVA and UVB blocking.

Great for a humid climate (or oily skin), because it goes on dry and leaves no oily, greasy sheen. Expensive, but worth it. Layer it over a sunscreen lotion for maximum protection at altitude or in intense sun.

Skin Medica - Environmental Defense Sunscreen SPF 30

Skin Medica

Environmental Defense Sunscreen SPF 30

$38.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Normal - This sunscreen blocks through Z-Cote, which is transparent zinc oxide. So it gives true broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB without all the chemical blockers. And it comes in a light, non pore-clogging moisturizing base with antioxidant repair ingredients also. Both men and women like this sunscreen.

Topix - Replenix Advanced Anti-Photoaging Complex SPF 45

Topix

Replenix Advanced Anti-Photoaging Complex SPF 45

$29.75

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

This very moisturizing sunscreen also contains antioxidants to help repair sun damage.

La Roche-Posay - Anthelios Sunscreen Cream

La Roche-Posay

Anthelios Sunscreen Cream

$29.70

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Normal to Dry Skin - Anthelios was one of the first sunscreens to have mexoryl, a UVA blocker that lasts longer in the sun than avobenzone (parsol 1789). Some people like the mexoryl-based sunscreens, because it can also moisturize and because there is no issue of looking chalky or white.

So this sunscreen gives you long-lasting UVA and UVB protection in a moisturizing lotion. Excellent for a very dry climate.

DermaQuest - Skin Therapy ZinClear SPF 30

DermaQuest

Skin Therapy ZinClear SPF 30

$51.50

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Daily/Chemical Free/Sensitive/Melasma - Great for melasma. It has over 18% zinc, so it gives great protection. But it goes on very light and clear, without the chalky look that many zinc sunscreens give you. This is a physical sunscreen, meaning that it contains no sunscreen chemicals. Excellent also for sensitive skin. Expensive, but worth it for the protection without the chalkiness.

SkinCeuticals - Daily Sun Defense SPF 20

SkinCeuticals

Daily Sun Defense SPF 20

$37.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Normal Skin - Good daily sunscreen. Absorbs well and not too chalky. Contains zinc 5% to provide decent UVA protection in addition to a UVB blocker. Nice medium base – not to oily or dry. Probably fine if you are not too acne prone. Not for sweating or water sports.

Solbar - Shield SPF 40

Solbar

Shield SPF 40

$11.33

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Sport/Chemical Free/ Sensitive/Budget Saver - A great value: 7.5% zinc oxide, no synthetic chemical sunscreen agents, unscented, hypoallergenic, very water resistant, and with some aloe and vitamin E. A bit too heavy for oily skin, but great for outdoors at a very good price. Hard to go wrong with this product.

Fallene - CoTZ SPF 58

Fallene

CoTZ SPF 58

$25.70

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Sport/Chemical Free/Sensitive/Budget Saver - This sunscreen is a hard-working, high quality product at a great price. It's a mineral sunscreen, with 10% titanium dioxide and 3% zinc oxide, so it gives extremely effective UVA and UVB protection, without all the chemical sunscreen ingredients. It has no fragrances and is good for sensitive skin. Fallene has tinted this slightly, and put the minerals in a lighter base, so it doesn't make you look chalky. It's water resistant and won't sting your eyes.

Estion - Sunscreen with Zinc SPF 38

Estion

Sunscreen with Zinc SPF 38

$15.50

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Sport/Water/Sweat/Budget Saver - Very affordable and very good UVA and UVB protection through the mineral blocker zinc oxide at 7.5% and UVB chemical sunscreens. Water resistant. An excellent value.

Elta MD - UV Sport Waterproof SPF 50

Elta MD

UV Sport Waterproof SPF 50

$20.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Sport/Water/Sweat - Highly Water Resistant SPF 50 with 9% Zinc Oxide. Will not sting when sweating or drip into eyes and will not rinse off in water. Great sport or water sunblock.

SkinCeuticals - Sport UV Defense SPF 45

SkinCeuticals

Sport UV Defense SPF 45

$37.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Sport/Water/Sweat - This true broad-spectrum sunscreen is waterproof and sweat-proof to deliver maximum protection during high-energy activities. Sport UV Defense contains transparent zinc oxide as well as other active sunscreens. The sunscreen ingredients are encapsulated in dimethicone to provide increased SPF with fewer chemicals, reducing the chances of irritation.

This sunscreen is a bit thick, but it wears like iron and is very good for outdoor activities and water sports. It’s expensive, but you can use it on your face, neck, and chest, and use a budget saver like the Estion or Solbar on your body.

SkinCeuticals - Physical UV Defense SPF 30

SkinCeuticals

Physical UV Defense SPF 30

$37.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Non-chemical good daily sunscreen for sensitive skins. Contains zinc 5% and titanium 10% for good UVA coverage in addition to covering UVB. Many will find this too chalky for daily use but fine if you’re on the lighter side. Not for sweating or water sports

Fallene - Lip CoTZ SPF 45

Fallene

Lip CoTZ SPF 45

$8.95

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Lips - High quality, no frills zinc/titanium lip protection. You don't want sun-burned or wind-burned lips!

Vanicream - Lip Protectant SPF 30

Vanicream

Lip Protectant SPF 30

$4.95

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Lips/Sensitive - Sun protection and moisture for your lips from this great line for sensitive skin.

Dermalogica - Total Eye Care SPF 15

Dermalogica

Total Eye Care SPF 15

$41.00

Learn more or buy now at our partner SkinCareRx.com

Eyes and Eyelids - I have some patients who go all over town looking for this to buy. I like it particularly because it has titanium dioxide, a great mineral sunblock that protects the skin around your eyes and won't cause irritation or sting your eyes. Use this in the morning over the Cellex-C Eye Cream. Make-up goes on well over this product, too.

From www.SkinTour.com and Dr. Brandith Irwin. Copyright 2008-2012 SkinTour LLC. All rights reserved. Journalists, bloggers, and media may reprint this without permission so long as they include this credit box with the article.
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