With so many choices, finding the best sunscreen can be difficult. The following article, syndicated from Total Beauty, has some quality suggestions based on reader ratings.

I am a particularly big fan of the powder sunscreens such as the Peter Thomas Roth Powder Sunscreen and ColorScience Powder Sunscreen products included in the article. They tend to physically block UVA and UVB rays, which is preferable to chemical sunscreens because those break down over time, especially in the sun (go figure!). They also are a great way to reapply sunscreen over makeup. You can read my previous review of several powder sunscreens here: Top Powder Sunscreen.

I also particularly like the DDF sunscreen in the article. It is light and does not cause acne issues with me, which some other sunscreens do.

Lately, my favorites have been two items that are not in the article:  ARCONA Reozone 40, which is physical block SPF 40 sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that works great with oily skin, and Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear, which has a nice tinted moisturizer and mineral power sunscreen combination.

Put Your Best Face Forward With One of These Top-Rated Sunscreens

Keep your face protected with one of these reader-approved sublocks

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article Think you can’t wear sunscreen on your face without it being an oil orgy? Think again. These facial sunscreens won’t make you look greasy and even allow you to wear makeup under or over ‘em. See products

What is your favorite sunscreen? Let us know!

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As far as I am concerned, this is the must buy product of the summer: Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear!  I absolutely love these two items, and I am so happy that I bought them on a whim for review while out running errands!

OK, so you know how important sunscreen is, and if you are like me and have oily skin with melasma or hyperpigmentation, getting oil free high SPF products that can also provide some coverage is all the more important. Perhaps you also want some light moisture or sheer powder foundation coverage (that is bismuth free to boot)? Well, of all the various tinted moisturizers and mineral makeup items out there, Physicians Formula Healthy Wear™ SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer and Physicians Formula Healthy Wear™ SPF 50 Powder Foundation, are the best I have found for nice coverage with high sun protection. The products go to SPF 50 .

Aside from running up to SPF 50,  Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear also is oil free, safe for acne prone skin, and the pressed powder does not contain irritating bismuth. On top of it the packaging is really cute! The tinted moisturizer swatch below is the shade fair to light.

A few more details on each:

Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear Tinted Moisturizer: Considering that it is SPF 50 and is  also sweat resistant, this tinted moisturizer feels pretty light and absorbed better than I expected. Usually such things feel heavy. Also a pleasant surprise was that I actually got decent coverage from it. Often with tinted moisturizers I feel like any real coverage is non-existent. But Healthy Wear did give a nice sheer cover. Then, in areas where I have melasma, I got additional coverage by applying the pressed powder over it. The moisturizer wears well and does indeed seem to be sweat resistant. It isn’t totally sweat or waterproof, but it won’t wear off instantly either. Frankly, it is the best tinted moisturizer I have used to date. Physician’s Formula has a winner with this one!

Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear Powder Foundation: I love pressed powder foundations. They are great for oily skin, and often provide good sun protection. I also like to use them over liquid makeup to cover pigmented areas a bit better. Healthy Wear is sheer in coverage, but has enough tint to be used alone.  It is soft and light, 50 SPF, and bismuth free.  Forget expensive mineral makeup packed with bismuth and lower SPF when you can just get this stuff! Although,  to be fair, there are some good bismuth free mineral makeup choices out there.  Anyway, I imagine I will be using Healthy Wear all summer as a sunscreen touch up, since applying new powder won’t ruin an existing makeup look.

I bought both of these items at my local CVS store, and you should be able to find them at any drugstore or big box retailer. I also provided a couple of Amazon.com affiliate links if you want to buy online.

Or, you can use Bizrate to:

Comparison Shop For Physician’s Formula Cosmetics

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DDF always tends toward impressive skin care products, including melasma treatments and sunscreen. I particularly love  DDF Protect and Correct UV Moisturizing sunscreen aimed at treating and preventing hyperpigmentation and melasma.  I have always been a fan of double duty skin care products, so this one goes high on my recommended item list.

DDF Hyperpigmentation Protect And Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15 is a light moisturizer with four chemical sunscreens for SPF 15 coverage. It also contains various extracts, including licorice root extract, to help treat pigmentation. So, the sunscreen prevents melasma discoloration, while the extracts treat it.

The lotion has a decent feel to it, absorbs fairly quickly, and I had no issues with acne with it. I do wish it had a higher SPF though. I really prefer to use SPF 30 and above for melasma treatment and prevention. A physical sunblock in it instead of all chemical ones would be nice too. Regardless, it still is a quality product.

Protect and Correct retails at around $58 and can be found at various online sources.

Buy DDF Protect and Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15 at Spa Look

Comparison Shop for DDF Skin Care Products

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Regular application and reapplication of sunscreen should be an essential part of any beauty routine, but it can also be problematic when wearing makeup. That sunscreen that you applied this morning needs to be reapplied part way through the day, yet you don’t want to ruin your full face of makeup. What to do? The answer lies in powder sunscreen.

