Zinc Oxide / Sunscreen

I bought the "zinc oxide" that they sell now at a local pharmacy this summer for my really fair daughter. (She burns, no tan) It is NOT the same as when they made it back in the 80's. It looks thick and creamy, but it will blend right into the skin like lotion or cream, and it doesn't work that great. I need a barrier for my child's face and ears. Try this instead: http://zinka.com/ It says it's a "nosecoat", but it works anywhere on the body and comes in a multitude of fun colors which was really a blast for my kids. It's not a big tube and is about $7, but it worked for us, so it was worth it. Good luck!

I used zinc back in the 1980 when I was a kid.. I used it in high school when I lifeguarded.. It seems to not be the same as they sold back then in drugstores.. Recently when I was snorkeling in Hawaii I went to a scuba shop.. And they recommend doc martins Maui sunscreen.. And it works so well. The lifeguards in Maui wore it.. I did not burn on my face when I wore that. You can buy it online at www.docmartinsmaui.com
Best of luck

You should easily find a tube of zinc oxide at the pharmacy or by the regular sunscreen. It's pure white and thick when you put it on. I dont think it comes in degrees of strength, it is what it is.

Coppertone now makes a new line of zinc oxide based sunscreens (since the oxybenzone based ones are apparently so toxic)... I believe it's called Pure and Simple... it's mixed right in with the rest of the Coppertone sunscreens, so you have to actually read the labels... it looks just like the regular kind, other than saying Pure and Simple on the label. I don't know if they make it in the adult products, but they definitely do in the kids and babies products (which really doesn't matter, we can use the kid stuff too...) We use this for my son, and it does go on kind of white (like zinc oxide) but it does fade into the skin, it provides a great waterproof barrier, and stays on really well. And it's a fraction of the cost of a lot of pricier brands...

there is great sunscreen by purple prairie botanicals that works well. they have a website and right now it's 20% off

We don't have professional grade zinc oxide sunscreen, but my son has never gotten burnt while using the Badger Sunscreens. We bought ours at Whole Foods. It is very thick and greasy, like the stuff my mom used on us as a kid, but it's safe and like I said before it's always worked well for us and we go to the beach every weekend. My son and I are both fair skinned and I was on acne medications in my late teens/early twenties, which have made me permanently more sensitive to the sun.