Where can I buy an effective physcial sunscreen in UK?
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free skin care · Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:40 am

I have recently bought La Roche-Posay Anthelios Fluide Extreme SPF 50+ from Ireland which cost me approx £20 for a small 50ml bottle. I cannot afford to use this everyday.

Furthermore, from what I have read on the forum, the LRP is a chemical sunscreen and it is not advisable to use it everyday, a physical sunscreen would be better right?

So, the physical sunscreens recommended on here are all easily available in the USA, but not in the UK. Can anyone recommend a sunscreen readily available in the UK? I have looked at all the reviews on Make Up Alley and EDS, and ones recommended I cannot find on any UK site.

Would really appreciate some help here!

Thanks so much:)

free skin care · Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:58 pm

Are any of the following any good? Does anyone have any experience of using them?

Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Spf 25 Green Tea Protective Sunscreen

http://www.aubreyorganicsuk.co.uk/product-51-natural-sun-spf-25-green-tea-protective-sunscreen.html

Lavera Baby & Child Sun Screen, SPF 30

http://www.spiritofnature.co.uk/acatalog/4273.html

Thank you!

free skin care · Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:27 am

I currently use Clarins UV40, but that's expensive too for everyday use.

However, I've just ordered some of the Remergent sunscreen from EDS. Although it's more expensive than the Clarins, it comes in a much bigger (100ml) container, so should be more economical. Haven't tried it myself yet, as I ordered it after reading bushy's recommendation - plus I have had excellent experiences so far with other Remergent products.

free skin care · Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:54 am

Nikita, I tried Lavera face SPF 20 and SPF 25 and both worked fantastic. They are a cream and I know you can get the Baby and Child in both a cream and spray, so I am not sure which one you want, but if you are going for the cream - I found a slight white cast and thicker than usual Coppertone or Hawiian Tropic brands, but it rubbed in nicely. I have used the face SPF on my body and it absorbed nicely. I think I am going to buy the Baby and Child Spray next week. I like the idea of a spray for body!

free skin care · Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:53 pm

Lavera sounds good...will try that out.

I dont think I am going to find a reasonably priced product which meets all the right criteria in the UK. Will have to order from abroad.

Marie Veronique Crème de Jour SPF25 is physical with all natural ingredients.

Based on the ingredient list below is it a 'good' sunscreen for everyday use? It appears that it can be used as a 'day cream' as well.

Ingredients: Organic green tea, zinc oxide, calendula-infused organic Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba oil), Triticum vulgate (wheat germ oil), Oryza sativa (rice bran oil), Persea gratissima (avocado oil), apricot kernel oil, emu oil, orgainc red palm oil, Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam seed oil), organic Aloe barbadensis (aloe gel), Rubus idaeus (red raspberry oil), Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn oil), non-GMO lecithin, mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E), allantoin, Panax ginseng, xantham gum, Lycium (goji berry) extract, Rosemary oleoresin, organic Camellia synensis (green tea) extract, quercetin, lactic acid, pearl powder, Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle), potassium sorbate and essential oils of Rosa rubiginosa (rosehip seed), Daucus carota sativa (carrot seed), Cistus ladanifer (rockrose), Helichrysum italicum (everlasting).

Only other physcial sunscreen I could find with a high enough amount of Zinc Oxide is UV Natural:

http://www.uvnatural.com/

Any opinion of these two?

free skin care · Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:48 am

Nikita wrote:

Lavera sounds good...will try that out.

I dont think I am going to find a reasonably priced product which meets all the right criteria in the UK. Will have to order from abroad.

I found Lavera products for some great prices in the UK - cheaper than in Canada anyway. The one store that I was thinking of ordering from waswww.lovelula.com

Good luck with whatever you decide!

free skin care · Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:13 am

chan thanks so much for that link, the price for Lavera is excellent! Will def. be ordring even just to try it out. Thank you:)

free skin care · Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:23 am

Green People (I like their products)

Organic Pharmacy (not tried their sunscreen)

edited to add - Neals Yard

free skin care · Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:48 am

Thanks for those Eve, I will see if I can try any of them out before purchasing.

Am I right in thinking its better to opt for a zinc oxide based sunscreen?

free skin care · Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:06 am

I have Marie Veronique Crème de Jour SPF25. It is a good sunscreen, but I found it drying for my skin. And since it comes in 2 oz bottle, this sunscreen is pricy to use on body.

I do like Natulral Instinct SPF30 Australian sunscreen, and actually I like it better then Marie Veronique. It is not expensive even with shipping costs from Australia. I had it shipped to US.

Clarins sunscreen is great, but very expensive for a small bottle.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:15 pm

For me the best physical sunscreen I ever tested ist Kimberley Sayer Ultra Light Organic Facial Moisturizer SFP 25. You ´can buy it at EDS or Lovelula.

