2/3/2023 Prompted by a big acne break out and thinking this is not what I expected at 38. First I hunted for local dermatologists. Then I hunted Reddit for suggestions on what dermatologists would typically recommend for me. I don't use a ton of makeup, but I am looking for a solid sunscreen-- possibly tinted to be foundationy, possibly water resistant given the pool situation-- that doesn't cause break outs. Maybe eventually I'll figure out other cosmetics to add occasional "oomph" without break out consequences, but for now it seems that mascara is enough of a kick. Reddit also suggested that perhaps my experiment making InstantPot yogurt to compete with our Brown Cow habit might have been to blame. The first batch wasn't so obviously superior that I felt I could pawn it off on DH in good conscience, so I was eating it in quantity, mixing it into frozen yogurt and I've strayed more toward plant-based oatmilks and maybe the occasional cheese. Evidently milk can throw your hormones out of whack even if you spring for the organic grass fed options?
So any rate, if I'm going to be working with a derm, why not at least trial the super expensive sunscreens Redditors suggest for mature acne prone skin? They don't make samples easy to come by and I felt a bit conflicted about buying them on eBay with their "not labeled for resale" packaging and who knows how much original product in there, but cheaper than dropping $150 on full bottles of stuff I might not even go through.
Cerave Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen-- this was my default because the Cerave cleansers and to some extent lotions seemed to be the least irritating and also budget friendly. I've since moved to just using vaseline as a lotion. But when I put in the sunscreen, I notice some volcanoes starting to errupt on my nose and jaw line before end of day. Hold over from the dairy project or something else? EWG 2 (if same formulation as baby) $7.81/oz. Titanium dioxide 5.5% Zinc oxide 10%
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion-- I liked that this had waterproof properties and Redditors suggested "Japanese" product lines are less irritating, I was more interested in the wet force, but this was the most common listing on eBay. This is the first thing I trialed (2/3/2023). EWG 8. $8.38/oz . avobenzone 2.3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 5%
Shiseido Wetforce Cream -- I wonder why it is so much more expensive/oz... $19.83/oz...I thought I was getting both from eBay samples, but they both came back as SPLotions.
Hero force Shield Super Light-- Redditors suggested blueish tint might actually help with correcting break out redness... EWG 2. $11.83/oz. zinc oxide 17.53%
Elta MD UV Clear/Tinted-- Reddit's most-replied and upvoted option for my situation, but very expensive. I also sprung for the tinted version. EWG 4. $22.91-$25.29/oz. zinc oxide 9%. octinoxate 7.5%
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk-- this has very favorable Amazon reviews and my Polish penpal was excited to try it. My trial version was refunded by seller, so this might be a late entry if I don't find something I love in the first wave. Water resistant. EWG 6. $8.33/oz avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octicrylene 7%. Also a tinted water resistant 11% titanium dioxide version at $18.35/fluid oz EWG 4.
Also Paula's choice resist is tinted, $18.50/oz. 13% zinc oxide (similar to hero force shield but with tint vs blueish).
Shiseido ultimate sun protection lotion-- first day: has fragrance, goes on very sheer. Had some dry flaky skin in normal places. day 2: tried to add my contour coverage sticks and mascara-- angry skin in a couple hours on nose where contoured. washed it off, covered in vaseline, seemed to calm down, contour sticks are on notice. Don't hate the fragrance, but would prefer unscented. Ended up buying 2 of the same thing with slightly different bottle branding from eBay... (2/20) finished 1 bottle and onto the next, but this one is in delayed luggage. Verdict so far-- don't love. The fragrance is too strong to combine with planned fragrances. It dries down really sheer and I like that it is water proof, but finding that the break out I started with persisted in more microbreak outs while wearing. I tried to attribute it to travel and changed skin routine/wearing mask for a day/eating more sugar and dairy indiscriminately, but even then, when I took 2 days off from wearing and kept all else pretty equal, my skin improved.
Hero (2/20) first application-- I think the blue tint redness reduction is a gimmick that means I definitely couldn't slather this on in the dark and assume it was blended without a mirror check. I like that this sample had a seal I had to remove. Also like that it has no fragrance. 2/28-- still pretty happy with this, a bit chalky and drying (or was that the time in the new pool?) and I'm not sure the blue does much good, but prefer to Shiseido.
Elta MD (3/2, 3/3)-- ok, these are in little packets that are generous pours. Tried tinted first, thinking the color is a bit dark for my skin tone, but workable and end result looked "better" than the hero tint reduction, more even coverage (though blowing my nose, a lot of "brown" came off with the kleenex). Smell is of sunscreen and with the heavy application, felt it migrate and sting my eyes a little bit during swim school monitoring. I sat in the sun quite a bit this first day (after a retinol treatment the night before) and had a little bit of red leathery neck the next day, but mostly in the places I hadn't spread sunscreen as heavily, so I don't think this was an lotion-specific irritation. I used clear the next day-- slightly higher SPF. Otherwise, seems to be a similar thing. All else equal, I would take the tinted which allows me to feel more "put together" in one step. I probably wouldn't apply quite as heavily as the single serve packets. If price were no option, I might get both and mix them to lighten the tint a little bit. To be continued. (3/4-3/5) noticed a few comedones on nose-- could it be a zinc oxide sensitivity? that would mean I was sensitive to heroforce too, right? going to try a 1/2 application of tinted and see.
3/12-- LRP (tinted water resistant w/ titanium dioxide) arrived yesterday. Loving how thin it goes on and its tint and dry down a bit more than the EltaMD... so if this doesn't aggravate, I suppose it is a slight cost-savings and likely slightly more water resistant? Penpal turned me onto Sheerene Idriss who had an SPF lineup (none of the ones I trialed, but a more repair-focused LRP made the cut). This got me interested in checking out supergoop glowscreen for its shimmer effect ($18.40-36/fl oz), PA++++ EWG 2.
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