Unlisted Brand • Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen SPF 30 Sensitive • Sunscreen

Where To Buy?

*TOP REVIEWER* jmarie on 4/18/2009 2:21:00 PM more reviews by jmarie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Silver, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I really wanted this to be the perfect sunscreen. It goes on very white, but feels great. Once it sank in it left my face feeling and looking very smooth. The problem was that it provided very little protection. I went fishing for 4 hours and my face was quite pink when I got home. I may use this as a makeup primer, but I can't trust it as a sunscreen.

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*TOP REVIEWER* urstandingonmytoes on 4/5/2009 11:03:00 AM more reviews by urstandingonmytoes

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Green    

I read in the April 2009 addition of First magazine that "Austrailia banned the use of oxybenzone in sunscreens there because the chemical doesn't deflect the suns's uva radiation, it converts it to a less damaging form..but research shows that uva rays quickly overwhelm oxybenzone, allowing them to deeply penetrate skin and damage its structural collagen and DNA"....well dang. EVERY single sunscreen I have is based on this. UNTIL I found Blue Lizard--which is one that First mag recommends btw.
Blue Lizard is a zinc oxide/titanium dioxide sunscreen and when u first put it on, it is WHITE, but it quickly sinks in and disappears. I don't get my pic taken a lot so, I don't know about how it photographs as other people have commented and honestly..I don't really care. A whiter face in a photo is worth not having an older face in real life IMHO. It does feel a bit greasy when applied, but with MMU over top, that is instantly gone and I didn't have to blot all day long. It also acted as a primer and let my MMU go on really smooth.
I'd been discouraged with MMU recently and tried CG ageless (which is a nice foundation btw) but, I actually preferred the look of MMU/BL versus CG/reg SS. Maybe its just me but my face seemed smoother and my pores less noticeable. I haven't had any breakouts which is a good thing, because I live my life worrying about any new product causing zit eruptions. Honestly, now that I know about oxybenzone, I won't buy another product with it as an ingredient.
Blue Lizard was $10 at CVS they has it in Sensitive and Sport. You can also buy it at Drugstore.com and I think they carry the baby formula also.
EDIT::: Well..crap...this is clogging my pores something fierce. I was afraid this would happen, because it is soooooo THICK. I will save this for my body for this summer and look into some of the powder formulas that are zinc oxide/titanium dioxide for my face, I think BE and Peter Thomas Roth make them...I just hate having to shell out $30 for it..but its better than having a face full of acne!

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GalileosDaughter on 3/29/2009 8:58:00 PM more reviews by GalileosDaughter

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

Goes on white and thick and unfortunately stays that way. Lucky for me I'm as white as the sunscreen. :) Since it is the *only* sunscreen that doesn't irritate my rosacea-sensitive skin, however, I just put up with it and convince myself that "pale is the new tan."

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ztirkazoid on 3/29/2009 12:17:00 PM more reviews by ztirkazoid

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Black    

Great all-physical sunscreen that does the job, but is not cosmetically elegant. Picked a tube up as it was being liquidated @ a nearby drugstore. Non-comedogenic. I used this primarily under makeup. Leaves a noticeable white cast so I look paler in photos with this on -- never had a problem like that before with other physical and non-physical sunscreens. Will not re-purchase.

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greenclover on 3/24/2009 6:20:00 AM more reviews by greenclover

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is he best sunscreen. It has the oxides (titanium and zinc) as its prime sunscreens which are amongst the most effective, stable sunscreens. I have sensitive skin and sunscreen often burns. This does not. It doesn't irritate my skin at all. I also have sensitive eyes and I can use it around my eyes and it doesn't burn, even if it leaches in after swimming. It does make you a bit white looking. I help with this by applying a sheer layer and rubbing it in. Price is not bad but for the amount of sunscreen I like to use its not the cheapest. It is worth it to me though for more natural (its not completely natural) and effective brand that doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. Would be great for babies.

