It’s enough to spoil an outing — go out in the sun, confident and sun-safe, and then the moment you start to sweat, that sunscreen is in your eyes. And it burns.
You try to protect yourself from sunburn and end up with a different kind of burning — but you don’t have to. For people with sensitive skin, mineral sunscreens, particularly in a stick form, can be a gentler option for sun protection.
But why does it happen at all?
Why does sunscreen burn my eyes?
Most cases of sunscreen eye irritation come down to movement. Sunscreen doesn’t stay perfectly in place all day — sweat, natural oils, and even facial expressions can cause it to migrate into your eyes from elsewhere on your face.
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face, making it quicker to react when an irritant gets where it doesn’t belong. And rubbing your eyes can make things worse by physically pushing the sunscreen into them.
Think about it: smiling so much you end up with sunscreen in your eyes. There has to be a better way.
Mineral sunscreen for sensitive eyes
For many people, mineral sunscreens are less likely to burn their eyes than chemical formulas. Mineral sunscreens use ingredients like zinc oxide that sit on top of the skin and protect from UV rays, rather than chemical filters that absorb into the skin and can be irritating to sensitive eyes.
Mineral sunscreens also often have thicker formulations that are less likely to migrate into the eyes. None of that means mineral sunscreen can never sting, but it’s a popular option for people who’ve had a bad experience with sunscreen and eye irritation in the past.
Stick sunscreen, for sunscreen that sticks
Another great solution for slipping sunscreen is stick formulas. Because they go on thicker and more precisely, they’re easy to control around the eye area. They’re less likely to drip into your eyes when you sweat, and they allow you to apply sunscreen exactly where you want it and touch it up whenever you need it.
Stick sunscreen is a great addition to your all-over lotion sunscreen regimen. (You’re protecting the rest of your skin too, right?) Blue Lizard’s Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick is part of our whole collection of sensitive mineral sunscreens, offering a variety of sunscreen options formulated for sensitive skin.
How to apply sunscreen to help avoid the sting
A few tips can help you keep sunscreen where it belongs.
• Apply sunscreen to clean, dry skin at least 15 minutes before heading outside
• Use a mineral stick around the orbital bone (the bone you can feel around your eye socket)
• Be gentle — rubbing too hard can push the sunscreen into your eyes
• Reapply carefully and at least every 2 hours, or every 80 minutes if you’ve been swimming or sweating, or immediately after wiping your face
What to do if you get sunscreen in your eyes
If you do end up with sunscreen in your eyes, your goal is to get that sunscreen out.
• Rinse gently with clean water or saline
• Do not rub — it can be hard to resist, but it can increase irritation
• Blink a few times to encourage your natural tears to flow
The burning will usually start to ease up once the sunscreen is flushed out.
Don’t fear the burn
Protecting your skin from sunburn doesn’t have to mean dealing with an entirely different kind of burn – mineral sunscreens can be a great, gentler option. If you need SPF 50 mineral protection for sensitive skin, visit us online to find your mineral sunscreen for a fun, fearless day in the sun.
