Suddenly Frugal Seal of Approval: Aveeno Daily Moisturizer with SPF

I guess I’m lucky that my mother instilled in me at a young age the importance of sunscreen. Back then I called it suntan lotion, thinking it would help me get a tan. But thanks to dear old mom–and probably some good DNA from my dad who looks years younger than his real age–I continue to have pretty youthful-looking skin. I’m hoping that my daughters will enjoy the same when they get older, as we’ve always been diligent with them about applying sunscreen.

Not only did my mother protect my skin when I was younger, but I’ve continued to apply sunscreen, even when I wasn’t going to the beach.

For many years I used a facial moisturizer with SPF in it. Sometimes I’ll still use tinted moisturizer with SPF in lieu of foundation. I know I’m doing my skin right in using this kind of product, but I’m not so sure about my wallet.

These bottles of facial moisturizer were always very small, overpriced and didn’t last long. It hurt like heck to have to lay out anywhere between $8 and $12 at a drugstore for the product. I know I would have paid even more if I was buying high-end moisturizers at a department store.

As far as the rest of my body was concerned, I would continue to apply traditional sunscreen to whatever skin was going to be exposed to the sun. Only problem was sunscreen can be thick and a problem on everyday clothes, where it tends to stick and stain. And, I have to be honest, after awhile I can’t stand the smell of sunscreen. Yeah, I like a day at the beach as much as the next guy, but come fall, I’m pretty much done with that odor.

A few months ago, I found a solution to all that ails me in the SPF category–stinky, sticky sunscreen and overpriced facial moisturizers. A friend told me about the (then) new Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen (it’s part of the Johnson & Johnson family of products).

This moisturizing lotion comes in a pretty generous bottle (12 fl. ounces), with a pump, and it isn’t pricey–I spend about $5 for a bottle. That’s less than a facial moisturizer with SPF, but I’m getting three to four times the moisturizer for my money.

Not only do I like the price, but I like the product as well. It’s got SPF 15, protects against UVA and UVB rays, and it isn’t greasy. But most of all I like that it doesn’t smell like sunscreen. It smells like, well, regular lotion.

These days I use this Aveeno Daily Moisturizer on all the areas of my body I want to protect from the sun. A bottle lasts a couple of months, and it’s saved me from having to purchase the pricey facial moisturizer and gut it out with icky sunscreen.

For that I’m giving Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen a Suddenly Frugal Seal of Approval.