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zacksskin on 3/3/2009 11:41:00 PM more reviews by zacksskin

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Other    

Love this product this is the only produt that does not break out my hyper (note HYPER) sensitve acne prone rosacea skin. I am allergic to aloe vera,menthol,peppermint, and almost every other natural ingredient that they put into skincare products Shiseido is still my favorite for skin products they are awesome! Anyway, this product has the same feel of neutrogena and after a minute in sinks in. I love this because this does not let me tan and I have tanned with the neutrogena spf 85! If you want a tan then just buy any other sunscreen out there! And if you find a sunscreen that does not let you tan let me know. Ive tanned with every single sunscreen out there PTR, Neutrogena,bioderma etc,etc,etc. I have not tanned with the shiseido one but the only problem is that its kinda hard to take off. It doen't smell like anything to me it smells like just the plastic tube that its in.

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dpenn on 3/3/2009 2:19:00 PM more reviews by dpenn

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I *really* wanted to love this product...an all physical sunscreen for a decent price, with decent ingredients, all available at my local drugstore.

The whitecast & greasy sheen that this left on my skin made it unusable for me. I'd still recommend for use on arms, etc., but that's about as far as I'd go.

The bottle that changes colour is cute, although the product I purchased came in a tube that doesn't. According to the ingredient lists, both the Baby & Sensitive had the same contents.

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cheekyguy on 12/12/2008 3:06:00 PM more reviews by cheekyguy

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I'm reviewing this product after repurchasing it again and again. I do not like it for daily use, but if I am going to receive more than the usual driving to work exposure or whatever I'll use this. I've tried the La Roche Posay SX SPF 15 and Neutrogena Dry Touch SPF 55 and above, as well as the Banana Boat sunscreens with Avotriplex. They all sting my skin, even before I was using Tazorac .05%. I want the best protection, of course, but I also do not want stinging, blotchy red skin or burning eyes.

This stuff isn't as greasy as Vanicream, as recommended by my dermatologist. Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 30+ is actually more runny and lotion-like than most physical sunscreens. I have tried Shiseido and hate the price and scent and that sometimes I feel like I need heavy duty cleanser to remove it. All of that is way too much for sensitive skin on retinoids. I know a lot of people on here are balls-out crazy about SPF and I used to be, but I gotta get out in a hurry in the morning usually. For daily wear I love Purpose Dual Treatment SPF 15. Sticking to these and going to post this review for posterity sake and to remind myself that I always encounter problems with chemical sunscreens no matter what.

This stuff is also affordable and fairly easy to find. I always go to Ulta in Los Angeles to pick it up. Sometimes CVS will have it, but not always. Anyway, I'd give this a 5 lip if it were water resistant, but then it might be less pleasant to wear. Lack of stinging, convenience to find, as well as affordability make it an A+ in my book. Ok, giving it a 5 lip!

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stinkpot on 12/3/2008 10:23:00 AM more reviews by stinkpot

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I use both Retin-A and a 4% skin lightener (Obagi ) for sun damage I did before I got wise and started seeing a dermatologist. I was using Sheiseido (sp?) SPF 55 P+++, but I was still seeing brown spots, or melasma, from my birth control and previous tanning. My dermatologist carries this in his office super-cheap, and he suggested I start using it as my regular morning sunscreen. He informed me that anything that doesn't have a physical sunscreen isn't going to do the job. It's thick, and it's difficult to get the correct amount for my face out of the bottle, so I usually end up getting too much or too little in my hands to apply to my face (this isn't a big deal because it's so cheap and a bottle will last forever). If you apply it out of the bottle, it will turn your face as white as a sheet of paper. I always blend it with a liquid bronzer, so essentially I create a tinted sunscreen. It works beautifully. It isn't greasy, I've never had a breakout, and the brown areas on my face have disappeared. This is definately (along with my liquid bronzer) my HG. I wear it religiously. The mixture covers any imperfections and adds a nice glow. I've learned that there's nothing you can buy over the counter (except for eye cream to moisturize) that will do anything to improve your skin. I see my dermatologist every three months and my complexion is practically flawless due to his prescriptions and and advice. If you have any problems with previous sun damage or acne, don't waste your money at the beauty counter or drugstore. Run, don't walk to a good dermatologist!!!

