Let's talk sunblock

[kdabbler]

I need to restock for the season. Tell me a about your favorites.

What do you all know about Mexitan?
What's wrong or good about Trader Joe's?
UV Natural?
Any others?

I'm looking for something that's inexpensive yet still natural. I bought some sunscreen from Whole Foods last year but dh hated it. It wasn't UV Natural, I don't remember the brand. But it smelled a bit like yogurt so I have to agree with dh. I settled on Trader Joe brand only because it was so much cheaper. I need to get three bottles: one for each kid for daycare and one for the family.

[nora--not a llama]

This is by far my favorite all natural sunscreen:
http://uncommonscents.com/Badger-Sun...-p/bd46031.htm

It also comes in a SPF30. A little goes a long way with this too, so it lasts for quite a while. It also goes on really smoothly for a natural sunscreen, which is important to me as I also have to provide sunscreen for daycare. And I think it smells really good too.

[delly]

Someone told me they liked Mexitan- can't remember if it was here or on TBW forums, but I haven't tried it myself yet. I might though. I was a little perplexed that no one talks about it and yet everyone talks about California Baby and UV Natural etc, so I was wondering if the lack of chatter about it meant something, or if it was just below the radar...
I haven't tried Badger sunscreen but I bought their bug repellent last year and we simply couldn't use it - it was SO strong smelling. Almost made me ill. I may be overly sensitive but that's just my $.02. The sunscreen may not be strong smelling because it's not using essential oils to repel bugs, though - I just haven't gotten over my experience with the repellent so I haven't bought anything else by that brand.

[macimom]

I used the Mexitan last year and I found it to be really difficult to apply...you had to do it very quickly or it became clumpy and hard to spread.

I just got some Badger, have not used it yet, but it smells great.

HTH!

[Semi_Crunchy]

Thats what I came in looking for. In my area I've not been able to find any natural sunscreen and I'm in a larger city for the weekend and would like to pick some up before going home. I'd love to hear about Trader Joe's brand as they recently put one in...of course they did that right as I moved out of the area lol

[Toolip]

I'm sort of a sunscreen snob. My dad had metastatic melanoma so I am very diligent about sunscreen and staying out of the sun in general (wearing hats and whatnot). I'm always looking for new sunscreens (that use physical sun block) and I just discovered Juice beauty organic sunscreen but it is really for your face. It isn't perfect but it's the best I have for now. The kind I LOVED for my face, I just found out has micronized minerals and I just can't bring myself to use it I'd love to know what other people use

Anyway... my FAVORITE for all over sunscreen is Alba sport 30+. It's kind of spendy but I love it. It isn't greasy like many of the natural sunscreens are (like dr hauschka) and it kept me totally white after 10 days on the beach in Mexico, not even one tan line! It isn't a "natural" as some but it does use physical sunblocks (zinc and titanium dioxide, for example) and doesn't have micronized minerals. It is very similar to good conventional sunscreens in texture and smell without so much bad stuff.

I also LOVE colorscience powdered sunscreen. It is expensive but lasts forever and is amazing. All it is made of is powdered titanium dioxide and it is water resistant and SPF 30. It's really cool because you can put it on you part and eye lids and it never runs or stings. I usually put it on over a liquid sunscreen for double duty.

Even though I use sunscreen, I'm not entirely sure that it is protecting us from the parts of the sun's radiation that are bad for us (as in, it stops you from burning, which is supposed to be your warning to get out of the sun, but you are still soaking in whatever it is that is giving us all skin cancer). I just have to mention it, melanoma is a nasty, nasty thing.

[janasmama]

I like Alba sunscreen also. I just ordered some Weleda sunscreen for kids from www.saffronrouge.com I don't see why an adult couldn't use it though.

I haven't used it but I love all of weleda's products so I'm sure I will love this one to.

[dharmamama]

I don't know how "natural" TJ's sunblock is, but I do know that we used it all last summer and we didn't get tanned at all.

dm

[kdabbler]

Thanks everyone. You know, for $3.99/bottle. Trader Joe's is by far the cheapest. For the cost of one of the other brands, I can buy personal bottles for each of the family.

Still would like to know how natural it is though.

[Toolip]

Can you post a list of the ingredients in the TJ's sunscreen? I'm just curious.

I can't seem to find them online. It sounds like a good deal, I might have to stock up next time I'm near Trader Joe's