Help me find a PHYSICAL suncreen for a reasonable price
May 2, 2017 12:38 PM Subscribe
I been googling and browsing in the drug stores and I can't find a simple zinc oxide sunscreen. I don't even mind if it has chemical protection as well. My friend suggested some but they're all fancy ones for $20 each, like this. I hate to pay that much. Aren't there any big brand versions?
I've had very good luck with Blue Lizard. It's zinc oxide and absorbs nicely. I buy it at Target or Harmon. The five-ounce one I've linked to is just under $20 for five ounces, which is about the best price I've seen.
posted by holborne at 12:43 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by holborne at 12:43 PM on May 2, 2017
I used one of the Badger sunblocks at the beach, applying thick coats regularly, and ended up so red that I complained to the company. So don't feel bad about skipping the one you linked to...
You can buy zinc oxide quite cheaply (that site even has a few different varieties). I would just mix it at the recommended % with a dollar store lotion and give that a whirl.
posted by kmennie at 12:48 PM on May 2, 2017
You can buy zinc oxide quite cheaply (that site even has a few different varieties). I would just mix it at the recommended % with a dollar store lotion and give that a whirl.
posted by kmennie at 12:48 PM on May 2, 2017
I like this CVS Clear Zinc Broad Spectrum Sunscreen. It's a combination sunscreen, costs like $7 for 4 oz.
Might help if you could say where you're located and what stores are available.
posted by mskyle at 12:49 PM on May 2, 2017
Might help if you could say where you're located and what stores are available.
posted by mskyle at 12:49 PM on May 2, 2017
Ditto the blue lizard - I bought a neutrogena baby one that just rubbed right off and I got burned literally and figuratively.
posted by Dmenet at 12:50 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by Dmenet at 12:50 PM on May 2, 2017
Response by poster: Sorry, I'm in Canada. I like kmennie's suggestion of buying straight zinc oxide and mixing it, but we're heading to Cuba and I'm not taking any chances.
No chance of CVS brand stuff here.
I love that Blue Lizard stuff, but it's 22.50 here. And that Neutrogena stuff is 18.99.
On the other hand, maybe it's just true that good sun protection doesn't come cheap.
posted by kitcat at 12:53 PM on May 2, 2017
No chance of CVS brand stuff here.
I love that Blue Lizard stuff, but it's 22.50 here. And that Neutrogena stuff is 18.99.
On the other hand, maybe it's just true that good sun protection doesn't come cheap.
posted by kitcat at 12:53 PM on May 2, 2017
My go to is Vanicream. It's increasingly at drugstores and widely available online, and is closer to $10/tube.
posted by veery at 12:53 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by veery at 12:53 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
We like Thinkbaby sunscreen. It is $20 for 6oz instead of $20 for less than 3oz like the one you linked to. The same company makes a kids' and a sport version, but I haven't tried them. They're also zinc oxide based (20%), but reviews say that the baby version smells nicer.
I send Banana Boat Baby sunscreen to daycare - it is easier to spread than the Thinkbaby and it's only about $7 for 8oz. Active ingredients are Titanium Dioxide (3.1%) and Zinc Oxide (4%). I feel like it doesn't stay on as well in the water, but that's not an issue at daycare.
posted by Kriesa at 12:57 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
I send Banana Boat Baby sunscreen to daycare - it is easier to spread than the Thinkbaby and it's only about $7 for 8oz. Active ingredients are Titanium Dioxide (3.1%) and Zinc Oxide (4%). I feel like it doesn't stay on as well in the water, but that's not an issue at daycare.
posted by Kriesa at 12:57 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nthing baby sunscreen. I switched from oxybenzone based sunscreens because it leaves rust stains on clothing. Zinc oxide doesn't. In the US market at least, the only sunscreens that use zinc oxide instead of oxybenzone are stuff from high end cosmetic companies or stuff targeted at babies.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 1:01 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by NoRelationToLea at 1:01 PM on May 2, 2017
I use CeraVe. It's less than $20 a bottle but I don't know that I'd call it cheap.
posted by sepviva at 1:08 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by sepviva at 1:08 PM on May 2, 2017
Here's Banana Boat Kids on a Canadian online site, $14 for 8oz. It is a mix of chemical and physical sunblocks, 2.4% titanium dioxide. That might be a compromise.
They also have one called Banana Boat Natural Reflect Kids, which is all physical sunblock, but it is $14 for just 4oz.
posted by Kriesa at 1:11 PM on May 2, 2017
They also have one called Banana Boat Natural Reflect Kids, which is all physical sunblock, but it is $14 for just 4oz.
posted by Kriesa at 1:11 PM on May 2, 2017
You cannot take zinc oxide and mix it into a lotion and get sun protection. If that were possible, I would be doing it myself.
