For all the delicate flowers.

Or as my brother told me once "if I exposed you to direct sunlight, you'd turn to dust, dude."

Nothing but love and respect from that boy, nothing but love and respect.

It turns out there were 5 not 6 (the sixth bottle was a gift with purchase cleanser from RoC.  I love me a gift with purchase.  You should see my new Vichy knitting bag).  The fifth bottle is a small SPF 20 facial fluid from Vichy and still in my purse.

The Roc and Vichy I was able to try in the store, the Ombrelle and Aveeno I bought untested, but have tried since.

The Ombrelle is a pump spray and goes on clear.  It claims to be odor and dye free, and sweat and water proof.  Active ingredients:  3% Parsol 1789, 10% Oxcrylene, 6% Oxybenzone, 5% Octisalate.  No smell that I could perceive, dried fast, didn't sting and may very well be available here, as none of those are the non FDA improved ingredients.  It leaves faint residue on the skin, but not a bothersome one.

The Aveeno is a clear aerosol spray which I am not loving.  It went on clear, but it has a very strong baby powder-ish scent - can't quite place it, but it has been in my bathroom before.  It stung for a minute and the scent lingers.  The active ingrediants are similar to the Ombrelle, with the addition of Homosalate 15%: Parsol 1789  3%, Oxcrylene 2.35%, Oxybenzone 6%, Octisalate 5%.

The Vichy Capital Soleil 30 is what I wore all day today - its a cream for face and body, goes on white, absorbs quickly and leaves no sticky residue.  The first sunblock I've worn all day without thinking about.  It had a very faint scent that dispersed quickly, so fast I never got a handle on it.  Active ingredients Octocrylene 10%, Titanium Dioxide 3.3 %, Parsol 1789 3%, Drometrizole Trisiloxan (Mexoryl XL) 1.5%, Terephalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (Mexoryl SX) 1%. 
Its only been a day, so no promises, yes?  But I will mention it if any sensitivity builds up.

The last one is from RoC: Ultra High Protection Suncare Spray Lotion SPF60.  I like the application - a pump spray of a thin white lotion, it doesn't spray coat, it puddles and must be rubbed in.  But it disappears quickly and I wore the sample for a day without noticing any sting or reaction.  Again, I'll be trying it out and I will let you know if any sensitivity develops.   The active ingredients are ....completely covered by the security sticker, which I cannot get off.  So I dunno what to tell you.  The proprietary ingredient is Tinosord M+S and the lotion has glycerin and Vitamin E, that much I can read.

Gotta go wash my arm - that Aveeno smell and sting is not dispersing.

Oh, and the skein in the middle is the Dream In Color Cloud Jungle.   I loooove it.  Trying desperately to finish something so I can justify beginning Laura's Vino Cardigan.

Comments

[lanea]

My skin is all a-cringe at the thought of trying all of those sunscreens. Can't we get a royal tester clone around here? Please? I started reacting to all of my sunscreen at the end of vacation--suxxors.

[alison]

Okay de-lurking, as I turn bright red when the sun shines. I'm not sure any input I can give would be much help on products as I live in the UK but Ambre-Solaire is probably the best I've used. However I've alway found the best sunblock to be a floppy hat.

[Anne]

I vote for Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-touch unblock as well. They also make a Healthy Defense daily moisturizer with 30 SPF that is great.

[Marcy]

I wish I did turn to dust! Me I turn red and blister and peel if I so much as walk by a window. I always thought it was unfair that I should have the skin of a redhead without also getting the red hair. Thanks for the research for the pale population.

[Lene]

From one severely delicate flower to another: thanks for being a guineapig. I have a ridiculous sensitivity to scent and chemicals, need sunscreen and had given up finding one I could use. You've given me a place to start.

[Kathy]

Another vote for Neutrogena UltraDry 45. Wonderful stuff for those of us who happen to be part mole.

[The Other Kristen]

Whoa. Hot topic. (Pun slightly intended.) I am a brunette, but I have super-light skin (in any given foundation line, the lightest shade is what I need, if it's not too dark). Have you tried Blue Lizard? It is an entirely physical, rather than chemical, sunblock, and it is the first stuff I've ever found that will not make my face break out--and it even makes my makeup go on better, oddly enough. It also protects brilliantly. I use the sport formula, which is SPF 30+ and waterproof, as my recent beach trip proved. It is hard to find in US stores (I first got it at my local Wegman's, but they stopped carrying it), but drugstore.com has it in many formulas and sizes, included sub-3-oz.-bottles for air travel.

[Laurie]

Thank you! I'll have to look up those alien ingredients to see what's what.

[Allyson]

I too burn easily. This summer I found Neutrogena UltraDry 45. Liking it so far, no sting, no breakouts, light fragrance but no obvious sunscreen smell. I loved the Bain de Soleil active version but I have not been able to find it for the past few years.

[jillian]

P.S. Not to sound like a pusher, but DHC will send free samples.

[jillian]

Alrighty - I have to delurk on this one! I have rosacea and am so pale I practically glow in the dark. I have tried every sunscreen on the market, and had settled on Neutrogena "dry", I think it was.