Powder sunscreens generally consist of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both. These are wonderful sunscreens because they provide physical blocking of the full spectrum of the sun’s rays. Unlike chemical blockers, they will not break down in sunlight, meaning that they last longer, and the full spectrum protection keeps you completely protected. Because they come in powder form, they also can be applied over makeup without ruining your look.

There are a number of good items out there. In particular, take a look at your favorite mineral foundation or finishing powder. Chances are, it has an SPF factor. So, most mineral makeup can be applied as a powder sunscreen. But since mineral foundations do not always have a listed SPF rating or are formulated for more coverage than a person might want to apply, a formulation intended purely for use as a sunscreen may be desired. Below are several recommended items. Many of these are fairly high in price, but I have found that so little is needed for an application that they last a very long time.

* Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 30 (select color) is packaged in easy to use tubes, complete with a pop-up brush. The powder is so fine that you barely notice it, and it is available in both Almost Clear and Perfectly Clear versions. It provides SPF 30 coverage. Read Previous Review.

* Jane Iredale Powder-Me SPF 30 Dry Sunscreen comes in both Translucent and Tanned versions. This one has a sponge application and includes a mirror.

* iS Clinical SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen – Translucent (pictured) provides SPF 20 coverage and comes with its own pop-up brush. A medium tinted version is also available.

* Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 is another one with a prepackaged brush and SPF 30. Available in translucent.

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Happy Fourth of July all! While out and about this weekend, don’t forget your sunscreen!

Personally, I recommend Badger Sunscreen SPF 30 for both face and body (Read Review), or if oil control is an issue, try DermaQuest ZinClear (Read Review).

For a powder that can be applied over makeup, look at ColorScience Powder (Read Review).

Need more suggestions? Try the Sunscreen Category!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!

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AB Skin Care is a skin care line created by dermatologist Dr. Craig Austin. While the line focuses mainly on products with a good quality and strength of glycolic acid, today I am writing on a couple of great sunscreens from the line. I will be reviewing the glycolic acid products in another week or two (tiny preview: I really like them) .

AB Sun is right in line with the type of sunscreen I seek out. It has a mix of chemical and physical blockers, high SPF, and antioxidants. For those like me who have some issues with melasma, this is the best type of sunscreen to wear, because it gives full coverage protection and will last longer than a sunscreen that only contains chemical blockers. Here is the what the product literature on it says:

With advanced anti-photoaging complex, AB Sun has been formulated to block UV radiation and provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection using micronized zinc oxide. With SPF 45, AB Sun delivers a unique antioxidant, free radical quenching and neutralizing complex whose composition includes green tea polyphenols and caffeine, two of the most potent ingredients in fighting the signs of aging.

The sunscreen is a thicker lotion that feels slightly moisturizing, but not overly so. Although it is a bit on the thicker side, it doesn’t feel particularly heavy, and it absorbs quite quickly. For a well rounded sunscreen, I highly recommend this one!

AB Baby is a sunscreen that is obviously aimed at babies, but I actually like it for myself. The product description is as follows:

A chemical-free sunscreen with SPF 30 specially formulated for the sensitive skin of babies and children starting at six months old. The moisturizing formula takes effect immediately – so there’s no waiting for the protection to start working to stop sunburn and provide extreme UVA/UVB protection. With vitamins A, C, E and green tea extract, AB Baby provides the highest level of broad-spectrum protection available. It’s your baby’s best defense against the sun, with all in one protection.

This one has a lighter feel than AB Sun and provides a bit of moisture. Its sunscreen is 17% zinc oxide, for some great full coverage blocking. That type of ingredient is great for children, but is also wonderful for those who are battling melasma or other pigmentation issues. I have been wearing it on my areas of concern quite a bit. Because it has quite a bit of zinc oxide, it will make your skin appear a bit white until it absorbs, although I found that it wasn’t an issue, especially if I put on makeup over it. So, this one isn’t necessarily just for babies!

AB Skin Care is available at their online store.

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A favorite sunscreen of many melasma sufferers just got stronger for those in the US (stronger versions have already been available in Europe). The FDA has approved Anthelios 40 sunscreen. 

This version of the already approved Anthelios contains Mexoryl SX with titanium dioxide, avobenzone, and octocrylene for broad spectrum protection, and has been specifically safety-tested for those with the photosensitive skin disorder, Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE) (Read the press release).

What I particularly like about this version is the addition of titanium dioxide. I had been using the Lancome version, UV Expert, (Read Review) over Anthelios because the Lancome product has a physical blocker. For those who want the most protection, the addition of a physical blocker adds a level of durability to any sunscreen, because it will not degrade when exposed to sunlight.  Unfortunately even the the best chemical sunscreens will degrade some, although Mexoryl is known for being one of the more stable sunscreens currently available.

I also like that Anthelios is generally available at CVS stores for a bit less cost than the Lancome version. Anytime that I can save a trip to the mall and save a bit of money, I am happy!

One item of note: both Anthelios and Lancome UV expert have caused some acne for me in the past.  It was not severe, but I tend to use something else when my skin is acting up. Obviously since I haven’t tried it, I don’t know about the new version.

