Weddingbee Blog

My skin tone is… well, it’s sort of a whiter shade of pale. Of primarily Scottish descent, I inherited extremely fair skin. I like to describe it as “Nicole Kidman” or “porcelain doll”, but most everyone else calls it “Casper” or “vampire”. Regardless, my skin is very sensitive to sunlight and I have learned the hard way that sunscreen is an absolute, non-negotiable necessity any time I am outside. Generally, I can deal with the greasiness and the scent of a poolside summer. But on our wedding day? Well, let’s just say it’s not the “signature scent” I had in mind.

(scent vs. smell)

Scent is strongly tied to memory for me.

The scent of honeysuckle will always take me back to my grandmother’s backyard. Anytime I smell curry, I’m reminded of the first time Husky and I cooked together, and I lit his kitchen towel on fire. I splurged on a bottle of Vera Wang perfume with the thought that I would wear it the day of our wedding, and then only on certain occasions afterward, in the hope that it would bring memories of our day wafting back with the scent.

Our ceremony will be mid-afternoon in a notoriously sunny state. If I go without sunscreen, I risk a very uncomfortable honeymoon and unflattering photos, not to mention the health risks. So I have been in search of a product with little to no scent—something that will be easily masked by the Vera Wang.

So far, it seems my best options are:

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• La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra-Light Fluid. Most reviews I find for this claim it is nearly scent-less. It’s far more expensive than the sunscreen I typically use, but if it works, it could be worthwhile. I found it on a website that offers free shipping, and a solid return policy if I’m not satisfied, but the cost of return shipping would be on me.

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• Eucerin Everyday Protection SPF 15 Body Lotion. I’ve used Eucerin’s non-SPF body lotion in the past. There is a very slight scent to it, but it disappears after application. The price is about the same as what I would normally pay for sunscreen, which is a huge bonus.

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• Bull Frog SuperBlock Lotion SPF 45. This one surprised me. It’s not touted as an unscented option, but I’ve found it mentioned several times in discussions of unscented sunscreen options. The only problem with this one is that it has proven difficult to find. Apparently, Bull Frog updated their formula to SPF 50 by adding more titanium oxide. Many reviewers describe the consistency as glue-like, which is not ideal, and they recommend the SPF 45. I’ve found it in a few online locations, but it seems hard to come by.

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• NO-AD Sunblock Lotion, SPF 50. At first, I thought “NO-AD” meant No Additives, but I learned that it actually means No Advertising. This brand prides itself on a quality product over a well-funded advertising budget, with the belief that the sunblock will speak for itself. It certainly seems to in most reviews I’ve read. Also – it’s cheap!

Has anyone else tried any or all of these sunscreens? Any input regarding the scent or sun-protection? How are you keeping your skin safe on the big day?