Update:
I emailed Blue Lizard, and they told me that mixing the liquid bronzer with the ss was diluting the protection. This was a huge disappointment, because I loved the look I was getting from the liquid bronzer. I switched to Elta MD SPF 41 (please see my review) because it's all physical and also tinted. I'll continue to use Blue Lizard on my body.

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TheSweetLife on 9/7/2008 10:37:00 PM more reviews by TheSweetLife

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I bought this sunscreen to use on my kids and on my arms/body. [+] It is a chemical free screen and thats the main reason I purchased it; so far so good! [-] It is pretty thick and leaves a white-ish cast for a couple of minutes but this seems to go away. I am fairly pale too so it might show up more on someone with a darker skin tone. [-] It can be greasy/heavy feeling too so I would not use this on my face.
Yes I would buy this again; [+] price is reasonable for a chemical-free sunscreen but [-] it does contain parabens and I haven't decided how I feel about that yet.

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*TOP REVIEWER* msgrape on 7/20/2008 9:38:00 PM more reviews by msgrape

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

These is the first sunscreen that did NOT break me out. I used it on my face and spent all week at the beach. No burn...No breakouts and it actually made my face look more matte like I had foundation on. A++

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snis on 6/11/2008 4:58:00 PM more reviews by snis

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

OMG! This stuff started stining me the minute I put it on. My dermatologist gave me a sample of this because he suspected that chemical sunscreens were breaking me out. I put it on my arm and it immediately irritated me. So much for mineral sunscreen being less irritating. Thank goodness I didn't buy this stuff! The sample packet didn't have a list of the ingredients so I went online after using this stuff,(should've done that before). It has no fragrance but has castor oil which seems to make me itch. I have used Alba Botanica unpetroleum jelly which also has castor oil and had a similar result.

If you have truly sensitive skin as I do, please read the ingredient list first to determine if any of these ingredients are irritating to you before actually using and if not do a patch test on your arm or other body part to see how you react

Back to the drawing board for me in search of some sunscreen that does not cause irritation.

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*TOP REVIEWER* oasdus on 5/21/2008 8:08:00 AM more reviews by oasdus

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

So far, this is the ss I'm reaching for the most. This is heavy duty sun protection. It does have a white cast as it's going on, but I consider that my "color guide" for application, because it then goes away. My skin is pretty light, so any paleness from the ss blends pretty well. I normally don't sunless tan my face either because with my skin care products, no tan (even a real one) is going to stay long. It is a little difficult to spread if you're used to thinner formulas, but I tend to spread it and then gently pat it around into my skin. It's shiny at first, and then settles down. I cover it with foundation and powder. I love that it's an all physical blocker and that it contains high amounts of zinc and titanium. I will update after I have used this longer.

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sunflower77 on 5/11/2008 7:46:00 PM more reviews by sunflower77

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Upon first application on my body, this sunscreen feels heavy and greasy. It is difficult to spread and leaves a white cast. However, after several minutes, it dries to a matte finish. It is sort of weird, from greasy to a matte finish. On my face, the sunscreen somehow irritated my eyes after five to six hours.

The good thing about this sunscreen is that it does not contain fragrance and chemical sunscreen ingredients. It is a physical sunscreen, which contains Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

Chemical sunscreens have their own problems. Some active chemical sunscreen ingredients (for example, oxybenzone) are easily absorbed into the skin; others (such as octinoxate) may even have some weak hormonal effects, and some seem to be accumulating in the environment (for example, in water supplies). At this point, it is impossible to determine whether some of these ingredients will turn out to have long-term effects.

