My impression of Neutrogena too, despite them testing well in NZ. Nivea is cheap, basic and actually works.
Absolutely hate mineral ones, literally worst of all worlds - expensive, bad ux and doesn’t work. All while greenwashing. So much so it became my litmus to test people’s literacy.
I use the spf 50 ‘sport’ version on my legs and arms (not the face, too greasy) and it seems to do the job OK.
I guess if it’s 35 in testing that’s still OK-ish for general use. I do really plaster it on. And as I’m usually doing that before a lot of outdoor work, it draws a further protective layer of sand and dirt to itself…
This is what's strange to me, I've never, ever heard anyone here in QLD say "buy banana boat products", it's always said that it is shit though.
So, we, as a community knew to avoid them for an awful long time. I can't be specific about when I heard this first but I'm almost certain some one said this to me in the first 12 months I moved to Brisbane (from the UK) 17 years ago.
So, there's been an urban myth for almost, if not longer than 2 decades. And we're only finding out now that it's true? That's the most surprising part of this to me IMO.