Kinesys Sunscreen : Sun Protection for Active People

On previous trips to the tropics (or high altitudes), I’ve tried many sunscreens with varying success. For my recent trip to Belize I packed several different formulas of Kinesys sun protection.

With age I've gotten smarter about limiting my sun exposure, but it's hard to cover up when you spend a day snorkeling and boating in the Caribbean Sea. For large areas of skin like my arms, legs, and back, I used the Kinesys Sunscreen Spray with Parasol 1789. I liked the spray-on formula because it was so easy to apply. (And I didn't end up with greasy hands like to do when I use lotion.) The spray comes in a handy, curved bottle designed to fit the palm of your hand, for easier application. It seemed like I got a good amount of sunscreen with each squirt, and it dried pretty quickly – within a couple of minutes. (Kinesys makes this spray in regular and fragrance-free formulas. )

For those hard to reach or easy to forget areas such as my nose, lips, and the tips of my ears, the Kinesys Sun Stick was a life saver. I don't like using creams on those areas because they often end up in my hair. This stick is wider than the usual lip balm-sized stick, so it was easy to apply and covered a wider area of skin. Most important, no sunburns despite an all-day snorkeling trip and many afternoons kayaking and canoeing

In addition to my concern for sun protection, I also have very sensitive skin on my face (I have a mild case rosacea). I have to be very careful about what I put on my face. I have used expensive sunscreen in the past, but I found the Kinesys Sensitive Skin Formula (oil-free, alcohol-free) cream with titanium dioxide kept my skin well-protected and kept my rosacea in check. Bonus - the travel-size bottle was perfect for day trips.

All in all, the only minor sunburn I got in Belize was on a little triangle of skin on the back side of my upper arm that I didn’t cover with spray one day. Otherwise my mid-winter pale, northern European-stock skin, which burns pretty easily, just lightly tanned after 10 days well below the Tropic of Cancer (about 17 degrees north).

Bottom Line: Good water-resistant sun protection in a variety of formulas. I liked that the Kinesys products I used are generally free of oils, PABA, alcohol, and other skin irritants. --J.I. (June '05)

Price: Fragrance-Free SPF 30+ Sunscreen Spray with Parsol® 1789, $14; SPF 30 Sun Protection Stick, $8; Travel Size SPF 30+ Sunscreen Cream with Titanium Dioxide, $6.

Manufacturer's Site: www.kinesys.com

Buy Online: ,