Northern California Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Sun screen or sun block recs?
I'm in need of a new bottle/tube of sun screen or sun block, but Consumer Report and EWG are rating the products differently...
Which sun screen or sun block are you using?
Re: Sun screen or sun block recs?
As far as I know, Consumer Report doesn't take environmental impact or health concerns into account in its sunscreen ratings (someone correct me on this if I'm wrong). I've definitely been following the EWG recommendations.
We now only use the unscented California Baby 30 spf sunscreen. It's pricey but I don't mind considering all the scary *** I've read recently about conventional sunscreens. My husband, who has had bad skin reactions to Neutrogena and other drugstore brands, loves the California Baby stuff.
We also have a bottle of Badger sunscreen at home. It's also rated well by EWG but some people (like my picky husband!) don't like it because it doesn't rub in all that well. I read somewhere that the idea is that it stays on top of your skin as opposed to being absorbed.
And another Nestie recently recommended Elta MD brand, the 45 spf UV shield. Haven't tried it myself but she swears by it.
The EWG is an American environmental organization that specializes in toxic chemicals research. They released their list of recommended sunscreens for 2011. And so did Consumer Reports. But their results were quite different.
From what I read, CR evaluated the products based on their feel and smell, and focused more on real-life conditions. EWG, on the other hand, focused more in the ingredients and tested many more products, so their listing was more comprehensive.
As for what?s scary about sunscreens: according to some studies, a lot of them are actually not effective or safe. Some also contain chemicals that penetrate into the skin and could actually increase the risk of cancer.
Women's Health magazine had this a few months ago:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/sunscreens
I don't know. I'm looking for some good ones as well...
I can tell you what NOT to get. I tried Trader Joe's 30spf and I HATE it. It's sticky and doesn't absorb in the skin. I got a goopy layer of lotion all over me that ended up getting all over my clothes, car, etc, etc.
I'm glad you asked because I'm interested in everyone's suggestions.
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i should add that if it gets worse than a 3, we don't use it. (not just sunscreen - you've only got the one body, right?)
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
To confuse matters even more, the FDA just announced new rules that will take affect next year (here) that say that generally everything over 50 spf is pretty much the same, that there's really no such thing as waterproof sunblock and that sunblocks need to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
From a personal preference standpoint, I use Aveeno. Both their Positively Radiant face moisturizer with sunblock (sometimes hard to find the 30 spf, 15 is more common) and the Aveeno continuous protection body lotion sunblock. They both absorb well and are non greasy (for sunblock). I'm prone to those little white bumps around my eyes from heavy moisturizers clogging up my skin and after trying multiple brands, Aveeno gives me the fewest of them.
Oh, and I bought a Mary Kay sunblock once that was pleasant smelling and not too greasy, but I can't remember the level of protection.
Does anyone know why ones with high ratings have them? I'm kind of surprised at one of mine, but I don't see anywhere where it tells me why it has that rating. I'd like to decide for myself whether it's bs or not. Unless I'm totally missing it...
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It's in the baby section, which is probably why you haven't seen it. I believe Target has it.
Yes, Target now carries it. I usually get it either at my local natural grocery store or at Whole Foods. You can also get it online on Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, or straight from the California Baby web site. Just be prepared for sticker shock...
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We use Aveeno, Neutragena, and CA Baby. It all depends on what part of the body and who it is being used on. EJ and I use the same because my skin is crazy bad and I have to be careful as to what I put on my body since my skin will crack open and peel off and all that kind of crap. Overly sensitive skin sucks.
DH mostly uses the neutragena spray kind since he doesnt have much time when reapplying at work and needing to put it on his head (through hair). (not the ones listed on the site)
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
I bought one of the CA Baby ones and it made us white until I finally got it rubbed in enough to make us purple. I know I've only got one body but I'd rather not be purple.
I also read something about how you need at least 2 oz for your body and need to reapply every couple hours, so I also don't want anything that needs to be rubbed in for 20 min every time I apply.
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For everyday use, look for a face moisturizer with a high spf. So much easier to deal with than the straight sunblock. I use the face moisturizer from Aveeno most of the time and put the heavy duty stuff on my chest and arms each day. If I know I'm going to be out in the sun a long time I'll use the heavy duty stuff on my face, but it's not possible to do that every day. My makeup would slide off and my skin would be a wreck. Just curious, do you get milia, those little white dots often around the eyes? That's been my biggest problem with sunblocks being too heavy.
For myself, I have really liked the Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch. I like how it goes on and rubs in...it just has some ingredients that didn't look ideal for Q.
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