Best Sunscreens of 2020 - Appalachian Spring Dermatology

My Picks for 2020

A DERMATOLOGISTS FAVORITE SUNSCREEN PICKS! HOW DO I CHOOSE?

1 – Check the Active Ingredients – I particularly like sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide ONLY.  Zinc and titanium are physical barriers that work much better and last longer than the chemical sunscreens. Zinc has a more complete and broader coverage than titanium. Chemical sunscreens have now been shown to penetrate the bloodstream and may damage the coral reef, so avoid them.

2-Check the Water Resistance– At least 80 minutes water resistance is optimal.

3-Decide if you will actually use it! Pick one that you like the smell, feel, and look of and one you can easily toss into a bag, so it’s there when you need it. I work hard to find sunscreens that meet individual needs. We carry things that are not easily commercially available in our Spring Boutique, where you can try them out.

Tinted Chemical Free For the face (Zinc and Titanium):  ZO Skin Health Sunscreens, Elta MD, Colorescience, Oxygenetix, ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless. All of these are available in our Spring Boutique at the office.  The ZO Skin Health and Colorescience products also protect against blue light HEV and Infrared Radiation.

Untinted Chemical Free for the face: BARE Mineral lotion and gel, Cerave Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30 for Face, Aveeno Positively Mineral SPF 50 for Face, Coppertone Pure and Simple for Face SPF 50 all available at Walmart and online. ISDIN Eyrfotona Actinica Available at the Spring Boutique.

Untinted Chemical Free for the Body:  Cerave Body Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50, Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby, Neutrogena Positively Mineral, Neutrogena Continuous Protection, BARE Republic Mineral, Equate Baby Zinc Mineral Lotion, Banana Boat Kids Mineral SPF 50, Blue Lizard, Coppertone Pure and Simple, Aveeno Positively Mineral SPF 50, Aveeno Baby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 50 and Kiss my Face Purely Mineral SPF 30 These are the ones I found on my recent trip to our local Walmart.

Bronzing Chemical Free for the Body: Including glow and bronzing formulations at the Spring Boutique. Colorescience Total Protection Sunforgettable Body Shield Bronze SPF 50.

Zinc Sticks for KIDS  (and lazy Mommas) – My kids love being able to put on their own sunscreen with sunscreen sticks. I like that I can tuck it into a purse or bag easily. Examples are containing only Zinc, and Titanium include Neutrogena’s Pure Baby Sunscreen Stick, Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Stick, Bare Republic stick, Babyganics pure mineral sunscreen stick, Coppertone Pure, and Simple Stick.  All are available at Walmart. Also, Coola baby ORGANIC mineral stick and Colorescience Total Protection Sport Stick.

Spray Sunscreen WITH Zinc –  Coola ORGANIC Mineral Spray, BARE Mineral Spray Sunscreen, Kiss My Face Purely Mineral SPF 30 Spray,  

Lip Balms and Glosses – Lipage, Colorscience and Elta MD. All

Brush on Sunscreen – Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush on Sunscreen and NEW ZO Skin Health Brush on Sunscreen. Both available in the Spring Boutique.

To learn more about Sunscreen from a Dermatologist’s Perspective. Check out my other recent blog posts: What’s New and Hot in Sunscreen, Sunscreen Basics, I’ve Had Skin Cancer-Now What, and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

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