Why so many variants of sunscreen?

[darkxshade]

Is there a reason why they don't just make say the SPF-70? Is there something the lower SPF has that the higher doesn't? Which one do you typically buy/use and why?

 

[RESmonkey]

It's all for the benjamins (marketing). That's my guess.

 

[Platypus]

probably for people who want to tan but not burn.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I think I remember reading somewhere that after a certain point it doesn't really matter. I imagine the lower level stuff is easier to make/easier to make it not oily or other bad undesirable properties.

 

[darkxshade]

The choices are too many and it's giving me a headache. Any input on the lotion vs the spray besides the difference in price?

 

[InflatableBuddha]

I think I remember reading somewhere that after a certain point it doesn't really matter. I imagine the lower level stuff is easier to make/easier to make it not oily or other bad undesirable properties.

From what I've read, anything above SPF 30 is superfluous, and anything below SPF 15 doesn't last long enough. So I always buy SPF 30.

The lotion and spray work equally well, but the spray feels less "greasy". Oh, and the sweat-resistant sunscreens actually do work better, although you still need to reapply after a few hours.

 

[purbeast0]

in my experience the numbers make a HUGE difference.

if i use 50 or so I can be in the sun for hours and not even get a tan.

if I use 30 or so I can be in the sun for hours and I will get a very small tan.

if I use 15 or so I can be in the sun for hours and I will get pretty tan and probably some burn as well.

if I use 8 or so and am in the sun for hours i will be burnt to a crisp.

and this is if i'm at the beach that is lattitude wise to where I live in MD.

when I went to barbados last week I got burnt as hell wearing 30 because the sun is stronger there and I was closer to the equator. i was glad as hell I didn't start out with 15 because I would have been in a lot of pain!

 

[KeithTalent]

I never buy sunscreen, so I have no idea. Bring on the cancer!

KT

 

[darkxshade]

Don't really care for the tan lines. Sweat-resistant SPF 70 spray it is.

 

[Kadarin]

When I was in the Bahamas (Atlantis resort) a couple of years ago, I used some SPF30 and lasted all day in the waterslides without getting a burn.

 

[zinfamous]

It's all for the benjamins (marketing). That's my guess.

yeah. after a certian number it went on to marketing...probably b/c R&D was too damn expensive to not bring a product to market, despite data that concludes "this is no better than SPF x" etc.

 

[dullard]

SPF 7 is about the same as a white shirt. SPF 15 is basically all that anyone would ever need.

The catch is that most people apply far too little with each use, and apply far too few times. Thus, for those people, SPF 30 may be slightly better. But they are basically fooling themselves into thinking they have protection. Above 30 and it is just marketing to make you want to pay more for the same protection.

One 8 oz BOTTLE should last someone in a swimsuit ONE day (2 oz per application, several applications per day). If you keep a bottle for longer than that, you aren't using it right.

 

[lxskllr]

When I was outside all the time I didn't wear any. Now that I'm not outside so much, I'd probably wear 30.

 

[ShawnD1]

Lower number stuff is easier to apply. I bought some SPF 70 when I worked construction and it was as thick as axle grease.

 

[Brainonska511]

Above a certain SPF, the stuff wears off faster (absorption into skin) than it would protect you. SPF 30-50 is the range to buy in.

 

[natto fire]

Probably for the same reason that they make 8 varieties of canned soup that are essentially the same, or that a cereal aisle looks not unlike a science lab.

That said, I do not use sunblock. I really should down here in the subtropics, as I do get burned, but it seems to pass the next day, so I don't bother.

 

[BUTCH1]

Above a certain SPF, the stuff wears off faster (absorption into skin) than it would protect you. SPF 30-50 is the range to buy in.

What happens is most sunscreens absorb the UV light but get destroyed in the process so frequent re-application is necessary. IMO the best sunscreens are ones with Titanium dioxide or Zinc oxide as they are not absorbers but reflectors of UV rays. I work for Hawaiian Tropic..

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always take the highest possible. No matter what I will still get a sunburn if I'm outside more then a few hours, but at least it wont be as bad.

 

[TridenT]

http://castroller.com/podcasts/StuffMomNever/1521241-What%20do SPF numbers mean Listen to that if you want to know.

 

[TridenT]

And I've only used sunscreen while I was in Hawaii... and I only did it because my mother insisted... But I was in the water almost all the time so it washed off practically instantly (even though it was "water resistant")... needless to say, I got tan pretty fast.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

From what I've read, anything above SPF 30 is superfluous, and anything below SPF 15 doesn't last long enough. So I always buy SPF 30.

It depends on where you live. SPF15 here is absolutely useless in the summer, you may as well save yourself the trouble and not put on any.

 

[Red Squirrel]

lol do they even make SPF15 still? That is a joke. Sure, maybe 20 years ago when the ozone was thicker it worked.

 

[reallyscrued]

I'm brown.

 

[natto fire]

It depends on where you live. SPF15 here is absolutely useless in the summer, you may as well save yourself the trouble and not put on any.

Where I am at, just barely over the tropic of cancer at 27 degrees, means I should take more precautions. I don't because my lineage gives me a slight buffer. I have not had an extreme sunburn for over 10 years.///

 

[Chaotic42]

I always take the highest possible. No matter what I will still get a sunburn if I'm outside more then a few hours, but at least it wont be as bad.

Same. I live along the gulf coast, so I can get burned in February.