The quality of suspension is critical because zinc oxide tends to clump, which is why old zinc oxide sunscreens and/or ones that have been left to sit around in hot environments may expire. And that's with commercial sunscreens with industrial mixing equipment and testing. You can't mix a good enough suspension in your kitchen. This breaks my heart but that's how it is.
Anyway, last time I was in the US I got a big tube of Banana Boat baby sunscreen spf 50. I recall it was not overpriced. That should do you.
posted by tel3path at 1:13 PM on May 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
The quality of suspension is critical because zinc oxide tends to clump, which is why old zinc oxide sunscreens and/or ones that have been left to sit around in hot environments may expire. And that's with commercial sunscreens with industrial mixing equipment and testing. You can't mix a good enough suspension in your kitchen. This breaks my heart but that's how it is.
Anyway, last time I was in the US I got a big tube of Banana Boat baby sunscreen spf 50. I recall it was not overpriced. That should do you.
posted by tel3path at 1:13 PM on May 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
maybe it's just true that good sun protection doesn't come cheap.
This is actually pretty much true, in my experience. I actually consider it a false economy to use the least expensive sunscreen, considering how important sun protection is for protection from melanoma, not to mention anti-aging.
posted by holborne at 1:13 PM on May 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is actually pretty much true, in my experience. I actually consider it a false economy to use the least expensive sunscreen, considering how important sun protection is for protection from melanoma, not to mention anti-aging.
posted by holborne at 1:13 PM on May 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks a lot, guys. Now I'm trying to decide between the Blue Lizard (I trust Australians know their sun care!) and the Banana Boat baby or kids. I'm buying 2 or 3 bottles. Am I just price-stubborn not to go with the Blue Lizard?
posted by kitcat at 1:17 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by kitcat at 1:17 PM on May 2, 2017
Okay I used the oast of the Banana Boat today and it was still in the wastebasket. Active ingredients are titanium dioxide 3.1%, zinc oxide 4%, no chemical ingredients to compromise the longevity of cover nor to stain your clothing.
The tube is pink and the exact product name is Banana Boat Baby uva/uvb protection sunscreen lotion broad spectrum spf 50.
With a 25% extra bonus the quantity was 10 fl oz/295 ml.
I don't remember how much I paid but the point of my buying it in the US was to avoid the extortionate cost of buying it in the UK.
posted by tel3path at 1:19 PM on May 2, 2017
The tube is pink and the exact product name is Banana Boat Baby uva/uvb protection sunscreen lotion broad spectrum spf 50.
With a 25% extra bonus the quantity was 10 fl oz/295 ml.
I don't remember how much I paid but the point of my buying it in the US was to avoid the extortionate cost of buying it in the UK.
posted by tel3path at 1:19 PM on May 2, 2017
Response by poster: Oh, and I was wrong about the price of Blue Lizard. On amazon.ca it's $36 for 8.75oz(259ml). So that's pretty freaking pricey.
posted by kitcat at 1:22 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by kitcat at 1:22 PM on May 2, 2017
We've found Blue Lizard is best for sport/waterproof needs, ThinkBaby for everyday and Alba Botannica for a budget pick (we just leave one in the car in case someone forgets to put their sunscreen on). You should check Iherb pricing if you haven't yet; sometimes they beat out Amazon.
posted by givennamesurname at 1:23 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by givennamesurname at 1:23 PM on May 2, 2017
My brother is very into sun protection (wears UV-protection clothes, etc) and uses Blue Lizard. Tropical sun is much stronger than what you are used to in Canada. If I were only buying for a vacation, I would use Blue Lizard and then find something cheaper for everyday.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:45 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:45 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
$36 for almost nine ounces is actually quite a good price, not crazy expensive at all! Truly. Nine ounces (or nearly that) is a lot of product. For reference, I just bought a three ounce tube (85 g) today for 13 USD, in NYC.
posted by holborne at 2:03 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by holborne at 2:03 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Side Note as an Australian living in the USA Blue Lizard Sunscreen isn't in anyway Australian except for the fact it is made to Australian standards which are the highest in the world apparently. Having said that despite it's bad luck to not have been Australian it is a very good product & my preferred sunscreen while in the USA and I would highly recommend it as being worth the money.
Irrelevant side note to the side note - Aussie shampoo and conditioner aren't Australian either.
posted by wwax at 2:18 PM on May 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
Irrelevant side note to the side note - Aussie shampoo and conditioner aren't Australian either.
posted by wwax at 2:18 PM on May 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50 Lotion, 6 Fluid Ounce, a little over a dollar an ounce, at Amazon. It's a "mineral-based zinc oxide formula". Just got a list from a dermatologist, and this one is the price:performance winner.
posted by the Real Dan at 2:59 PM on May 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by the Real Dan at 2:59 PM on May 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Banana Boat Baby is the only one I've found that I'm willing to use enough of to make it a good sunscreen option. I buy the 12oz pump version and it's great.
