Hello all! Virgin burner from Northern Ireland

[Mogget]

Hello! I'm Dean, a 22 year old from Northern Ireland and have wanted to go to burning man for a few years now! I am open to new experiences and love the idea of spending a week disconnected from everything except the camps and people at the event.

This year I can finally afford the trip so I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. Honestly slightly anxious about getting everything prepared and have been trying to read the guides and make sure I have everything I need and that I don't end up a COMPLETE sparkle pony at my first burn

As an almost translucent skinned Irish I'm fairly sure I might actually burn to death in the Nevada sun but will try and fight through it!


So hello to all!

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Sunscreen is your friend.

[Ratty]

Welcome to ePlaya. I hope you can make it. Bring some light weight long sleeves of loose fitting cotton. wide brimmed hat and maybe an umbrella. Use spray on sun screen so it's easy and convenient to apply.

[Elliot]

Welcome to ePlaya, Dean!
My favorite sunscreen is Melanin -- the natural pigmentation in the skin. I build what I call a base tan, starting in spring. With your skin, however, that may not work. The very lightest skin tones simply do not tan, they just burn. You can read up on this on Wikipedia.

So, desert-appropriate clothing and sunscreen lotion may be the way to go for you, as the others already mentioned.

For sunscreen lotion, I prefer a cream rather than a spray. Sprays get into our face and we breath the stuff, which is far from healthy. I've tried it, and YUICK! nasty, nasty. Just ask someone, anyone nearby, to apply the lotion to your back.

The Consumer Union organization, publisher of Consumer Reports, has tested sunscreens extensively, and with absolutely no influence from the manufacturers and stores. (Everything they test, they buy anonymously in stores across the country.) Last year one of their top recommendations was for Walmart's Equate Ultra Protection Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50, which is also one of the least expensive. (Every dog has his day, as the saying goes, and even Walmart occasionally sells a good product.)

[Savannah]

Hello! I'm Dean, a 22 year old from Northern Ireland and have wanted to go to burning man for a few years now! I am open to new experiences and love the idea of spending a week disconnected from everything except the camps and people at the event.

This year I can finally afford the trip so I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. Honestly slightly anxious about getting everything prepared and have been trying to read the guides and make sure I have everything I need and that I don't end up a COMPLETE sparkle pony at my first burn

As an almost translucent skinned Irish I'm fairly sure I might actually burn to death in the Nevada sun but will try and fight through it!


So hello to all!

Hello, Mogget!

[Zaxary]

As an almost translucent skinned Irish I'm fairly sure I might actually burn to death in the Nevada sun but will try and fight through it!

Agh! I feel you. SPF9000 sunscreen is definitely on my pack list... if we serendipitously cross paths on the playa, and we're not both passed out from heat exhaustion, I'll certainly offer you a ginormous glob of my sunscreen. XD

[Raoul]

Greetings, Dean/Mogget, and welcome to ePlaya.

With last year's dust storms, I stayed so covered in playa dust that the sun couldn't get through it to be a burn risk. I am not terribly fair-skinned, but I found it to be pretty effective to coat myself in a lotion-based sunscreen first thing in the morning before I set out and then carried a can of spray sunscreen to touch up throughout the day.

Good luck with the planning. Hanging out in these parts is a good first step.

[Ratty]

Welcome Zaxary and Mogget you could cross paths at the Meet & Greet. Wednesday, 6pm, Barbie Death Camp/Village. It's a potluck for ePlayans. the password is Pineapple but don't tell anyone. It's the only event I'm sure to attend at the burn. We'll hug you later.

Oh, and do bring BOTH kinds of sunscreen. Read the directions on the aerosol or pump bottle. Do not spray your face. You can either spray your hand and wipe it on your face or use lotion on your face. The great part about spray is that you can apply it to your own back or your whole body quickly. Sometimes you'll be in a hurry. Go figure.

[Raoul]

The great part about spray is that you can apply it to your own back or your whole body quickly.

Unless you find a new friend who is willing to assist with that endeavor.

[Katajojo]

I don't want to sound nerdy, but I am a biochemist by training and my ancestry is Irish and Swedish so I have extremely fair skin also. Here's what you can do if you want to have a great sunblock that is also cheap. Go purchase a huge tube of pure zinc oxide ointment USP for about $2. The tube will say 20% ZnO2. You can usually find it in the baby isle by the diaper ointments. Or if you want the really cheap stuff, go online or have your pharmacy order 10 tubes of fugera brand. Probably need 4oz tubes per day if you cover yr whole body. Then purchase some bottles of 99cent generic fragrance free lotion from your favorite 5 & dime. (youre going to put this on your face so shoul be fragrance free) Mix 30% ZnO2 cream to 70% lotion and put into a large empty container (preferably BPA free) with a screw lid. What I have done, is used a large 8 cup plastic container with a screw on lid for hiking trips. That was enough for 2 weeks .

Heres the process:

1. Measure 2/3 cup lotion, then 1/3 cup zinc oxide ointment into a bowl and mix with spoon or fork.
2. After mixing, spatula the mixture into the plastic container.
3. Repeat 1-2 until container full or enough for 10 days use.
4. Cover sides of container with tin foil SHINY SIDE IN! This will protect the mixture from sunlight and heat.
5. Store in cooler box while at burning man.
6. Each day cover exposed areas before heading onto the playa, and also transfer a days supply into a pre purchased small carry size plastic container with a screw lid to carry with you. (these can be found at health food stores.)

This mix will protect you with well over 100% UV protection for long periods. Needs to be reapplied if profuse sweating, but can also just be rubbed back in when sweating.

Well...this mix has worked well for me. Yes you have to mix it youtrself but it will last you days without costing you tons of money.

[Ratty]

So you will be WHITE. Really white. Instead of just your nose, (like a lifeguard), your entire body will be covered with that thick, solid white goo. So what will you look like when the dust starts flying?

Maybe I've got it all wrong. I like the image though.

[Katajojo]

No...it wont be white at all. I wear it every day. but do what you feel comfortable doing. Maybe for your first year you should follow the advice of legendary burners, and forego the chemistry lab. Or try my concoction first with just a small batch before you make a gallon to see if you like it. Personally id follow the old timers advice. Id hate to give you advice that failed your needs.

"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, as all courses may run ill." JRR Tolkien

[Ratty]

katajojo, I'm tryin it! A new hobby. Sunscreens. (It used to be hair removal but after I investigated every lotion and every piece of hardware it wasn't fun anymore.)