What's your favorite sunblock?

July 9, 2018 11:51 AM

I'm on the hunt for a new sunblock that is a lotion you rub on and not oily or scented. Any recommendations?

A couple years ago in Spain I found the best sunblock I've ever used: Garnier Delial Ambre Solaire SPF 50+. I'm in the US and just ran out of that bottle, and I can't find a place to buy it easily. It is on amazon, but very expensive and possibly with a long shipping time. What I like most about this particular sunblock is that it's really smooth when it goes on without a oily or greasy feeling, and it is easy to rub in quickly.

I absolutely hate spray sunblocks and whenever I just grab a high SPF sunblock lotion from CVS, I end up with something that's pretty greasy feeling or quickly starts burning my eyes (from sweat running down my forehead).

What are your favorites?

posted by msbrauer to Health & Fitness (29 answers total)

Response by poster: I did see this previous question, but it's a few years old and many of the links don't work or the products are out of stock and possibly discontinued.
posted by msbrauer at 11:52 AM on July 9, 2018

Neutrogena has several of that type. Here's an example.
posted by JimN2TAW at 12:06 PM on July 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

I like this Ombrelle one
posted by Ftsqg at 12:10 PM on July 9, 2018

I’ve tried SO many and spent a lot only to feel it looks oily or makes my foundation look waxy and pale. OR it looks fine but doesn’t seem to protect that well. I have quite severe pigmentation on my forehead and sometimes despite wearing sunblock I can get darker within an afternoon... I’m now VERY happy with Reimann 50- it’s a Spray but I spray it on my hand and then apply to my face. LOVE it!
posted by catspajammies at 12:13 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

Not sure if the ingredients would be exactly the same for the US market (because sometimes regulations differ) but (here in Canada) I just discovered IDÉAL SOLEIL ANTI-SHINE DRY TOUCH LOTION SPF60, and it’s hands down the best sunscreen I’ve used so far - it’s matte, looks good under makeup if you wear makeup, offers great sun protection, I love it.
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:16 PM on July 9, 2018

Neutrogena has several of that type

Seconding Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch suncreen.
posted by fuse theorem at 12:19 PM on July 9, 2018 [5 favorites]

That Garnier cream you mention is my favourite sun cream in the UK (that and Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Anti-imperfection Sun Cream).

I don't know much about what is available in the US, but I've used and LOVED (and now miss because we don't get them here in the UK) Neutrogena, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Suncreen SPF 55 and Banana Boat Ultra Defense Sheer Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30. The Banana Boat one is fragrance free and a body one but I've used it on my face (needed to rub it in a bit but no white cast and very moisturising). The Neutrogena one has a very faint smell, no white cast and very moisturising as well.

EDIT: Didn't see previous posters had recommended Neutrogena too ha!
posted by dostoevskygirl at 12:28 PM on July 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

Agreeing that of drug-store types Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is the best/least greasy option.

If budget isnt a concern i really like Jan Marini brand, which comes in either 33 or 45 SPR but costs an arm and a leg (two places i wont ever use it because i need more than i can afford, so i basically treat the JM stuff as a face option and stretch it by using cheaper products for the rest of my body.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:28 PM on July 9, 2018

That Neutrogena Ultra Sheer got me up Kilimanjaro last winter, with no burns (except on my lips because I forgot to sunscreen my lips on summit day -- learn from my mistakes!).
posted by suelac at 12:30 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

They're not cheap, but La Roche-Posay's Anthelios products are really nice--the Clear Skin Face Sunscreen is my favorite facial sunscreen.

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil Free UV Protector is closer to a liquid than a lotion, but is also very nice.
posted by box at 12:34 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

I've tried many different ones. Most didn't work well with my foundation. Although it's marketed to men, Jack Black's is hands down the best ever. I can even use it down the part of my hair and it isn't greasy.
posted by crw at 12:34 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love Biore Watery Essence so much. It's a Japanese drugstore brand, so you have to order it from Amazon and it can take a while to get here, but it is the holy grail of sunscreens: not sticky and absorbs super fast. It has a lot of alcohol in it, so it's probably not great if you have sensitive skin, but I don't, so I love it.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:38 PM on July 9, 2018 [10 favorites]

I like the CVS baby sunblock.
posted by zizzle at 12:41 PM on July 9, 2018

I'm obsessed with everything Supergoop does. It sounds like their Everyday Sunscreen would best suit your needs best, although I personally love their Super Power Sunscreen Mousse and will be distraught if they ever discontinue it.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 12:49 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

