Hi everyone. I know many of us are photosensitive and/or are told to avoid the sun as much as possible. I just wanted to know if anyone has recommendations for sunscreen to wear daily that doesn’t feel and smell like sunscreen. I live in Florida and already wear long sleeves and pants and socks daily for work. I try to cover up as best I can otherwise, but I moved here from Chicago because of the weather and hate that I have to hide from the sun! I keep reading how if clothing doesn’t have SPF, it isn’t enough. I don’t want to smell or feel like I’m going to the beach daily when I’m never allowed to again, especially since that was always the only negative part of going to the beach in the first place. Sigh. I just want to know if there are lotions, sprays, etc that are full of SPF but aren’t greasy or smelly that can help on a daily basis. Thanks in advance.
I dislike the smell of sunscreen too. What I had recommended to me was Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch sunscreen. It's a little more expensive than other brands (around ten bucks for a 3 oz. container), but it doesn't have that overwhelming scent that others do. It still smells faintly of sunscreen, but it is softer and lacks the coconut/whatever smell that a lot of sunscreens have. It rubs in well so long as you don't apply too much, and it doesn't leave your skin feeling extra greasy. I only wish they offered it in bigger amounts than just the 3 oz.!
I love Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby sunblock and use it every day. No scent and not greasy. Only thing is it does leave skin looking a little white. For my face I use Clinique Super City Block. Neither product is cheap, but I find them worth it.
I use the Neutrogena cooling mist spray SPF 70 on my body and another Neutrogena cream sunblock for my face. I’m allergic to chemical sunblocks on my face so I have to use physical blocks. I also use a tinted moisturizer with SPF on my face. I used to use a prescription sunblock but it got to be too expensive. The only time I have to use a smelly sunblock is when I’m going to be in water. I need to find a hat I can swim in so I can protect my face better.
Thanks for asking about this. I am currently taking water aerobics for an hour every morning and I noticed my skin is getting really mottled looking already. I’ve never been one to use sunscreen on a daily basis but now see it’s going to be necessary.
I just find myself in house more try to go out in eve but then fighting bugs. I hate this because I have always been a outside person. I given up pool in day light and in eve because of bug and so much more. I’m thinking tinted bubble ball. Good luck
Try Avon sunscreen and bug guard. It’s excellent
Sawyer’s is the best. It does not have tht awful feel or smell. Instead, it is long lasting and works better than anything else, even the expensive stuff, I have tried. If you do not have it locally, you can buy it online at ReI.com
Amazon sells some very cute protective clothing! 
Neutrogena ultra sheer body mist helioplex 100+ spf in a 5 oz spray. It does not smell or feel like sunscreen.
When you say your skin is getting “really mottled looking” does that mean when your out in the sun you start getting all these white spots all over your skin. Like lace kindave…and dose any one elses bones starts feeling like they are burning if they are out in the sun to long? I notice it worse when I am driving on my arms and I didn’t use sunblock or have a cover up on them
Hi Kelly,
I’m in Florida,too. I have read that there is a clothing treatment that provides UPF protection to your clothing. It is manufactured by the Rit dye company, and is available on Amazon. It is supposed to increase the UPF up to 30, from what is routinely 5. The package stares that it is for natural fiber clothing, and doesn’t work on polyester. I have not tried it yet, but heard about it on a video presentation made by a rheumatologist (YouTube–28 lupus secrets).
Diane
THANKS everyone!! This was so helpful. I’m really glad I get daily discussions, posts, and info from people who truly get it.
I like to use Neutrogena, Aveeno and Shiseido sunscreens. They work really well and don't have an odor. I just got a Coppertone, but I like that fragrance! I also wear sunprotective clothing from Coolibar and Land's end. Land's End makes a shirt and pants you can swim in.
TY Ann. I was hoping someone would post the link to that again. I've been looking for it unsuccessfully.
I use neutrogena’s spray sunscreen with an SPF of 70 or 100. I also use a neutrogena cream in my face that’s a 60. I reapply every hour or so. It has an odor right when applied but it goes away quickly. And I’m able to do a lot if outdoor activities with it. Without, after just a few minutes exposure, I would be violently ill within hours. Good luck! I’m from Savannah GA but live in OKlahoma now. Love it here but not as much as home. I’m jealous!
There is a product that you can put in the washer when you are doing a load of laundry that put sunscreen in your clothes. I'm sorry I have forgotten the name but you should be able to find it online. It is not very expensive you should try it. In the summer time there are a lot of things I want to do so I go to my Doc and ask him to give me a shot of steroids before I plan to participate in an activity that will expose me to too much sun and so far it works! I do feel sick for about three or four days but at least I got to do what I wanted to do. I know that some people might not think this is a good idea but I don't want to regret not doing the fun stuff when I had the chance. I guess what I'm saying is I'm willing to pay the price rather than be left put of a lot of the fun things in life. Please check to see the name of the
product that you can put in with your laundry
Best of luck,
Piewacket
I have had the same feelings about sunscreen! Finding the right sunscreen for me has been a long process. Recently, I fell in love with Supergoop sold at Sephora Beauty. It is lightweight, not greasy, no sunscreen or smell and does not leave my face all white. Because the SPF is 30 I also include a powder/moisturizer with SPF as well.
I was having the same dilemma because sunscreen on my face makes me breakout and I hate the greasy feeling also. I also have started using more natural products so luckily someone I work with introduced me to the Arbonne line. I have to say it’s AMAZING. I currently use a daily face lotion that has SPF 20 in it and a sunscreen that is SPF 30. The best part is that everything is completely natural with no harmful additives in it. The face lotion just feels like regular lotion and the sunscreen feels like regular lotion too! No typical “sunscreen” smell which is great, and a teeny bit of greasiness but it goes away so much faster than othe sunscreens I’ve tried. I highly recommend these! I actually got so into the Arbonne collection due to the idea of everything being all natural that I became a consultant if you are interested I can help you out and also get you 20% off! I even have samples of the face cream with SPF that id be more than happy to send to you to try out! Message me on here if you’d like…I’m so happy I finally found this because I’m italian and used to LIVE in the sun so it took some getting used to having to put sunscreen on every day. I’m also a special ed teacher so I wear it to work every day because of the flourescent lights. Hope I helped a little good luck!
Hi, Thank you all for the great suggestion for sunscreen. I currently use a neutrogena product with Helioplex but it does have a sunscreen smell. Luckily my coworkers like the smell of sunscreen :), me not so much lol. Think I will try the neutrogena spray that was mentioned when I run out. In reference to the above reply, I did purchase the product from Rite. It is called sunguard protection. It is inexpensive, one box which does a large load of wash is only $3. Shipping for several boxes if a flat $5, so I got 5 boxes for $20. After the initial wash the spf of 30 lasts for 20 more washes. Great way to get sun protection for your own clothes. I have purchased a few items from Coolibar with spf of 50, but they are fairly expensive. Most shirts are $50-70. Here is the website for the wash in sunguard protection: www.sunguardsunprotection.com. Hope this information is helpful.
Stacey