Anthelios 40 will be available in late spring. 

Shop for Anthelios Sunscreen

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Join film and TV star Kristen Bell and Jergens in promoting skin health by taking the Jergens Pledge to glow safely. For every pledge, Jergens will donate $1 to the Skin Cancer Foundation–a truly worthy organization.

Bell will soon be seen in the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, opening on April 18, 2008.

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Everyone should be concerned about sun exposure. If you aren’t all that worried about things like skin cancer (you should be), then remember that the sun also causes wrinkles (ack!). If you happen to have melasma, hyperpigmentation, or similar discoloration, it becomes even more important.

Philosophy a pigment of your imagination spf 18 is a particularly good sunscreen for melasma sufferers because it contains treatment ingredients. It also can be good for those who suffer from acne because of a general lack of acne causing ingredients. Aside from the melasma treatment actives, I chose to try it partly because several of my favorite sunscreens have been causing breakouts for me lately.

The idea of adding skin lightening active to sunscreen intrigues me. I love the idea and am surprised that more companies haven’t done so. DHC has a sunscreen that I absolutely adore with arbutin (read review), and Philosophy’s sunscreen contains both arbutin and kojic acid. By adding actives that act to block pigmentation, the sunscreen does double duty, because the damaging rays are blocked and so are some of the skin reactions that lead to melasma. Hopefully more companies will pick up on this.

Philosophy a pigment of your imagination is a pretty good standard SPF 18 sunscreen. I found that it absorbs OK, albeit a bit slowly. After a few week’s use, I have not broken out from it and am generally quite happy with it. Using a pigment of your imagination in conjunction with my daily melasma treatment, I have continued to see lightening in some areas, and certainly have not experienced worsened pigmentation in any areas.

The sunscreen does have an odd yellow tint to it from the kojic acid, but that is not apparent on the skin. It also is not all that moisturizing, so if you use your sunscreen for light moisture, you might need to add something with this one. I find that on particularly dry days, I need to add a moisturizer. There also is a bit of a packaging issue with it. Because it is in a tube with a flat cap, it would be standard to store it sitting upright on the cap. But this causes the sunscreen to run into the cap area. Then when the tube is opened, there is always a good amount of sunscreen all over the top. I find it a bit annoying, although it won’t stop me from purchasing the product again.

The sunscreen also lacks a physical blocker such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Instead, it has purely chemical blockers. I prefer to have a physical blocker in my sunscreens. However, I have taken care of that issue by generally wearing a mineral powder foundation or finishing powder that contains a physical blocker (most do) over my areas of melasma. When I plan to go outdoors without makeup for a length of time, then I choose one of my other sunscreens that contains physical blockers.

I generally purchase Philosophy products online, but they are also available at various department stores and cosmetics stores.

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DHC makes some great skin care products, so it is no surprise that they have some excellent sunscreens as well. By incorporating DHC’s signature olive oil, the sunscreens feel terrific, and by adding in some treatment actives, a couple of the sunscreens are also rather unique.

One very unique sunscreen that also happens to be my favorite, is DHC White Sunscreen. With titanium dioxide 5% and zinc oxide 10% as physical blockers, this broad-spectrum SPF 25 sunscreen is a good choice for those concerned about melasma or hyperpigmentation. But there is more. By including alpha-arbutin, a good nonprescription skin brightener, and vitamin C, DHC has created a sunscreen that is also a treatment product. As with other DHC products, it also contains olive leaf extract, along with aloe leaf extract, and vitamin E.

DHC White sunscreen is a joy to wear. It is a very light lotion that moisturizes slightly and absorbs quickly with no white residue. I find it to be one of the most comfortable sunscreens around. I have also found arbutin to be a fairly effective melasma treatment. By inhibiting melanin production, it is perfect to combine it with a sunscreen to make going out in the sun feel just a bit extra safe for those like myself who worry about what melasma spot just might be waiting to come out. The only downside is that
at $23/ounce it is a bit expensive, although I tend to prefer the higher cost sunscreens anyway, so that price is fine for me.

For those with aging skin, DHC Suncut Q10 Sunscreen SPF 30 combines full spectrum sunscreen with coenzyme Q10. The entire DHC Q10 line is pretty popular and the products feel quite nice. So if you are a fan of the Q10 line or like coenzyme Q products, you might want to give this one a try. It is also a bit more affordable at $15/ounce. The Active sunscreen ingredients are octinoxate 5.0%, oxybenzone 0.1%, titanium dioxide 5.8%, zinc oxide 20.0%

For a kick of moisture from your sunscreen give DHC Dual Defense Sunscreen a try. This one contains DHC’s signature olive oil and rice germ oil. Nicely moisturizing, this one is perfect for those with normal to dry skin. The active sunscreen ingredients: octinoxate (4%), and titanium dioxide (3.3%). $27 for 3.5 ounces.

Interested in other DHC Products? See my other DHC reviews:
DHC Velvet Skin Coat
DHC Skin Care Reviews Part I
DHC Skin Care Reviews Part II
DHC Lip Conditioners at GirlGloss

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