Best suntan lotion
 

To all of you Hawaii veterans, what kind/brand of suntan lotion do you find the best to use in the hot Hawaii sun?

I spend 4 to 6 weeks a year in the Caribbean, and more important than what brand you use is gauging when to use it, how much/how often to apply, and most importantly - keeping a close eye on your exposure.<BR>It also depends on your age (you want kids to have on the most/highest SPF), your complexion (if you are light skinned or burn easily, you need a higher SPF).<BR>There is NO faster way to ruin a vacation than a nasty sunburn.<BR>I usually try to get a base tan before I go and start out conservatively with 15 SPF, then move to 8 or 4 and finally nothing.<BR>If I get a little pink on my shoulders or chest, I put a 15 or 25 or complete block on that area for a couple of days.<BR>Of course, a dermatologist will tell you NO sun, but I just can't wean myself off my vacation tans :)<BR>I do however, get NO sun on my face, and use make-up to match it to the rest of me.<BR>As far as brands go, I've used everything from cheapie to $50 a bottle stuff, and there is not too much difference. I like the lotions as opposed to the oils as they are not so greasy and wash out more easily if they get on clothing.<BR>Hawaiian Tropic makes a nice botanical lotion that smells great.<BR>(Be sure to also get some waterproof stuff.)<BR>Have fun!

It's NOT about HOT!<BR><BR>The best sunscreen is one that's pleasant to use, non-greasy and not smelly.<BR><BR>My favorite brand used to be Neutrogena, but after seeing it in a Consumer Reports article I tried and really like Banana Boat Faces Plus.<BR>Stupid name, great product.

I've found Neutrogena to be best. It's completely non greasy. You can now get it in a pump spray bottle that makes it easy to apply.<BR> By the way, don't skimp on the SPF. 15 is a minimum and local residents use 30.

Aloohaaa and Happy Friday!<BR>Here's a link someone posted here on this same subject awhile back. http://www.lloyd-derm.com/skinbasic/skinfacts.html<BR><BR>mauibound-when will you be going?<BR>My &quot;fairskinned&quot; local friends tell me they use 40-somehting SPF in the summer and 15-30s in the winter. <BR><BR>Having just gone thru some quite nasty skin cancer surgery Jan 02, (can you say oozing chest wound?) I used the 40ish for the first 10 days over this past '02/'03 vist then switched to 15 the final week and I still have a nice Kauai tan working.<BR><BR>I did get my worst burn over there on a cool, overcast day, our 1st day over, and thought &quot;I don't need any sunscreen today. I'll get my first &quot;layer&quot; out of the way&quot;.<BR>Can you say &quot;lobster&quot;? Can you stay &quot;stupid&quot;? Never again!<BR>Mahalo,<BR>Krispy Kal<BR>

Kal, you've HAD skin cancer and you're STILL tanning!!!<BR><BR>I was never much of a sun person anyway, but after ONE pre-cancerous lesion was cut out of my face in by 30s, I swore of all tanning.

Kal,<BR>Hope your life insurance is paid up..can't BELIEVE you're still tanning. I bet you'll be the best looking guy on the cemetary!

Gosh, you guys sure are judgemental.<BR>I guess none of you smoke, drink, or are overweight. (All of which kill far more people yearly than skin cancer.)<BR>Yes, it may not be what you would do, but it's Kal's choice, hurts no one but him (unlike smoking and drinking) and he's the only one to decide.

If you mean sunscreen vs suntan ... I am fair-skinned and burn very easily. I did a cross-country bicycle ride LA-Boston and was worried about burning to a crisp on the SW deserts. The strongest SPF I ever used was 25 and it did it's trick - and I used any cheap store brand I could find. BTW, also got a pretty good tan too, but not burning was my primary concern.

SPF 45. ALL suntaning of the skin is your skins reaction to being attacked by UVA and UVB rays. Why do you want a suntan? Its like eating poison, then throwing up as a natural reaction.

Calm down, people. Stop wagging your fingers at poor mauibound. <BR><BR>mauibound, I also like all the Neutrogena sunblock products. They aren't greasy and do a great job. I was on Maui in Nov/Dec and wore spf 45 and 30; sometimes spf 15 but only on my legs (which for some reason, never burn like the rest of my body). Definitely go HIGH with the spfs, you don't want to burn on your first day and ruin the rest of the vacation.

YIKES!!!!!<BR>Yes. I still like to get a nice tan but do I lather up in baby oil and lay out in the sun for an hour or two during peak &quot;burn&quot; hours and walk around without a shirt on like I used to when I was about 50# lighter, NO! :-) <BR><BR>But since swimming, snorkeling, golfing, hiking et al, are all done outdoors, I still need/use a high sunscreen with all the additives.<BR><BR>I still fly after 9-11, drive over the Bay Bridge after the '89 E'quake and I still will sass my dear old, gray haired Mom from time to time so I'll continue to lather on the 30/40SPF+ for the first days and get a nice tan. <BR>Kremey Kal

I use the Coppertone Sports Gel (SPF 30). It's oilfree and absorbs great. No greasy feeling.

I am very fair and have sensitive skin and have found that the Banana Boat sunscreen and sunblock products work well and don't iritate my skin. <BR><BR>When to apply the sunscreen is very important. When I am going to be in the sun, I put it on right after my morning shower so that it has a chance to be on my skin long enough to be effective by the time I get out in the sun. Then I reapply it at mid day - unless I have been in the water sweating, then I reapply sooner.

We are frequent visitors to Hawaii and being from the Pacific Northwest arrive on the islands with skin that hasn't seen sunlight in years. We are religious about avoiding sunburns (haven't always been, but like Kal have had a few wake-up calls.) We love a sunscreen that is made on Maui by a local dermatologist- it's called Doc Marten's (or Doc Martin's) and is available at Long's Drugstores on Maui (it's usually back on the pharmacy counter), also available at Mana Foods in Paia and perhaps, from Doc Marten's website. We heard about it from some Maui surfer friends who use it because it lasts all day and isn't greasy. It doesn't cause rashes like some of the other long acting Bullfrog-type sunscreens. We love it for our kids too because we don't have to keep applying it to their squirming little bodies. Definitely worth checking out. We had no sunburns during a 5 week trip to Maui in July/August and bought a load of it to take to the Big Island this past December.

Please. There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Ask ANY dermatologist. All agree with this. <BR><BR>Someone offered this advise: &quot;...for the first days and get a nice tan&quot; This is a dangerous practice and may lead to Melonoma.

This very fair complexioned Registered Nurse says NO TANNING! and use Coppertone Oil-Free SPF 30 for the body, and Clinique city block SPF 25 for the face.

I like Ban de Soleil because it smells so good.

There is this amazing smelling stuff called &quot;Maui Babe&quot; you can buy at Longs drugs and most ABC stores. I used it on top of my 30 spf because it gave me a browny bronzed look with out actually getting too tanned. It smells like Kona coffee and it is just too much fun! I actually do not tan as practice, but this stuff made me feel like I was walking on the wild side of the sun. (pretty pathetic,huh?)Kal, I was thinking if you tried it you could be Krispy,Kremey, Kona Kal!

I had a melanoma removed last year. My doctor advised using sunscreen every day, all year long. She said to use PreSun 15 right out of the morning shower (at least 1/2 hour before leaving the house). I use 30 on my face. Tanning? Never. Haven't in years. Damage was done in my teens or 20's. Lesson learned.