I also hate oily or greasy sunscreen and am seconding ftsqg's suggestion of Ombrelle, it's fantastic. They also have a version for your face that's even lighter.
posted by DTMFA at 12:52 PM on July 9, 2018

My pale self swears by Blue Lizard Sport and Face.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:57 PM on July 9, 2018

I'm fond of the Neutrogena 100 SPF sunblock. No greasy feeling at all, and I can't stand greasy sensations.
posted by Making You Bored For Science at 1:11 PM on July 9, 2018

I also love Japanese Biore Watery Essence. It's the only sunscreen I can really stand.
posted by desuetude at 1:21 PM on July 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

Seconding Blue Lizard's line of sunblock. Not greasy, no fragrance, and rubs in easily.
posted by BeHereNow at 1:21 PM on July 9, 2018

Vigorously thirding Biore Watery Essence -- not greasy, doesn't upset my finicky skin, very effective.

American sunscreens are technologically behind their counterparts in Europe and Asia. You can get better/more effective products outside the US, though they may contain compounds not approved by the FDA. Environmental Working Group has a discussion here.
posted by apparently at 1:58 PM on July 9, 2018

Considerable cheaper than the above mentioned sunblocks, but personally acceptable to me, is the REI house brand. When they run out of the house brand, they also sell it in its original label form (they are identical except for the name) and it is called Sawyer sunscreen then. Factor in that a man is making this recommendation, that I wear sunscreen every day and that many days include outside physical labor, that I put it one right after I shower so it also acts as a moisturizer for me, and that I do not have to worry about my sunscreen playing nice with makeup. Of course your mileage may vary. I have tried and love the European sunscreens-- they do contain more effective ingredients that are currently prohibited in the USA, but I can't justify the cost of paying what third party importers charge for bringing them into this country when I can get by with good old REI. I've used it almost every day for more than ten years. I'm 50 and people often think I am in my early 30s.
posted by seasparrow at 2:25 PM on July 9, 2018

FWIW the Biore watery essence above did set off my sensitive skin; Mr. Nat is using it fine though. I have been using the Biore Face Milk instead and my skin is happier with that— it is just like the European ones though, in that you have to pay more to get it shipped here, because those ingredients aren’t available in the US.
posted by nat at 2:48 PM on July 9, 2018

My dermatologist recommended Solbar zinc (affordable and on Amazon) and I’ve been using it ever since. Great protection, non-greasy, unscented and with no white cast.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 4:18 PM on July 9, 2018

I really like Elta MD UV Clear. It's pricey though, so I only use on my face/neck, and use a cheaper sunscreen on the rest of my body. I recently got Banana Boat Simply Protect Sport, and I like it.
posted by radioamy at 5:16 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Wow! Thanks for all the responses everyone. It'll take me a while to look through all of these. Much appreciated!
posted by msbrauer at 5:26 PM on July 9, 2018

A dermatologist recommended Ocean Potion to me once, and I've never really found one better (although coincidentally, I did use your abovementioned Garnier Ambre Solaire one in France just recently, and liked it a lot.) The Ocean Potion clear sunblock for the face is excellent.
posted by Morpeth at 10:59 PM on July 9, 2018

Absolutely support giving Biore Watery Essence a go. Not greasy, not opaque, not weirdly smelly, doesn't make my eyes sting, and though there's a lot of alcohol in it, it seems to be less bad for my skin than the common oily American sunscreens. The only downside is that like your Spanish sunscreen, it'll take a while to arrive via some Amazon reseller.

(Note though that this is for shorter stints - e.g. a bike commute. I would probably consider switching to a physical sunscreen for an extended stay outside, because I am super pale and the sun hates me.)
posted by ubersturm at 11:18 PM on July 9, 2018

N-thing Biore Watery Essence. The Amazon price isn't usually too bad compared to purchasing it in Japan. I don't even notice I'm wearing suncreen after application, unlike most other suncreens I've tried.. where I can still smell it and want to scrub that other stuff off after I'm out of the sun.
posted by Seboshin at 12:22 PM on July 10, 2018

> (Note though that this is for shorter stints - e.g. a bike commute. I would probably consider switching to a physical sunscreen for an extended stay outside, because I am super pale and the sun hates me.)

I am also super duper pale, and can vouch that the Biore Water Essence holds up decently well for extended all-day-outside use, as long as you're not doing something active/seriously sweaty enough to rub it off.
posted by desuetude at 7:33 AM on July 11, 2018