BackpackGearTest.org Review - /reviews/Health & Safety/Sunscreens/Dermatone Sunblock/Owner Review by Gail Staisil

I have used Dermatone Sunscreen Products for more than twenty years. As a longtime Nordic ski racer I first noticed them in ski shops that I frequented. Because I spent a great deal of time outdoors in brutal windy and cold conditions, I was eager to find a sunscreen that protected my face from chapping and dryness. I actively used other sunscreens but they always left my face quite wind burnt and dry. This sunscreen was simply different from any others I had ever tried. It looked very much like petroleum jelly but was not greasy, it was very thick but easy to apply and it came in a tin. I was ready to give anything a try to combat the elements. I purchased my first tin and the rest is history.

I generously applied the sunscreen to my face before I went out on my multi-hour ski trainings and was pleased with the results. Like all sunscreens it should be applied 30 minutes before exposure. Even though a tin looks awfully small it goes a long way. In the early years I bought the tins regularly but when the stick form became available I was elated. I had some times struggled with opening the tins especially if I left them in my cold car for days. The stick form was much more conducive to using with cold fingers. It also eliminated coating my fingers with the sunscreen to apply on my face. It was a cleaner experience all around. The stick form differs somewhat from the tin version as there is a lot more Petrolatum in the latter making the stick a bit less messy in my experience. However I still use both products on my dry hands and lips to protect them from chapping too.

Several years ago I started winter backpacking so that I could pursue the sport year round. I automatically packed the Dermatone Stick to fend off environmental exposure on long winter trips. The stick is available in several types and sizes so they are easy to transport in my waistbelt or parka jacket. I usually have them packed in a couple of places so that I can access them whenever I want.

I normally apply the sunscreen while I am still in my shelter each morning of a winter trip. My skin absorbs it fast and it doesn't feel greasy. I occasionally reapply a bit more to my nose and cheeks if the day has premium exposure and snow reflection. The layer of sunscreen stays on quite nicely all day long. At camp I usually wash my face in the evening and reapply it each morning.

I have also used this product in non-winter months. I don't particularly like the feel of it on my skin if the temperatures are really hot but then most sunscreens at those temperatures feel yucky too. At least it doesn't run into my eyes when I am sweating like other products I have used.

The majority of my backpacking trips and skiing excursions were taken either in the state of Michigan, USA or in Ontario, Canada. The terrain included hilly boreal and deciduous forest, lakeshore and open areas. Elevations ranged from 600 ft (183 m) to 2000 ft (610 m) and temperatures ranged from a low of -20 F (-29 C) to a high of nearly 100 F (38 C).

Overall the Dermatone Spot Protection Stick has been not only convenient to use but it is an important part of my regimen to ward off exposure to harsh weather including wind, sun and cold. It has many fine qualities that I haven't found combined in any other sunscreen product. I would highly recommend it to anyone that spends many continuous hours in the outdoors.

Reviews > Health & Safety > Sunscreens > Dermatone Sunblock > Owner Review by Gail Staisil

Reviews > Health & Safety > Sunscreens > Dermatone Sunblock > Owner Review by Gail Staisil