In addition to the CeraVa a.m., does anyone have recommendations for moisturizers with sunscreen that don’t make your skin white without rubbing in forever (and if you’re me, still missing a spot or two of white)?
I’ve used Loreal FuturE for years and really like it, but it’s just 15 SPF and I’m realizing it may not be broad spectrum since it’s not labeled as such. This one doesn’t have the white problem, but maybe because it’s missing an essential UVA/B sunscreen ingredient.
I switched to Oil of Olay moisturizer with sunscreen about 2 months ago. I haven’t had a chance to test it in full sun, as it’s been grey a lot here in Chicago when I walk the dog. It does absorb nicely and has not caused my skin to break out.
@TatinG said upthread the sunscreen works.
Yes. I do like the Oil of Olay moisturizer with sunscreen, SPF 30. I wear it everyday. It does not leave that white film on the face. And, very important, it does not sting my eyes. I was having a problem with other sunscreens running into my eyes when perspiring and really stinging or burning. Like Midwest, it doesn’t cause any break outs either.
I play tennis for hours or walk in the sun with this sunscreen on my face. No redness.
“Does any of this stuff really work”
According to my dermatologist, not really.
He says once you get over 60, applying sunscreen to prevent sun damage is fairly useless because it’s the stuff you did to your skin when you were a teenager and in your early 20s that’s showing up as damage and cancer in your late 40’s and 50’s and beyond. He says it’s never a bad thing to cover up in your 60s, but it’s not going to keep you from getting damage because it’s already happened.
My experience:
Prescription strength retin a will prevent fine lines and wrinkles. But you have to start in your early 30s and just keep using it. I’ve been using it for acne since then, and I have a lot fewer wrinkles than my peers. This may also be due to genetics or having super oily skin (derm says it’s 50-50).
Lasers are da bomb, especially for people with rosacea. If you’ve been struggling with rosacea, get that stuff lasered off instead of dealing with creams. I’ve also seen it used with impressive results for my friends who have “boob wrinkles” due to skin stretching between fake boobs when they’ve had them for a while (I’m not judging, but it did not make me want to get fake boobs).
Chemical peels (especially the super deep ones) can mess with your pores and ability to sweat. My MIL had one back when she was in her late 50s. She looked amazing after she’d recovered, but she used to constantly complain that her pores didn’t work right anymore. At 70+, she now looks like every other woman her age out there, but still has issues with sweating and her skin “just not being right”.
So, that’s why I use unrefined coconut oil for my skin (rest of my skin gets dry). It’s inexpensive and the derm says “it’s just as good as any of the pricey otc stuff”.
I also sometimes use Aveeno Positively Radiant cream with sunscreen (30). It has a tint in it like a light concealer. I don’t use it everyday. It goes on much greasier than the Oil of Olay.
The most helpful thing I’ve found for dry skin is to take a large dose of Omega 3 (I use Country Life Omega Mood, but there are other brands) and to use the Cera Ve PM morning and night. The SPF stuff doesn’t work as well for me and I hate the way anything with sunscreen smells.
I live in Maine, where it is very cold and dry, and it took about 2 weeks for me to notice better skin after starting the Omega 3. Mine are huge horse pills, so if you’re not a pill swallower, see if you can find a smaller dose and take it more frequently.
Massmomm, Chanel sells scent-free sunblock only:
Use it together with any moisturizer that has no built-in sunblock.
I will check that out, @BunsenBurner. Thanks for the tip. I am a little skeptical of the scent-free claim, though, because I’ve tried many other so-called scent-free sunscreens and they all had that distinctive underlying smell. But I do wear the stuff when I’m actually out in the sun, and I generally prefer the French products because they smell better than American ones do.
Unfortunately, some of the sunblocking compounds have a scent of their own. This product is mostly inorganic stuff that by definition has no smell (zinc oxide) but it does also have some organics. It is the least smelly sunblock I have tried. Ask for a sample at Nordie’s or another store that carries Chanel products. It is really effective at blocking sun damage! My face did not get sunburned even though I was sweating, but my arms covered in Neutrogena got some sun damage during our recent hike.
ETA: that product linked above is no longer available apparently. Here is the one:
When this thread first began, I went out and bought the CeraVe PM. I love that is has no scent and it makes my face feel nice, but it caused it to break out. I went back to my Cetaphil and my face cleared up again. I’m going to wait a week and try the CeraVe again because I liked everything else about it. Maybe it was just hormones.
I also CANNOT STAND the smell of sunscreen on my face. I smell it all day long. The same is true for any scented products on my face.
Retin A does nothing for me, but topical vitamin C has done wonders for my face and neck. I like both Timeless CE Feurlic or Paula’s Choice C15 booster (both much less expensive than Skinceuticals CE Ferulic). Both are stable enough to last 3 months.
I love the Vitamin C line from Serious Skincare.
https://www.hsn.com/shop/serious-skincare-by-jennifer-flavin-stallone/146-9064