One thing to consider that I used to resort to is using a more expensive physical sunscreen for my face and cheap chemical for my body, because on my face the chemical stings and makes me cry, but it doesn't seem to bother my arms or legs really.
posted by Salamandrous at 5:34 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
One thing to consider that I used to resort to is using a more expensive physical sunscreen for my face and cheap chemical for my body, because on my face the chemical stings and makes me cry, but it doesn't seem to bother my arms or legs really.
posted by Salamandrous at 5:34 PM on May 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
I like Trukid sunscreen, https://www.amazon.com/TruKid-Sunny-Daily-Sunscreen-Lotion/dp/B003CHMS4O. Who cares that it's marketed for kids? It works.
posted by superfish at 6:31 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by superfish at 6:31 PM on May 2, 2017
Best answer: I am very pale and I have tested Coppertone Water Babies camping, on the beach in Mexico etc., and am very pleased with it. very good for water exposure/sweating.
looks like $12-15 for 8 oz.
posted by supermedusa at 7:05 PM on May 2, 2017
looks like $12-15 for 8 oz.
posted by supermedusa at 7:05 PM on May 2, 2017
Best answer: If the OP is looking for physical barrier sunscreen then the most affordable option recommended by the skincare reddit looks like Banana Boat kids.
posted by caek at 7:19 PM on May 2, 2017
I don't remember how much I paid but the point of my buying it in the US was to avoid the extortionate cost of buying it in the UK.I say this as an extremely pale British guy now living in the US: this is wrong. The last time the FDA approved a new ingredient in sunscreen was 15 years ago. Modern non-physical barrier sunscreens using Tinosorb and Mexoryl are widely available in Europe and Japan, and cheaper, less irritating and far more effective in UVA protection than anything available here except grey market imports. There are entire reddits available to discussing the high end cosmetics options and where to get them. Meanwhile, in the UK, you can walk in to the equivalent of a CVS and get a pint of the stuff for the beach for under $10. Boots, for example, sell Tinosorb (which they brand as Soltan), which thanks to the FDA, is better than what you can get at store in the US and have done for many years.
posted by caek at 7:19 PM on May 2, 2017
We use banana boat for kids in our house. It's great, go for it.
posted by Toddles at 9:12 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by Toddles at 9:12 PM on May 2, 2017
Yes, but physical-only sunscreens are nearly impossible to find in the UK and Banana Boat is very expensive here. That's why I stocked up in the US.
posted by tel3path at 11:06 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by tel3path at 11:06 PM on May 2, 2017
I'm allergic to chemical sunscreens. I have a family history of deaths from melanoma. I'm extremely pale and have sensitive skin. I use and recommend Banana Boat baby sunscreen. I used it in Haiti with great effect. I also use it at home in the mid-Atlantic US.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 11:42 PM on May 2, 2017
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 11:42 PM on May 2, 2017
While there are many good chemical sunscreens readily available in the UK, only a few are without oxybenzone. As well, chemical sunscreens take time to bind to the skin and they break down over time.
With physical sunblock you can just slap it on and go outside. You can put it on your face if you need to (I use a facial sunscreen with zinc oxide but also chemicals, since it is the best i've found). It only stops protecting if it rubs off, which of course can happen, but it doesn't break down over time, because it's made of rocks. If you're an acne sufferer who finds they aren't clogged by zinc oxide, then the zinc will lavish your skin with tender loving care.
No stains, no waiting time, no toxicity to any coral reefs in your neighborhood, no breakouts. Any questions? Of course not. It's zinc oxide.
And can you get it in the UK? Ha ha ha no. Because that would be too easy!
What you can get in the UK is Sudocrem nappy rash cream. As long as it's fresh the quality of suspension will be good. The problem is it's a thick white paste so is hard to work with. Some say the lavender is cytotoxic. But in a pinch that's what I'd use.
posted by tel3path at 2:18 AM on May 3, 2017
With physical sunblock you can just slap it on and go outside. You can put it on your face if you need to (I use a facial sunscreen with zinc oxide but also chemicals, since it is the best i've found). It only stops protecting if it rubs off, which of course can happen, but it doesn't break down over time, because it's made of rocks. If you're an acne sufferer who finds they aren't clogged by zinc oxide, then the zinc will lavish your skin with tender loving care.
No stains, no waiting time, no toxicity to any coral reefs in your neighborhood, no breakouts. Any questions? Of course not. It's zinc oxide.
And can you get it in the UK? Ha ha ha no. Because that would be too easy!
What you can get in the UK is Sudocrem nappy rash cream. As long as it's fresh the quality of suspension will be good. The problem is it's a thick white paste so is hard to work with. Some say the lavender is cytotoxic. But in a pinch that's what I'd use.
posted by tel3path at 2:18 AM on May 3, 2017
Response by poster: So the winners of the thread are:
posted by kitcat at 9:30 AM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
- Blue Lizard
- Coppertone Sensitive or Water Babies
- Banana Boat Babies or Kids
posted by kitcat at 9:30 AM on May 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
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