Does anyone have any experience with a decent sunscreen that doesn't irritate the eyes?
I used to use Banana Boat Sport as it used to stay on well and never hurt, but for some reason they have changed the formulation over the last 2 or 3 years, and when it runs into my eyes it absolutely stings.
Anyone have any good recommendations for a sunscreen that stays on and doesn't irritate? I usually stay on the water for a few hours, and its no fun flying along having it drip into my eyes.
I am also interested.
Does sunscreen have a use by date.
I think my 5 yr old economy pack no longer works but does not sting eyes, not sure what it is as label fell off yrs ago.
Glad you brought it up FormulaNova. I've had numerous sessions nearly ruined by "good quality" brand name sunscreens which stung my eyes so much I had to stop sailing.
I have been trying this one lately, rubbing it very close to my eyes- no stinging so far. If I rub a drop of cream directly on to my eye it will have a very mild sting for a short while- but nowhere near as bad as all the others. I think part of it is the creaminess that prevents it from running too.
www.wearefeelgoodinc.com.au/collections/all/products/coconut-sunscreen-lotion-spf-50
Clarence
The Cancer Council Active (dry) is closest I've found
Grey and yellow logo
much more pricey
Is this vain?? Each morning I use NIVEA Men = Moisturiser and Sunscreen (SPF15) - This soaks in. So never caught out with nothing...
(the SPF scale is logarithmic so it is into the 90's protection)
As long as the kids have put back where they found it
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Last minute on the beach I have zinc cream for across the forehead nose etc. I wear contacts so no desire to have crap run into the eyes..
Slap any old sunscreen on elsewhere..
Best is a hat with brim - but I am not doing aerial tricks (intentionally!!
)
Cheers
AP
Been using the Sun Bum range of late and have no trouble with stingy eyes... Pretty sure it is reef friendly too.
Do you care what you look like? If you don't mind being a bit gimpish then get a Facekini.
Invisible zinc for forehead and around eyes, cancer council stuff for the rest.
I think the problem is the dribble of chemical into the eyes from your forehead when you sweat.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
The Cancer Council Active (dry) is closest I've found
Grey and yellow logo
much more pricey
I just visited their shop and I will give it a try. I bought the Active Dry and the Sport versions. I will try them out next time I go sailing.
The Dry is quite surprising. It dries very quickly. Is it as effective in sun protection? At least with the greasy ones I know its still there.
This may also help me with getting sunscreen on the boom. I find if I am not careful that the boom gets very slippery and makes for a difficult time when it comes to gybing sometimes. The Dry won't have that problem by the look of it.
I know its possible to get sunscreens that don't irritate my eyes. I know this because the old Banana Boat sport never bothered me, but when they changed to their 'new' formulation which was more fluid, it also started to irritate my eyes when I would sweat or it dripped down.
Most of the stuff they sell here is a milk, rather than a cream. Put it on in thin, strategic layers before I get to the water, then a regular liberal splash when I get out of the car. I've NEVER had it run into my eyes ... so long as I wasn't sweating buckets when I put it on.
BTW the list the NZ cancer council published ... a lot of them failed third-party testing 
www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/99428932/some-of-our-sunscreens-fail-basic-reason-for-being
I know mine works because I simply don't get sunburned ... even in NZ.
Island Tribe - Aloe based clear gel ,works well , 4 hours+ in the water ,No tears 
Select to expand quotepoor relative said..
Plain old bottle of zinc and a wide brim hat
Works a treat no crying
Messy but yes effective.
Might as well wear a berker
The reason you're crying is all the crap in the sunscreen.
Clear zinc oxide based sunscreen without all the petrochemicals is the only safe option all around - and you can use it all over. Plus zinc is good for the skin.
It's debatable whether traditional nano-particulate sunscreens loaded with parabens, PABA's and petrochemicals are carcinogenic.
I'd rather not take the risk for the sake of a few bob on a tube of the good stuff.
Select to expand quoteAdriano said..
The reason you're crying is all the crap in the sunscreen.
Clear zinc oxide based sunscreen without all the petrochemicals is the only safe option all around - and you can use it all over. Plus zinc is good for the skin.
It's debatable whether traditional nano-particulate sunscreens loaded with parabens, PABA's and petrochemicals are carcinogenic.
I'd rather not take the risk for the sake of a few bob on a tube of the good stuff.
Well, the thing that is annoying is that I never had eye irritation with the old formulation of sunscreen, it was just when they changed it. So, something in it now affects my eyes.
I googled it and there is a mention of avobenzone (aka butyl methoxydibenzoyl-methane) being the ingredient that causes eye irritation, but then another result that says it is only when there is also oxybenzone. This is all confusing to me and the only way I will know for sure is to try one and see if it irritates or not. I don't know what combination of chemicals is going to do what, so its better to just ask for other people's experiences and give them a try.
The cancer council ones are the easiest for me to get, so I will try them first.
Clear or invisible zinc. Less chemicals. It's thick and stays on. You're at the beach so who gives a fat rats rectum what people think, if you're worried about what it looks like. No tears for me. All the other crap my wife has makes my skin tingle and runs into my eyes....it burns. I can't say i cry but i get pretty pissed off. Therefore i go the thick ** that is hard to wash off in the surf.
Funny - I found that the grey & yellow cancer council one caused my eyes to sting badly on Sunday when I went for a long bike ride and was sweating... but I never seem to have issues with the black & white banana boat one... Go figure.
and I use the clear zinc in the surf - but it is no where near clear - that is marketing BS. It's pasty white.
Select to expand quoteGPA said..
Funny - I found that the grey & yellow cancer council one caused my eyes to sting badly on Sunday when I went for a long bike ride and was sweating... but I never seem to have issues with the black & white banana boat one... Go figure.
and I use the clear zinc in the surf - but it is no where near clear - that is marketing BS. It's pasty white.
Heh, for me that is clear
I tried the Sport and the Active Dry one's today. It wasn't a really good test as I was on a bike ride and the hot dry wind evaporated all the sweat, so nothing ran into my eyes.
Surf Mud for the face, sticks like sh1t to a blanket, bit expensive but goes a long way.
Keysun Invisible Zinc
Just put it on a 10 Minutes or more before you hit the water.
I found the coles brand sunscreen works for me. Its cheap and doesn't get into my eyes. Even skiff sailing where you are constantly getting water on your face.
You could try what this Chinese chick does and cover your face in elastoplast strips
Been seriously considering buying a handful of these cheap buffs off the web. Not the death squad skull types , just some predominantly white ones with a splash of bright colour ( the latter being extremely important) 
Add a couple of hot cut holes for your eyes with a soldering iron to prevent fraying and you're in business. I've yet to try it myself tho , but I'm going to bcos I don't give a flying _ _ _ _ what anybody else thinks 