For skin care, I owe my left arm to my sister for introducing me to DHC products (www.dhccare.com). Every single of the many products I have used does exactly what it says it will and without an adverse reaction to my skin.

In particular, a few months back they introduced a new line of sunscreens called Suncut. I love, love, love them. Absolutely no smell, goes on in a thin layer, soaks right in, and leaves a neutral finish (not shiny and not matte either). It doesn't turn oily and hasn't made my face break out. I put my make up right over it without a worry. I can't say enough good things. Just wish it came in bigger bottles. I tried the White Sunscreen once but I didn't like the smell. It worked great though!

Sorry for the long comment. I almost never meet others who have heard of DHC, and they are such incredible products.

[Chris]

It's nice to hear of others who share my sensitivity woes... I've been using the Neutrogena Oil-Free 45 for a few years. Makes me shiny, but so far, so good on not reacting to it. What do you use to wash your face? I've been using Zia Skin Basics Aloe & Citrus Wash, which I love (very light citrus scent that disperses), but they just reformulated it and now it has twice the ingredients. UGH.

[Marin]

Red-headed knitters the world over await your final verdict with bated breath.*

And want to welcome you home with one hand and steal your Cloud Jungle with the other.

*Face. The face is hard for me because of the running-in-the-eyes thing. I sweat like a stevedore and "sport" sunblocks that claim to cling tenaciously to the face while avoiding the eyes mostly just cling tenaciously to the eyes once they get there. In my experience.

[claudia]

That Vino is extra cute, and will look more than fabulous on you, you delicate flower.

[Romi]

Ooooh. Love the yarn.

Have you tried Coppertone sports gel? It hardly has any smell to it at all and it dries really nicely. And comes in high spfs. I love the stuff. :)

[Rachel]

Thanks for the reviews. I burn easily and have a red haired daughter with fairer skin then mine. I bought sunscreen but rarely use it because it is a pain to apply (the consistancy of toothpaste). We don't go outside for very long much to her dismay. I do like the oil of olay senstive skin facial moisturizer with 15 spf. I think they have it in 30 spf but haven't looked as I still have half a bottle. I have found that few frangrance free are truely fragrance free, just not strong fragrance (they say it is to cover the smell of the ingredients).
The aveeno daily moisturizer fragrance free doesn't have any scent but everything else from aveeno stinks to high heaven. Which is too bad because the radient lotion really reduces the visiablity of spider veins.

[colleen]

The Vichy and the Ombrelle both sound like possibilities, as does the Athelios.

About 20 years ago I used the Neutrogena sunblock. It worked (but stung the face a bit) but was super greasy and hard to apply (imagine trying to smear your body with a thin, even, coat of toothpaste). Maybe it's changed since then.

[regina]

My doctor recommended a sunscreen for me called Anthelios. At the time, the main ingredient in it, Meroxyl, wasn't approved by the FDA, so I had to buy it from one of the two NYC shops that carry it, and it was insanely expensive. Now it's FDA approved, so the price has gone down considerably and it's the best sunscreen I've ever used. It comes in different formulations -- there are creamy ones and a very light, milky one for the face, etc. They're completely fragrance free and I don't have any reaction to them (i have very sensitive skin and mild rosacea, so I have to be really vigilant about what i put on my face). Maybe one of them will work for you?

[Dr. Steph]

Love that yarn. Still in colour-catatonia about what shade to make my vino in.

I'm ditching my oil of olay facial lotion with sunscreen and I'm interested in the results of your tests.

[Mary Lou]

keep us posted on these -- it's heartening to know I'm not the only one who can't use most sunscreens. And I am fish belly white. Also, let us know if any of them make you break out like a teenager...

[Kim]

What is it with Aveeno and the smelly "fragrance free" deal??

I'm going to try the Vichy. I really need to find a non-sticky sunblock. Thanks for the info!

[Katy]

I tried the Aveeno spray this summer and I hated the smell, too. If I sprayed my arms & legs in an enclosed space then I almost got asphyxiated! I did like the Aveeno baby block sunblock for an all over body cover, but not for my face. Will have to try to find the Ombrelle.
And the yarn is gorgeous!

[Gina]

Thank you for the info!

[Lee Ann]

Thank you thank you thank you. I think you're right, the Ombrelle is available in the States, but when I was last down there, it wasn't widely available. Also, it seemed to fly off the shelves. It was recommended to me (the sensitive skin one) for little person, who is whiter than me, if that is even possible.

That Dream In Color stuff is incredible, eh? That was the first shelf I lunged for in Lettuce Knit this summer. You're going to be stunning in the Vino. But dude, don't drink the blue-green wine, okay?

[liz]

I'm trying to find an SPF 15 body lotion that I can wear on a daily basis. I tan rather than turn to dust, however I want something that provides a light barrier. All I can ever find is sunscreen rather than a body lotion with sunblock in it. If they can make if for your face, why can't they make it for your body at a reasonable cost?