I will not repurchase this sunscreen for two reasons: it is too difficult to spread it on my skin and the irritation it caused on my eyes.

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*TOP REVIEWER* brighid_karis on 2/3/2008 1:19:00 PM more reviews by brighid_karis

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is the best drugstore sunscreen I've found. It's nearly impossible to find a physical sunscreen at the drugstore, and when I do, it usually contains several chemicals and a very small percentage of titanium or zinc (as in less than 3%). That's just not enough UVA coverage for my sun-paranoid self. Besides, I look for physical sunscreens because my skin hates the chemicals; they sting and cause redness, especially when I'm in the sun.
Blue Lizard has 10% zinc oxide and 5% titanium dioxide, which is impressive for the price. I've been using it every day on exposed body parts, and I carry it in my labcoat pocket to apply after hand-washing. It makes a great moisturizing lotion and dries fairly quickly without being greasy or too shiny. You do have to spend a little more time rubbing it in, but once you do, the white cast is minimal to non-existent.

I used it on my face for a couple of days. It didn't break me out at all, but I felt like it somehow made my face look more dry while simultaneously increasing the oily melt-off of my foundation. I'll probably try to find a way to make it work, though, as it's much less expensive than Shiseido or MAC sunscreens.
EDIT -- Still not breaking me out, and now I just layer a bit of Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel over it as a makeup primer, and all greasiness/flakiness is gone. This sunscreen is the absolute best for the price!

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saratink on 1/14/2008 11:46:00 AM more reviews by saratink

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I really wanted to like this sunscreen, based on other positive reviews that I've read on MUA and elsewhere, but it just isn't for me. My skin is combo oily and dry, and has some flaking that isn't normally noticeable once I put on my extra virgin olive oil as a moisturizer, but when I use this sunscreen, all my little flakes become white and extremely noticeable. Plus, even though my skin is dry from using Retin-A, this makes it look extremely oily. It does somewhat even out my skin due to the whitish cast, but I can't stand the way it looks/feels on my face. I haven't used it for enough days in a row to know if it makes me break out or not. Overall, the price is not bad, and I like that it doesn't have any chemical blockers, so I will use it on my neck/body, but it's not the right formula for me to use every day on my face. I am thinking about trying Fallene Cotz next, as I live in Arizona and need a strong suncreen that I can use on my face daily.

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*TOP REVIEWER* gingerrama on 11/29/2007 2:39:00 PM more reviews by gingerrama

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Fine   Eyes: Green    

UPDATED 05/2009. Overall rating of 5 as this stuff works. In that it will protect your skin from solar attack. Which is, after all, the point.

Blue Lizard Baby and Sensitive sunscreens are heavy, mineral/physical only (10% zinc oxide, 5% titanium dioxide), and do their job well; identical formulae, slightly different packaging, more or less the same price. Originally formulated in Australia, now based in US c/o Crown and Del-Ray Dermatologicals.

The main thing is that this stuff works: in that, on Gingerrama-style sensitive photosensitive skin under intense sun (inc. Antipodes), there is neither irritated reaction nor burning. Can be used all over, inc. face. On face: pour a blob (roughly 1/4-1/2 teasp.) into palm of hand, apply one dot each to forehead, nose, one on each cheek; rub the rest between fingers and thumbs and apply to ears. Then go round your dots on the face and neck and massage in. Same again with about another 1/2 teasp. for neck and throat/upper bosom. And hands. Similarly for tops of feet and so on, other exposed body parts in sunnier weather ...

This is not an "elegant" sunscreen - one of those lightweight siliconey veils, that practically apply themselves. Texture between a heavy lotion and a cream; has to be rubbed between fingertips and massaged in well. On non-pale people, this may well leave a white cast, even when rubbed in properly. It will initially feel gloopy. On my skin (normal, dry and oilier patches) it doesn't feel greasy. Then again, it doesn't feel as matte and velvety as Clarins UV Plus, Dermalogica Super Sensitive, or Glycolix Elite. It will also keep sinking in over the ten minutes or so after application, after which it will feel invisibly pleasant; so wait a little before applying make-up. Can't comment much on m/u staying-power, as I usually wear at most some kind of powder, and that only in very hot weather (arrowroot, silk, or else loose or pressed powder).

