Daily sunscreen for top down driving?

Been thinking I need to start slathering myself before hopping in the car (cause, why have a convertible if the top isn't down when you're driving?)

But since it is driving, I need to make sure it isn't gonna drip into my eyes or whatever and cause a hazard, and keeping me and especially my hands non-greasy is important.  Anyone have good suggestions?

UV shirt and a hat?

A hat. Just be careful if you shave your head, the tan line is not a good look.

I use the Kiehl's face lotion that has spf30 UV protection. It goes on white but rubs in fine.

FWIW, I asked my dermatologist about sunscreen during my annual earlier this week. A lot of sun screens cause me to break out–even Neutrogena. 

She recommended a chemical-free sunscreen that uses zinc.

Not just top down driving. When I was on the road I had significant issues with skin cancer on my face, especially on the left side & my left arm. Tinted windows are not a solution. My dermatologist told me to slather my face & arms with SPF50 before leaving the house & after lunch. By the way, a skin cancer on your ear is a bitch.

A friend of my wife's has been dealing with skin cancer on the face, and it doesn't sound fun at all. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

I got a nice new facial scar this year from this. It's no joke.

Anyone know what the shelf life is for sunscreen , 

I looked on the container and there was nothing,

Thanks

Skin reactions or no, stick to the metals. Titanium (Dioxide) and/or Zinc (Oxide) based sunscreens only. All of the other common sunblocking active ingredients are known harmful chemicals that are easily absorbed by the very organ you're applying it to for 'protection'... As is so often the case, the most popular products from the biggest name brands generally seem to be the worst for you.

This past summer, adults and kids alike all kept coming back to the "mineral sunscreen gel-lotion" from Bare Republic as the most user friendly in our assortment.

tremm said:

I think neutrogena is one of the better-recommended last I looked. Maybe googling something like, "sunscreen neutrogena vs" will get better info. The other thing to consider, is staining on upholstery/clothes/steering wheel, and general damage. I forget what chemical causes the staining.

I use that, too.  Thankfully, it does not react with my skin in a bad way.

That being said, I need to do a much better job- I think I've got a small spot to deal with soon.

Neutrogena does have some (metal only) products, but their ever popular "Ultra-Sheer" line is absorptive chemical based... So buyer beware with them, even if you're not physically allergic to it.

I wish any of the metal ones didn't absolutely suck to apply. I've tried about four or five at this point since the dermatologist told me I should consider myself a fervent Hat Person now and it only makes sense to try to do anything short of a balacava for the non-hat skin...

Near as I can tell they suck to apply, suck to try to work in 'til you're not just pasty, feel uncomfortable after that, and within a week of starting I had a white haze on the Mini's armrest area.

I end up using the chemical Coppertone Sport SPF 50 frequently because I figure it's better to use something that's not as good for me than to skip it and I just can't take daily application of the zinc stuff. I also got a tube of a Japanese import Biore sunscreen because apparently the FDA hasn't approved any new approaches in a long, long time, unlike in the rest of the world, though I wouldn't be shocked to hear that it's no better than other chemical blocks, just easier to apply, kinda. (I hate all the creams and generally spray the liquid into my hand and work it around).

I may have to try the Kiehl's. A stupid array of attempted sunscreens on the counter is better than any version of going unprotected.

EDIT: Oops, misunderstood. Kiehl's isn't metal-based.

I am a ragtop guy and always have sunscreen in the car. 

Wear a hat or a headband if you are worried about it gettin in your eyes

I caddied for 10 years. I put the stuff on religiously. Bullfrog and Neutrogena were my go-to brands, but I figured anything was better than nothing and would use whatever I could find. There were enough times though that I either forgot or ran out or whatever, that I have a few spots that I bring up every time I see my doctor. I should probably schedule a dermatologist appointment just to be sure. 

In any case, I rarely wear much sunscreen anymore. I try to cover up instead. So I only get the backs of my hands and my face/ears/neck now, and generally put it on pretty heavy. I usually use the CVS/Walgreens/other generic version of the Neutrogena dry touch stuff. 

Driven5 said:

Neutrogena does have some (metal only) products, but their ever popular "Ultra-Sheer" line is absorptive chemical based... So buyer beware with them, even if you're not physically allergic to it.

You know, I mentioned that brand, and my doctor basically said what you did: They offer several products, and read the label. 

Slippery said:

UV shirt and a hat?

Part of the problem is I drive the car to and from work in Florida.  To work isn't bad, but from work the sun is usually low enough that its below the brim of a hat.  I wear one anyways as I've got my hair long right now and without it it would end up in knots.  The shirt is a possibility, but I'd have to change before driving which could be annoying long term.

Driven5 said:

Skin reactions or no, stick to the metals. Titanium (Dioxide) and/or Zinc (Oxide) based sunscreens only. All of the other common sunblocking active ingredients are known harmful chemicals that are easily absorbed by the very organ you're applying it to for 'protection'... As is so often the case, the biggest name brands generally seem to be the worst for you.

This past summer, adults and kids alike all kept coming back to the "mineral sunscreen gel-lotion" from Bare Republic as the most user friendly in our assortment.

 

Good info, I'll look into metals

purplepeopleeater said:

By the way, a skin cancer on your ear is a bitch.

Oh I know.  Dad has had one removed from his ear, several from his face and neck.  His dermatologist is very aggressive when it comes to possible skin cancers

Jesse Ransom said:

I wish any of the metal ones didn't absolutely suck to apply.

See my recommendation above. It literally goes on and rubs in like lotion, even over arm/leg hair... Which the spray on ones seem especially bad about.

Driven5 said:

Jesse Ransom said:

I wish any of the metal ones didn't absolutely suck to apply.

See my recommendation above. It literally goes on and rubs in like lotion, even over arm/leg hair... Which the spray on ones seem especially bad about.

The nutrogena line you mentioned?

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Took me a minute, but I found where he said:

"This past summer, adults and kids alike all kept coming back to the "mineral sunscreen gel-lotion" from Bare Republic as the most user friendly in our assortment."

EDIT: Thanks, Driven5, will give it a go!

I found that I hate the greasiness of sunscreen with a major passion so what I've been doing is a long sleeve UV shirt with a hood a neck gator and a hat and mechanix gloves

Just wanted to report back that the aforementioned Bare Republic mineral sunscreen gel-lotion that Driven5 recommended is indeed on another level from the other mineral sunscreens for ease/comfort of application. I just ordered one of their SPF 70 face lotions and a SPF 50 "sport" lotion; we'll see whether those also apply nicely. Worst case, I'll just get more of the stuff mentioned above.

They do a bunch of stuff, and not all of it is mineral, but the ones I'm getting are.

In reply to Jesse Ransom :

Seconded.  Haven't tried the other lines, but very happy with that one.

Apexcarver said:

I found that I hate the greasiness of sunscreen with a major passion so what I've been doing is a long sleeve UV shirt with a hood a neck gator and a hat and mechanix gloves

I HATE greasy. Trader Joe's sunscreen is about the only dry spray kind I've found. Bullfrog is good too, but $$$. 
 

SPF rating isn't (wasn't?) regulated so a lot of them are fluff. ConsumerReports did their own test and Trader Joe's SPF 50 numbers are accurate. It's also the only kind that isn't greasy. Did I mention I HATE greasy? The kids will use whatever we give them so I keep the TJ stuff for myself. $6 for a can and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's full spectrum, too, so protects against the rays that get thru on cloudy days (don't forget to spray those days too).

No idea on chemical makeup tho. Figure it's better than a burn so I don't really pay attention there.