It´s organic, physical (zinc oxide (z-cote) and titanium dioxide) - but not nano. No whitening effect, very moisturizing - even for dry skin like mine. I use it every day from april to september over PSF Berry Beneficial Antioxidant Serum. Great combination to keep your skin healthy and protected. It smells nicely of lemon. Luv it.

free skin care · Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:32 am

Nikita wrote:

Thanks for those Eve, I will see if I can try any of them out before purchasing.

Am I right in thinking its better to opt for a zinc oxide based sunscreen?

I guess my question back would be define 'better'? Sorry to sound awkward. Confused

But really I'm no expert on the matter, there are some good threads on EDS & MUA about it. Actually it all starts to get technical and loses me Laughing

I've used the Green People sunscreen for the UK summers, I like the lavender fragrance. I don't know how they perform in hotter climates. Their after sun I find very cooling and moisturising and I've used that on holidays in Greece.

Let us know what you choose and how you like it?

Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:47 pm

Nikita wrote:

Thanks for those Eve, I will see if I can try any of them out before purchasing.

Am I right in thinking its better to opt for a zinc oxide based sunscreen?

Well, nano-sized titanium dioxide does not seem safe to use up to now. It´s even related to cancer and was found in lungs and livers. It seems to penetrate the skin through hair follicles. The safe, non-nano TiO2 provides a whitening effect. Z-cote (micronized zinc oxide) is safe to use, photostable and delivers a great protection against both UV A and UV B.

I was desperately seeking a product with natural ingredients, non-clogging, moisturizing, non sticky, non whitening... it´s difficult because I break out with silicones.

free skin care · Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:28 am

mpstat wrote:

I have Marie Veronique Crème de Jour SPF25. It is a good sunscreen, but I found it drying for my skin. And since it comes in 2 oz bottle, this sunscreen is pricy to use on body.

I do like Natulral Instinct SPF30 Australian sunscreen, and actually I like it better then Marie Veronique. It is not expensive even with shipping costs from Australia. I had it shipped to US.

Clarins sunscreen is great, but very expensive for a small bottle.

Hi mpstat, I'm interested in trying the Natural Instinct, could you tell me where you bought it from online (I'm also in the US). Thanks!

free skin care · Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:28 am

Hey, I missed this thread for a while because of the UK in the title so I figured I wouldn't be too helpful. Anyway, just in case:

I use Devita sunscreen (it has 14% zinc oxide in the form of Z-cote) and I get it from internatural. I just checked and it looks like internatural does ship internationally, it'll just cost a little bit more. Since the Devita sunscreen is so great (and the body sunscreen is a great deal) it may still be worth it.

http://www.internatural-alternative-health.com/

About the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, based on the research nano sized titanium dioxide does pose some (minimal) risk but zinc oxide of all sizes poses no risk. Zinc Oxide is also a more effective broad spectrum sunscreen while actually being less whitening than titanium dioxide. In addition- besides being not harmful, zinc ozide is also beneficial to skin so it's actually a good thing to put it on your skin every day. For all these reasons, I choose to stick to zinc oxide.

free skin care · Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:34 am

Thanks Nimue for that. Ive heard such good things about the Devita sunscreen that I am very tempted to try it out, even if it means risking customs charges! I also want to try bioderma's mineral one which apparently has a PPD of 22, if that works for me it would be perfect! I do find the LRP fluide extreme somewhat 'suffocating' on my skin.

free skin care · Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:46 am

Nikita,

What we have to do is request EDS to carry Devita, along with whatever other lines you want EDS to carry. That would solve this problem! That would be the best. Devita is not suffocating at all.

About ppd, I don't really trust whatever numbers the company publishes because it's not regulated. PPD is still somewhat a mystery to me, because it seems to me like mostly great marketing. I go by the % of the zinc oxide, because zinc oxide is very reliable broad spectrum block against both UVA and UVB. I'm interested in finding the %'s of the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in that physical bioderma sunscreen, and I'm interested in finding out how EDS members like it.

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=7937&start=475

Nikita wrote:

Thanks Nimue for that. Ive heard such good things about the Devita sunscreen that I am very tempted to try it out, even if it means risking customs charges! I also want to try bioderma's mineral one which apparently has a PPD of 22, if that works for me it would be perfect! I do find the LRP fluide extreme somewhat 'suffocating' on my skin.

free skin care · Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:55 pm

Hi Nikita,
I live in wales, and even though the weather is bad, I religiously use sunblock, to protect my skin from the wind, a bit of sun is asking too much!!
I've been using Skin Ceuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30, and I love it, ok it was pretty expensive at £63 but that was for 750ml, bought from Ebay and shipped from the states. Ive been using it about a year and a half and i still have loads left to use by the expiry Dec 2008. Smile

free skin care · Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:13 am

KBLang wrote:

mpstat wrote:

I have Marie Veronique Crème de Jour SPF25. It is a good sunscreen, but I found it drying for my skin. And since it comes in 2 oz bottle, this sunscreen is pricy to use on body.

I do like Natulral Instinct SPF30 Australian sunscreen, and actually I like it better then Marie Veronique. It is not expensive even with shipping costs from Australia. I had it shipped to US.

Clarins sunscreen is great, but very expensive for a small bottle.