In more intense sun, reapply mid-way through the day. Otherwise lasts all day. One of the most soothing things on photosensitive/allergic hives. I remove using a variant on double-cleansing - usually an oil (currently sunflower), then usual cleanser.

Not too expensive - USD 13.00 for 5 fl. oz/150 ml; USD 18.00 for 9 fl. oz./260 ml; USD 160.00 for a gallon - and easy to get hold of online (these price are from drugstore.com, 05/2009; also on Amazon and other Usual Suspects). Can be found in many US drugstores and superstores too. Baby is in a pink bottle, Sensitive in white/blue. Usually around the same price, though sometimes the one will be about a buck more than the other (have identified no pattern to this). The bottles are interesting, changing colour under more intense UV light; I'm not sure how accurately they do so, but it does remind one to reapply sunscreen frequently.

Both versions are available in larger bottles - the biggest is a gallon (around USD 125.00). Like anything else, can be decanted into smaller bottles, so as to have one in the bathroom, one in The Bag, one in The Beloved's pocket, etc. There is also a Face version, that I haven't tried because it includes octinoxate (+ 8% zinc oxide); plus Regular and Sport (again, in-part chemical).

I'd also recommend the following other good "serious" physical/mineral only sunscreens:

Vanicream 30 and 60 - lighter formula, less of white cast and less greasy - the latter good for more intense sun.

Also Solbar 40 (though I'm uncertain of their cruelty-free credentials).

INGREDIENTS: Active - zinc oxide 10%, titanium dioxide 5%. Inactive - Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate And Cetyl PEG-PPG-10/1 Demethicone And Hexyl Laurate, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Demethicone, Trimethylated Silica/demethicone, Octododecyl Neopentanoate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitol Oleate And Hydrogenated Castor Oil And Beeswax And Stearic Acid, Cetyl Demethicone, Methylparaben And Propylparaben And Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Tocopheryl Acetate.

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jamaica57 on 10/25/2007 10:30:00 AM more reviews by jamaica57

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I have battled melasma for the last 7 years. I am psycho about suncreen-- I always reapply every 3 hours & I don't spend any time in the sun other than incidental from walking to the car, driving, etc.

I cannot use hydroquinone because it irritates my skin. I have tried Solage without much luck. I have also been using Retin-A (0.025) for several years.

I was using a suncreen that contained both chemical & physical blockers. However, I read that people who deal with melasma need a heavy dose of physical blockers & that chemical blockers will not really help prevent melasma becasue of the way they work.

I decided to try this sunscreen since it has a high dose of titanium dioxide & zinc oxide. I started using it in April.

Now, in October, my melasmas are almost 80% gone. They have faded so signiificantly that all it takes is a little Revlon Colorstay concealer to cover them up nicely.

This formula is thick & not super-pleasant to apply. But it has really helped the look of my very stubborn melasmas & for that, I will keep buying!

This sunscreen is cheapest on drugstore.com from what I can tell--- about $9-10.00.

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jessiewillcox on 8/20/2007 10:25:00 AM more reviews by jessiewillcox

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

As all have noted, this is a very heavy, greasy product. Don't put it on your face on top of moisturizer! I bought this intending it for everyday purposes, but now, no way! I am now just applying it before running, in order to use up the tube

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kermie70 on 8/20/2007 10:01:00 AM more reviews by kermie70

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I love Blue Lizard and have sensitive skin so I thought perfect. I use regular Blue Lizard spf 30 and love it. This stuff -- it burned and did not work. I am glad I tried it in the one ounce size from BBB.

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