Sunscreens dont work for me - always tan, always sting my eyes

I've tried every brand from drugstore to department store brands and the highest SPF and I always darken (orangen is more like it). With sunscreen, I tend to darken more smoothly than without but the oproducts always leave a layer of white on that I have to wipe some of it off. I don't wear makeup so is sunscreen meant as a base?

If you are out in the sun, you would have to continue to reapply every so often as if does wear off.

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn. Gore Vidal

The fact that you feel compelled to wipe some of it off might be part of the problem. Any dermatologist will advise that sun block must be slathered on to be effective. Usually any white haze disappears after a half hour, after the sunblock has had a chance to soak in. Also sunblock shouldn't be applied to the eye area, no closer to the eyes than the eye socket; I have never had it sting. You'll need sunglasses and/or a hat to protect the skin around the eyes.

Sun block is no substitute for staying out of the sun. It is for those periods when you can't avoid the sun while running around outside.

What sun block IS good for is avoiding nasty sun burns. I am pale with freckles and studiously avoid the sun because I don't tan and excessive amounts of bright light makes me feel ill. But I don't live under a rock. Nevertheless I still 'beige' over the summer and my freckles darken some.

Expecting complexions not to change at all while still going out in the sun is unrealistic, an instance of sun block being 'over sold'.

The stuff I have has zinc oxide in it and it is never white. It is manufactured in such a way that it is not white and does not show. I have Skin Ceuticals daily sun defense spf 20. I am never out sitting in the sun.

I agree with this.

Yup. Kathy

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn. Gore Vidal

I've been very bad about sunscreen this summer for some reason. I am actually the darkest I have ever been. I'm not that dark and my foundations still match but I see a difference. Anyway a trick I have learned is to apply sunscreen and then an hour later apply more then every two hours after.

Make sure your SPF is protecting you from UVA and UVB. Do not wipe it off. I've come to the conclusion that I will never find a 100% perfect sunscreen but since I am white to begin with the white cast works for