Hi mpstat, I'm interested in trying the Natural Instinct, could you tell me where you bought it from online (I'm also in the US). Thanks!

Hi KBLang - I got Natural Instinct from emed.com.au:
http://emed.com.au/product.php?Doo=ContentView&id=1516

free skin care · Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:23 pm

Thanks so much, mpstat! It's always tricky buying things online internationally, so I appreciate having a trusted place.

free skin care · Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:59 am

Nikita, I saw something that could work for you!

Soléo Organics Natural Sunscreen

grapeseed oil, macadamia oil, green tea extract, roman chamomile extract, sunflower oil, capric/caprylic triglycerides (plant oil derived), beeswax, theobroma butter, candellila wax, lecithin, vegetable oils, cucumber extract, tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E).
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Zinc oxide 22.3%

http://www.planetblueshop.com/shop_product.cfm/product_id/4

This retailer has free shipping in the UK! (if you spend over 25 pounds) The soleo sunscreen seems like a good product, I'm definitely curious about it. It's from Australia, but it looks like it's readily available all over.

free skin care · Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:11 pm

I just found out that this product could be on the thick side, but if you really need a good physical sunscreen available in the UK, you could still use it by mixing it with a super light moisturizer. That's what I was doing when I was using physical sunscreens that weren't cosmetically elegant enough on their own. So it could still be worth checking out. HTH!

free skin care · Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:42 pm

Hi Nimue...
Sorry for the late reply but I am on holiday in Turkey at the moment and it has been hard getting online. Needless to say my LRP fluide extreme has been keeping me protected from the hot Turkish sun.

Thanks for your recommendation for the Soleo, I will def look into it. I have also sourced the Bioderma Mineral so will be ordering both when I get back to the UK.

I have been getting quite a few spots on my cheeks and chin area, and have yet to establish whether they are caused by the LRP sunscreen or the vit c serum. I was never prone to pimples before so even having a few is very very visible. The LRP is def greasy, and it flakes easily, so I have been mixing it with my moisturiser before applying it. As much as I love the protection it gives I would prefer to find another less oily sunscreen, or at least one that does not seem to break me out. Though I dont actually know whether it is the LRP or something else. I haven't been using the retin a at the moment, used it for 2/3 days and then left UK, so thought it would be better when Im back home and not in such bright sunshine all the time.

Anyway, am feeling a little disillusioned right now, as despite all my best attempts my skin looks the pits right now:(

Thanks for your help though, I will def be ordering the Soleo.

free skin care · Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:24 pm

Quote:

I have been getting quite a few spots on my cheeks and chin area, and have yet to establish whether they are caused by the LRP sunscreen or the vit c serum. I was never prone to pimples before so even having a few is very very visible. The LRP is def greasy, and it flakes easily, so I have been mixing it with my moisturiser before applying it. As much as I love the protection it gives I would prefer to find another less oily sunscreen, or at least one that does not seem to break me out. Though I dont actually know whether it is the LRP or something else. I haven't been using the retin a at the moment, used it for 2/3 days and then left UK, so thought it would be better when Im back home and not in such bright sunshine all the time.

Anyway, am feeling a little disillusioned right now, as despite all my best attempts my skin looks the pits right now:(

Sorry to hear this Nikita!

It could be either one of the two that caused a breakout. Other C serums like Skinmedica Vit. C Complex may be better for pores. The oiliness is probably related to the mexoryl XL (oil soluble) which can come off as greasy on some people. Perhaps try an LRP which uses just mexoryl sx and also has avobenzone. You will get full protection with these two combined. The US has a new sunscreen Anthelios spf 40 for the face which combines these two. Another sunscreen that is definitely not greasy is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch. Its matte and has ppd of about 26. You could try other sunscreens that use tinosorb as well like Nivea DNAage (favorite of many people), Nivea Light Sensation, Avene sunscreens, Eucerin White Protection etc. Loreal sunscreens are good too like Loreal UV Expert and Loreal UV Perfect.

I tried the Bioderma Mineral. It was a little whitening, but has really great protection. Once I experimented a little with tinted moisturizers I think it looks fairly normal. I use it on days when I need good protection. Its definitely worth giving a try, its one of the best physical sunscreens I have seen with great protection in the UVA range.

Keep us updated on how everything goes!

free skin care · Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:32 am

Thanks for all those recommendations Ocean:) Perhaps once I start using the retin-a regularly the pimples will go? I'm not even sure it is caused by the sunscreen which is why I am reluctant to stop using it until I have another equally good alternative. I have already ordered the Bioderma Mineral, which I think will also be good for my daughters very sensitive eczema prone skin. It is just so difficult to find these products in the UK! Even though some of the brands are French!

It was based on what you wrote about the bioderma that I ordered it, lets see how it goes!

I cant even find the Blue Lizard one in the UK. Perhaps Im just not looking in the right places. I also need to do a day trip to France and stock up on all the sunscreens, as from the UK its costing me a small fortune!!

Thanks for your help, as always:)

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