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Let me just start by saying this: I am an idiot. No seriously, I am AN IDIOT. I have solved a mystery I should've figured out ages ago. I mean, the "duh" here is so obvious to me now that it's really ridiculous.
I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before but I've had issues with my face getting red, bumpy and swollen and for a while I thought it was rosacea, which was rather flippantly confirmed by my dermatologist at the time. It was not rosacea. (Yep, I mentioned it here and OMG, you guys TOLD ME WHAT IT WAS in the comments!)
It started in 2017, mostly in the summer and then stopped for a few years. When I moved to Oregon, I got a new dermatologist, and she confirmed what I'd suspected - it was an allergic reaction. To what, I wasn't sure (I know, I know) but I knew that whatever my face was reacting to, exposure to the sun made it much worse.
Last summer it happened again in Austin, the worst occurrence yet:
Ouch. My face was super swollen and hot to the touch. The day before we'd sat out by the pool for a while, and before we went out I touched up my sunscreen with this spray formula that I'd recently purchased. I woke up the next morning looking like a horror show. WHAT COULD IT BE? Something I ate? I know, y'all have probably already figured it out but it took me another year.
So, remember last week when I bought a bunch of fun new sunscreen products? Yeah, guess what happened? I slapped them on and the next day I woke up with a red, swollen face. I am, as it turns out, wildly allergic to chemical sunscreen. Specifically to octocrylene and oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) from what I can tell. These in particular are well-known to cause allergic reactions. I wasn't paying attention. At all.
I looked up the ingredients of every sunscreen I've used since 2017 and it all makes sense. My face stopped reacting when I switched to Skin Aqua Super Moisture Sunscreen (which is a combo mineral/chemical sunscreen but doesn't have the ingredients I'm reactive to.)
Every product I recently bought has octocrylene in it, including that stupid eye cream. Honestly, I mostly think the "clean beauty" thing is marketing bullshit but the more I read about chemical sunscreens, the more pissed off I get. So, I cannot recommend:
- Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil
- Supergoop (Re)Setting Refreshing Mist SPF 40
- Coola Full Spectrum 360° Day SPF 30 & Night Organic Eye Cream Duo
- COOLA Dew Good Illuminating Serum Probiotic Sunscreen, SPF 30
If you aren't reactive and these products work for you, that's great! Keep using them. However, if you've been dealing with weird allergic reactions and aren't sure why, take a look at your products that include sunscreen. One of them even got the "allergen of the year" award for it, which made me bark-laugh.
Honestly, I am so relieved to have finally figured this out and now I'm on the hunt for a really excellent mineral sunscreen. Even though the one I've been using works fine for me, I'm really not feeling great about it. I currently have It Cosmetics CC cream and MD Solar Science tinted mineral sunscreen but I really want an untinted everyday mineral formula that isn't greasy and that plays well with makeup. Any recs?
I recently read Beyond Soap by Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, who specializes in contact dermatitis, and has helped folks clear up angry skin. She had a lot of great recs for specific products, and there is also a “product elimination diet” section on her website. I hope your face feels better and that you find a sunscreen that works for your needs!
ReplyDeleteEltaMD is amazing. I keep coming back to the UV Clear, which I think is zinc oxide but it blends so, so well and is moisturizing too. I am not sensitive, and I tried a few formulations of SuperGoop, but I think EltaMD is better.
ReplyDeleteYep. I love UV Clear and have used it for years. I've never had a sunburn or skin irritation while using it. Bonus: it has niacinamide!
DeleteElta MD is the best. I wear it daily under my make up and have never had an issue. It was recommended by my dermatologist and esthetician.
DeleteHi, I had a similar issue that took years, multiple doctors, and two separate patch tests to figure out. It was awful! I’m glad you have figured out your allergy. Folks, also be careful with the preservative methylisothiazolenone (another “allergen of year”!)
ReplyDeleteThis is making me feel better! I'm glad you figured it out and thanks for the rec!
DeletePS I really like the Josie Maran Sun Milk.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGreat info, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI started using ThinkBaby on my kid because Chemicals! Babies! Ack! but then I realized it’s really good. There’s a waterproof version (ThinkSport) that I use for running and it blends in so well and doesn’t give ghost tinge. I use either one on my face because I can’t be bothered to buy an extra face sunscreen but for a fancier lady like yourself maybe it would work as your sport sunscreen?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSeconding the EltaMD UV Clear! No white cast, though it does also come in a nice tinted version. Plus, Dermstore has it on sale pretty often, so it's easy to stock up!
ReplyDeleteI like the EltaMC clear as well. The tinted one is way too dark for this uber white pink/purple person.
DeleteThanks!
DeleteCetaphil makes a mineral sunscreen. sPF 50 that I like
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI second the kiddie or even baby formulations (super hypoallergenic, physical sunscreens, non-greasy, easy to apply). Alternatively, you could just mix titanium oxide powder into a daytime skincare product you like. Do look into the science of the particle size (nano or not), as it’s important, and zero waste websites have recipes, how to make your own sunscreen like this, how much powder you need etc.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't have the bandwidth to make my own, but I'll definitely check out baby formulations. I was recommended Pipette by a good friend.
DeleteI've been really happy with Tizo AM Replenish (I use the lightly tinted, but it comes untinted as well), but they also have a little sampler where you can try a few: https://tizoskin.com/collections/facial-sunscreens/products/tizo-sunscreen-sampler
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteOh noooooo. Welcome, friend, but I’m so sorry. I developed a chemical sunscreen allergy years ago (aerosol sunscreen is a challenge in the summer months and I wish people would stop — mine has worsened to respiratory symptoms as well as topical reaction). The good news is that there are some nice physical sunscreen (zinc, titanium) formulations now that are wearable every day. It brand CC cream or beautycounter’s sunscreen moisturizer are my day to day. BC is an MLM I think but I buy through a friend’s link and it’s like ordering from anywhere else. And I often wear hats, lightweight sleeves, lightweight pants on days I don’t feel like zincing up — they have turned out to be cooler than having the sun directly on my skin. So glad you have figured this out. Welcome to the sisterhood. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I have an like the It Cosmetics CC cream, so I've definitely been using that.
DeleteKinship Sun Reflect SPF32 is my fav of the all mineral sunscreens
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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