The New York Times (Apr. 19, 2007)

Heading for the Finish, With an Eye on the Sun

By Kate Siber

ATHLETES come up with all manner of excuses not to wear sunscreen: sticky hands, stinging eyes, feeling like a grease monkey, to name a few. But active people in particular should take precautions, said Dr. Brian Adams, a dermatology professor at the University of Cincinnati. "Skin cancer is one of the few things for which participation in sports actually increases risk," said Dr. Adams, author of "Sports Dermatology." Athletes spend extended periods of time in the sun, and often "at the worst times, between 11 and 4, when you have practices." Sweating also increases your chance of getting burned, he added.

To appeal to finicky athletes, companies design formulations that are less greasy and less apt to run into eyes, with packaging that makes application easier.

Heather Gollnick, a three-time Ironman winner, tested the latest batch in sunny 80-degree weather— swimming, cycling and running around Bradenton, Fla. All of them protected her from the sun, she said, but some worked longer, were less greasy or were easier to use. KATE SIBER

HAWAIIAN TROPIC OZONE SPORT SUNSCREEN DUO PACK $8.99, www.hawaiiantropic.com. This two-in-one pack contains a bottle of SPF 45 and a small canister of SPF 65 for the face. "It's a really good idea" she said, "but this package doesn't work in practice." Why? "You can't unscrew the bottom piece without the top leaking," Ms. Gollnick said. The non-greasy formula has a "pleasant tropical scent" that isn't overpowering.

NEUTROGENA FRESH COOLING BODY MIST SUNBLOCK $9.49, www.neutrogena.com. Ms. Gollnick said this SPF 30 mist lasted up to six hours and didn't come off in the ocean. It contains Helioplex, which according to Neutrogena, blocks more UVA rays than the common sunscreen ingredient avobenzone. The continuous-spray bottle allowed her to apply sunscreen to her back by herself. But she hesitated to spray sunscreen on her face for fear that it would get into her eyes.

BANANA BOAT SPORT DRI-BLOK $8.99, www.walgreens.com. Ms. Gollnick said that this SPF 30 sunscreen went on smooth and didn't run, but it wore off in the ocean more quickly than others. It has a strong coconut smell, which she didn't appreciate. But she liked the nubs on the side of the bottle. "It was very easy to grab on to the bottle and pour it without slipping," she said.

COPPERTONE SPORT CONTINUOUS SPRAY SUNSCREEN $9.99, www.cvs.com. This SPF 30 sunscreen was the greasiest of the bunch. The spray went on clear, which meant it didn't have to be rubbed in, but made it hard to tell where she had missed a spot. Hard-to-reach places were easy to cover, though, thanks to its continuous-spray bottle.

BULLFROG MARATHON MIST CONTINUOUS SPRAY $8.99, www.bullfrogsunscreen.com. Ms. Gollnick thought that this SPF 36 "coconutty" sunscreen, which the company boasts lasts eight hours, stayed on for roughly six hours. It was thick but not greasy. All the continuous spray bottles are so well wrapped that the product can't be smelled before buying, which she thought was a downside.