CPW: What do you call...

Emerald27 · July 2014

The white stuff you slather on before going out into the sun?!

...brought to you by Emerald overhearing a mom calling to her son at the pool to reapply xyz, a name she hadn't heard used for this in a long time!

Emerald27 · July 2014

jalara48 said:

Sunscreen, Sunblock, and Suntan Lotion are all their own products. I didn't know anyone interchanged the names?

Wait...they're different things?! Now don't I feel silly!

TheOtherJacobsons · July 2014

I use them all. Though, I think I use sunscreen more. I guess I'm just weird @jalara48.

asarem93 · July 2014

Sunblock and Sunscreen are the same thing to me, but I always say sunscreen. Suntan lotions are like the oily spray made to help you tan, like Panama Jack or something.

andrieya · July 2014

It's definitely a regional thing--like firefly and lightning bug. I used to say suntan lotion, now I say sunscreen.

fireflyrebirth · July 2014

They are all separate products. The definition of sunblock vs. sunscreen is trickier and I only found out about it recently from the Lucie's List newsletter. Sunblocks create a physical barrier between skin and the sun, sunscreens use chemicals to absorb UV rays:

https://www.lucieslist.com/lucies-list-blog/2014/05/20/best-baby-kids-sunscreens-of-2014/

But the two terms are often used interchangeably. I always say sunscreen though.