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Reviews > Health & Safety > Sunscreens and Skin Protection > Neutrogena Cooling Body Mist Sunblock > Owner Review by Sheila Morrissey

NEUTROGENA FRESH COOLING BODY MIST SUNBLOCK
Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist

Photo from Neutrogena website

OWNER REVIEW

Date: July 12, 2007

TESTER INFORMATION
Name: Sheila Morrissey
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 8” (1.7 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
Email address: geosheila(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Goleta, California, USA

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
I enjoy hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada and Los Padres National Forest with friends and my dog, Patch. My pack is usually around 25 lb (11 kg), including consumables. I wear sunscreen every day, both at home and on the trail, and I reapply frequently to protect my fair skin.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Neutrogena Corporation
Year: 2007
Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.neutrogena.com
Listed Volume: 5 fl oz (0.15 L)
Listed Fluid Weight: 142 g (5 oz)
Listed Net Weight: 5.5 oz (156 g)
Measured Net Weight: 4 oz (113 g), after a couple months' use from this canister
Sun Protection Factor (SPF): 45 (also available in 30)
MSRP: N/A

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock is a spray-on sunblock that doesn't need to be rubbed in, unlike regular lotion sunblocks and some other spray-on sunblocks that I have tried. It is waterproof, sweatproof, PABA free, non-comedogenic, and has both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection. (I learned this good mnemonic from the packaging on one of my Neutrogena sunblock products that helps me remember which light is causing which skincare problem: UVA is for Aging and UVB is for Burning.)

FIELD USE CONDITIONS
I have used the Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock dozens of times while working outdoors, dayhiking, backpacking, biking and outrigger canoeing. Most of my use of this sunblock was while exercising and, therefore, sweating. I always reapplied after jumping in the ocean. I have used it at altitudes from sea level to 11,000 ft (3,350 m), on cloudy to sunny days, in temperatures ranging from 55 to 95 F (13 to 35 C).

FIELD USE RESULTS
At home or on the trail, I start my day by putting on a lotion sunblock. I really dislike wearing lotion, but I need the sun protection. I first tried the Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock hoping I would like the feeling of it enough to replace my daily lotion sunblock. The Mist sunblock is just greasy enough that I prefer my lotion sunblock for daily use.

Though I don't wear the Mist sunblock every day, I do use it sometimes as an easy reapplication on days when I'm out in the sun for a long time. In the photo below, I was out working in the hot Florida sun all day long. I had on a lotion sunblock, plus two or three applications of the Mist sunblock that I had put on during the course of the day. The result was a very shiny, greasy mess and not a bit of sunburn. 

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist
Shiny, greasy arms after multiple applications of Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock.

The Mist sunblock is marketed as a "cooling body mist" and it does feel cool while spraying it on, but it's not a good enough feeling that I would put on more sunblock just to feel the cool mist, even on a really hot day. The main reason why I use it for sunblock reapplication is that it doesn't need to be rubbed in. Normally when I use a lotion sunblock, I wash my hands immediately after because I can't stand the feeling of lotion on my hands. When I'm out in the field and won't be able to wash my hands, the Mist sunblock is a good alternative for my sunblock reapplication.

This sunblock works as well as any other SPF 45 sunblock I have used by Neutrogena when I apply it correctly. The problem is that by not actually rubbing in the sunblock, I can't feel exactly where I put it on and I occasionally miss a spot (earlier this summer I missed the backs of my arms and between my shoulder blades). I have therefore decided that in the future I will only use this sunblock for reapplication either when I have someone else spray it on my back and the backs of my arms, and/or when I really need to keep my hands sunblock-free. Examples of this are while working (I don't like bottles getting oily, it makes them difficult to hold onto) or while outrigger canoeing (I need a firm grip on the paddle).

Regular lotion sunblock is now my sunblock of choice for backpacking, even though I don't like the feeling of it on my hands and I can't easily wash my hands every time I reapply. The Mist sunblock is easy to use, but I'm fearful that I'll miss a spot, particularly when it's the only sunblock that I carry. Also, by carrying only a lotion sunblock, I can bring a small amount in a resealable container rather than carrying an entire bottle of sunblock. I usually just bring the whole bottle anyway, but taking just a small portion isn't an option with the Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock spray canister.

One reason why I might still carry the Mist sunblock is that it is easy to spray on my dog. He's a white boxer (very short hair) and sunburns easily. He doesn't like the spray (probably because he hates water, so I use a water mist bottle as punishment), so I make sure to walk over to him when I spray the sunblock on him, rather than calling him to me and undoing his positive training associated with coming when called. He will tolerate it when I keep it pointed away from his face and make sure to get the sunblock on him quickly. The sunblock does cause extra dirt to stick to him, but I figure that probably keeps him better protected from the sun and he needs a bath after our backcountry trips anyway.

PROS
  • High SPF, both UVA and UVB protection
  • Easily sprays on and doesn't need to be rubbed in
  • Feels cool while spraying it on
  • Easy to apply on my dog
CONS
  • I sometimes miss a spot
  • Must bring the entire canister


Read more reviews of Neutrogena gear
Read more gear reviews by Sheila Morrissey

Reviews > Health & Safety > Sunscreens and Skin Protection > Neutrogena Cooling Body Mist Sunblock > Owner Review by Sheila Morrissey



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