Sweat-proof SPF for face

SueWho

Can anyone recommend a good SPF for running which does not just slide off your face as soon as you work up a sweat? I don't care if it's really thick or greasy and the kind of stuff you'd never use in any other situation; I just want something for running outside that I can be sure is protecting my face. Thanks!

hunnymonster

P20 works well for me.

SueWho

Great thanks, I'll give it a try!

xebec

I've used P20 and Parasol for years for sports - including watersports - and never had any problems. The only query I have is the level of UVA protection, but they're still my sunscreen of choice... And it's more of an oily substance, so doesn't leave any nasty residue on the skin once applied and can very easily be used in social situations as well as running...

emerald007

As an add on to this question

1: What are the recommendations for the best time to apply SPF before a run?

2: In terms of longer runs (say marathon training sessions of about ~2hours), is there any benefit in applying a second layer mid-run to improve protection?

thanks

hunnymonster

at leat 30 minutes before you go out. preferably even longer
P20 lasts all day so no reapplication needed. I've used it for ironman (with the swim) and MDS (a week long event) and been fine.

chinguetti

Thanks to a recommendation from my housemate, i use La Roche-Posay factor 50 and it does the trick.

Woddle

emerald007 wrote: »

As an add on to this question

1: What are the recommendations for the best time to apply SPF before a run?

2: In terms of longer runs (say marathon training sessions of about ~2hours), is there any benefit in applying a second layer mid-run to improve protection?

thanks

I was recommended one called parasol, it's by a Carlow company and I now use only this and I use it on the kids aswell. Apply it once, 20-30 mins beforehand and thats it, no top ups required, best thing ever, nearlly sure(if memory is correct) that it has won international awards,

jlang

For P20/Parasol type products it is essential to read and follow the instructions. If you go out in the sun too soon after application, it won't have bonded to the skin correctly and you won't have any protection. No point reapplying when in the sun as it won't increase protection and may harm the previous layer you already have. Any time I've seen people get sunburnt using it, it could be put down to user error. Also, some people have issues with P20 reacting with their skin (allergies/rashes etc). I've heard less of this with Parasol. One other thing - P20 permanently stains clothes so you have been warned.

Personally, they work well for me but then I'm not especially fair and don't tend to be badly affected by the sun, so for me 20x is probably enough for most of a day in the heat. I find P20's great for holidays when I can put it on as soon as I have my morning shower and can sit around inside with no shirt on for a while until it dries and then not have to worry about the sun for the rest of the day. I don't really use it here as it wouldn't always suit me to apply it well before going in the sun and I put on regular sun cream if doing a run/cycle on a very sunny day (if I think of it).

Regarding regular sun cream, you get 15x/20x/etc your allowable base time in the sun (can be less than 5 minutes for typically Irish skinned people) but you need to be careful to reapply and always apply thickly and evenly to ensure that. And, no matter the product, once you've had your time in the sun (20x or whatever), you can burn no matter what product you continue to apply. Any sign of heat/burn and you've reached your quota!

(Probably wrote too much here but I've seen too many people burn because they didn't follow the instructions or just got too much sun.)

hunnymonster

jlang, given the headlines in all yesterdays papers about the rapidly increasing incidence in skin cancer, this is probably a topic we should have discussed in more detail before now. No such thing as too much on a serious topic.