Gimme Shelter SUN PROTECTION FOR ALL OF YOU
When you're going to let the sun shine where the sun don't shine, you enter a whole new realm of caution. Hence, this road test of a few top sunscreens, rated for how they treat areas that tan lines usually obscure, and evaluated for which you can put on without fearing you'll later feel as if you went swimming with the Exxon Valdez. —Mary Elizabeth Williams |
| THE PRODUCT |
$$ |
THE PITCH |
SMELLS LIKE |
THE SKINNY |
| Bain de Soleil Orange Gel SPF 15 |
$5.99, 3.12 oz. |
Keeps skin smooth and prevents dryness and peeling |
A freshly shampooed carpet |
Even goth-caliber complexions look a little more Continental under a bronze slick of oil |
| Banana Boat Active Sport Quick Dry Sun- screen Spray SPF 25 |
$6.99, 6 oz. |
"Very water resistant, very sweat resistant" |
What they use to revive boxers from a knockout punch |
Let's just say this stuff stings even on the parts of the anatomy that aren't very sensitive |
| BullFrog SparkleBlock SPF 28 |
$7.99, 4 oz. |
Serious all-day waterproof sunblock with a bit of fun |
A Kool-Aid-and-Tang cocktail with an Otter Pop chaser |
Your privates will think they're in the VIP room of an Ibiza nightclub |
| California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen |
$11.99, 2.9 oz. |
A heavily floral blend that "scatters and reflects UV rays" |
Your homeopath's office |
The cream's so thick, you could get tennis elbow rubbing it in |
| Clinique Sun-Care Body SPF 25 |
$14.50, 3.4 oz. |
"Soothing physical sunscreen that's very sensitive skin-friendly" |
Absolutely nothing |
Goes on like buttah, smooth and sexy, so much so you'll want to smooth it on and on |
| Coppertone Shade SPF 45 |
$6.49, 4 oz |
Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundatio |
Clean laundry |
The Cadillac of sunblocks—one for those with an advanced fear of frying |
| Hawaiian Tropic 15 SPF Plus |
$6.99, 4 oz. |
Product of Tanning Research Labsdepicted as a grass hut |
The kind of drink that comes with an umbrella |
The sunscreen for people who'd otherwise be bronzing themselves with Crisco |
| Kiss My Face Non Chemical Sun Block SPF 18 |
$8.95 4 oz. |
First sunblock utilizing oats, oat protein complex, oat beta glucan |
Breakfast |
No animal ingredients, artificial colors, fragrance, or unnecessary chemicals, but becomes dry and cakey after a while |
| Philosophy Shelter SPF 15 |
$16, 4 oz. |
The world is a nice place and so are most of the people in it |
Non-aerosol hairspray |
The colorless spray is fine for wide expanses of flesh, not as good on those hard-to-reach places |
| Shiseido Ultra Light Sun Block Lotion SPF 30 |
$22.50, 3 oz. |
Shields against UV while it provides a fresh, lightweight feel |
A scent-strip-riddled issue of Vogue |
A bit messy—it's so fresh and lightweight it practically gushes out of the bottle |
