Since we are doing all carry-on for our trip to Italy, we'll have to buy sunscreen once we get there. We land in Zurich and then train to Italy and can buy it in either place. Anyone have any favorites?
Somehow I recall hearing that the European sunscreen uses a different active ingredient, and it is very expensive there. Anyone know? Thanks.
I ran into this problem preparing for my last trip. My problem is that I am allergic to a lot of active sunscreen ingredients, so I knew I had to get it here. I used this neutrogena stick that is not liquid, and is tiny and takes up no space. Could be worth looking into if you can't find more info on European brands/ingredients
No help with Italian brands, but I would make sure to have back-up plans, just in case your skin reacts to something in a new lotion. My skin only gets a real burn when I've put on the wrong type of lotion, so I carry my little fold up umbrella year round to shade myself. There are also additives to make clothes more sun-proof. When I go to the beach and want to lay in the warm sun for a bit, I cover with a light cotton sarong (also a good cover-up that works as a scarf if there's a chill in the morning or on the plane). It's not enough to work alone, but it can be the difference between a being burned or not.
Hi--thanks to both. We have 2 teenage/young adult daughters who won't cover up or use a shade umbrella, but they will use sunscreen. I'll look into the Neutrogena stick (my normal sunscreen is the Neutrogena SPF 50 in a tube, but it's too big to carry on. The stik looks like it might work.
But I'm still looking for info on the European brands as we might like to try them too.
I have a bottle of sunscreen purchased in Italy sitting in front of me. It's 125 ml, but they let us carry it home with no issues. The brand is Bilboa and is called Latte di Cocco Spray (SPF 15). Bilboa was fairly common in Rome and Naples.
Also, if you search "bilboa Latte di Cocco" on Google, the first result is ciao.it and the result shows a full ingredient list. That list is slightly different from my bottle on first glance, but my bottle is over 3 yrs old.
Pete
So does it smell like coconut?
Yes, smells like coconut and brings back memories of 43C at Pompeii. :)
Tsk tsk tsk, don't those daughters know parasols are in? Okay, maybe not, but I'd really love for them to be! They just don't seem to have a lot of staying power outside of historical reenactments and the goth scene stateside, I'm afraid. I suppose they could be cumbersome if you're carrying a lot of shopping bags or something, though.
Are the girls willing to wear long, light skirts or pants instead of short skirts and shorts? It can be very chic (and I'm saying this as a 20-something) and very comfortable.
Lola, I'd get it in Zurich.
Those who have seen my posts know that I believe in Migros supermarket throughout Switzerland.
They sell SunLook own brand sunsceen. Last year I bought it in a spray, at CHF7,40 per 100ml, and CHF4,75 per 100ml for a sun milk cream. Both are 30spf and good on UVA.
Its wonderful stuff, and as you see, pretty inexpensive.
If you go to a pharmacy or apotheke to purchase your sunscreen, you can ask the pharmacist about the ingredients. They have computers to look up the various names that these ingredients would have in that country. Thus, you would be assured of getting the correct sunscreen.
Or you can use Google to translate those names now, and take the list with you, to check them yourself while shopping.
There is an ingredient in many Europeon sunscreens,, that until recently was not available in the States( but has been available in Canada for years). I can't recall the proper name for the actual ingriedient, but I will see if I can look it up . The brand is OMBRELLE,, and it is the best stuff ever. MY hubby has had to be so careful in sun ,, blonde and blue eyed,, and has had skin cancers removed!! He is also highly allergic to Paba( a common sunscreen ingriedient, but is now being phased out of use ) and cannot use most other lotions.
This stuff actually feels decent too,, not greasy and smelly like so many products.
I use Ombrelle as well and am very happy with it. And I do have adverse reactions to many other brands. Pam, are you saying it is easily available in Europe?
Piz Buin has been in the US. It's from Europe. Very good active ingredients and high SPF available. I haven't seen it here lately, but if you can find it in Italy, I can recommend.
Beatrix , can't say for all of Europe but I think its easy to find in France, it is made afterall by L'Oreal.
This is great---thanks everyone!
Brooke--long skirts aren't their style either; they are both very athletic (tennis, running, yoga) and like to dress accordingly. They won't be wearing shorts, but will have bare arms and shoulders (except when we cover up to visit a church). And we'll be at the beach or pool in a couple of places. Fortunately they are very compliant about sunscreen use, and were fine even in Hawaii.
Nigel---that Migros brand is a great suggestion. There is a Migros in the Zürich Hauptbahnhof, and I need to go there anyway to pick up my favorite Swiss toothpaste and some other products I like.
Pat---Ombrelle is the one I was thinking of. I'd like to try it. None of us have any particular sensitivities, but I'm always looking for good sunscreen options.
If we buy extra and want to bring it home, I won't mind checking one bag for the return flights. It's mainly for the outbound flight we want to carry on. If they misplace one bag on the return it's not a big deal.
Beatrix - Piz Buin is available all over Europe. Currently in vogue in the UK (in every store that sells sunscreen is the tall skinny brown bottle - but boy is it expensive)
Lola - appreciate your comments. For you and others, (because typing in the list of ingredients became too tedious) the link for the product in German is:
http://www.migros.ch/DE/Supermarkt/Markenwelt/Sun_Look/Produkte/Seiten/Basic_Sun_Milk.aspx
You can change to Italian or French but not English. If you use Google Chrome their translation engine is pretty good. I have noted that the prices are the same that I paid last year.
It's OK---I can read German. Thanks for the link!
European sunscreens are allowed to use ingredients like Mexoryl (which are only in a very limited few products in the U.S.) and Tinosorbs - both of which can be better at protecting against UVA rays than many of the U.S., FDA-approved sunscreens.
You'll probably want to look for sunscreens that protect from both UVA and UVB rays. (SPF ratings indicate effectiveness against UVB rays only. In Europe, PPD ratings indicate effectiveness against UVA rays.) Some UVA-absorbing ingredients are Mexoryl (chemical name: ecamsule), Tinosorbs and avobenzone. (There is some research that says avobenzone might destabilize in the sun if octinoxate is also present as a UVB filter.) Zinc oxide and, to a lesser extent, titanium dioxide block both UVA and UVB rays.
As for European brands: I like La Roche Posay Anthelios line. I've also heard good things about Bioderma and Avene. And also Ombrelle (which has Mexoryl). But check the active ingredients of whatever you're buying if you're concerned about getting adequate UVA & UVB protection.
Janet, that is very helpful, especialy the names of the various UVA blockers. Thank you!
Any ideas on where to find sun block/ sun screen in Istanbul?
