I was so excited about an upcoming trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica, that on a whim decided to switch up my sunscreen. I’m not one to experiment with sunblock and sunscreen lotions; once I’ve found one that works I stick to it. However for this one occasion, I wanted to try something new and of all the choices I saw, I went with Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion.
Full Review of Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion
To begin with, I love the design of their bottles; the wood grain color variation with the respective SPF number doesn’t just look cool but also helps with quickly identifying what you want.
Don’t worry the bottles aren’t actually made of wood; they are of a plastic material, lightweight and smooth to the touch. So it’s easy to take along during the hustle and bustle of those hot beach days and when rolling around in the sand.
Even though I have a natural caramel complexion, I can get really pale sometimes, especially on my face. I much rather a tanner shade skin tone and don’t particularly like sitting out in the sun too long.
Unfortunately, Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion doesn’t contain any tanning agents. For this reason, I used the SPF 15, so that it would give my skin just the right amount of UVB protection from the sun all while getting my complexion sun kissed and slightly tanned.
Experts will tell you higher SPF lotions don’t give significantly greater UVB protection than the SPF 15 and neither do they give you full protection. For example, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays while SPF 50 blocks 98%. That’s only 5% more protection, which is really not a lot more.
However, if you intend to spend long hours in the sun then going with a higher SPF number is best and you should also try to choose sunscreen lotions that have both UVB and UVA protection – that’s what you get with Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion.
Sun Bum is a broad spectrum SPF that will deflect UVB rays from the surface and superficial layer of your skin that causes sunburn and with added UVA protection, it will also deflect UVA rays from penetrating the deeper parts of your skin that are the epidermis and dermis.
Ultimately, excessive exposure to UVB and UVA rays can cause radical skin damage and advance the appearance of aging as well as put you at risk of developing skin cancer.
This sunscreen lotion is a little thick but not too greasy and manages to spread evenly over my body and face. Upon the first application, I knew my Sun Bum moisturizing sunscreen lotion was a keeper, I liked that it didn’t leave the usual white residue other brands do. Plus, for the entire day, not only did it leave my skin feeling supple and moisturized but also smelling like a Pina Colada.
If you like getting in and out of the water multiple times during a hot day like I do, you will be happy to know that Sun Bum is highly water resistant; the staying ability was impressive.
I was on the beach and by the pool for hours at a time during my vacation. I would start my day at either the beach or pool from 10 am all the way to 3 pm, towel dried myself each time I exited the water and reapplied sunscreen only twice.
Excessively sweating under that Jamaican tropical sun didn’t pose a problem either, the sweat just glided right off my skin taking just a bit of the SunBum moisturizing sunscreen lotion with it.
Many of you will be happy to know that this product is designed for effective and safe use with the hyper-allergic in mind. It is photostable and doesn’t contain PABA, which is a popular ingredient in many other sunscreens, even though PABA helps to absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays and is a good reflective agent it has to be mixed with other synthetic materials to fully activate its potential.
One of the main ingredients that it has to mix with is alcohol, which has proven to cause mild to moderate allergic dermatitis or an allergic reaction on the skin.
It is also gluten and oil free which makes it considerably hypoallergenic. Breaking out in a rash is in itself quite annoying but to have this happen during a vacation aligned with routine beach and pool days in fairly hot weather are particularly gruesome. When choosing a sunscreen, these are some of the safeguarding essentials I look out for.
There are natural elements in this sunscreen that you can note as well, that is, its paraben free, vegan and enriched with vitamin E. This appeals to me especially, knowing that I am using a product that isn’t harmful is comforting.
Overall, Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion gets a thumbs-up from me. I give it a 4.2 out of 5, it falters to my specific needs simply because it didn’t have any bronzing or tanning agents. The plusses are however worth it. Rest assure this is a quality product that feels good on your skin, does what its suppose to do all while making you smell great!
- ORIGINAL SPF 50 SUNSCREEN SPRAY . This is the stuff we use every day. The sunscreen that started it all and smells like summer. We wanted a sunscreen to protect those who live and love in the sun, so we made it.
- MOISTURIZING SUN PROTECTION. Dermatologist and Sonny approved, this non-comedogenic sunscreen delivers UVA/UVB protection and is packed with Vitamin E. Our oil-free, water-resistant and Hawaii 104 Reef Act Compliant SPF 50 Spray is great for all skin types.
- HOW TO USE. 15 minutes before sun exposure, apply liberally to all areas of the skin and avoid the eye area. For best results, reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating. Sonny’s Tip: Apply every 2 hours for maximum sun protection.
- PROTECT YOUR SKIN. The key to practicing safe sun is to protect and moisturize your skin. Our Original Sunscreen line is Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Gluten, Cruelty and Paraben Free to ensure a fun day in the sun.
- TRUST THE BUM. What does that mean? It means trust us, the ones who live on the beach and need products that work on the most intense days in the sun. The simple truth is, when you make products to protect the ones you love, you make ‘em better.
