I almost never wear sunscreen. I'm quite fair and burn easily, but I hate how sunscreen feels, and I have concerns about ingredients in sunscreen. I'm also allergic to zinc oxide, so that's out.
I typically wear a broad brimmed hat when outdoors. When the UV index is low enough I can go for a walk without worrying about sunscreen -- if I won't burn without it then I don't wear it. When the UV index is high, I stay out of the sun as much as possible, walking in the early morning or later in the evening. During the months the UV index is super high (11+ / extreme is common) it's also way too hot to walk around in head to toe UV rated clothing. So it's just a common sense thing -- wear a hat to shade my face, don't go out in the sun if I'll get burned.
At the beach, whether or not I wear sunscreen depends on what I'm planning to do. If I'll be under an umbrella or shade tent, I don't wear it. If I plan to walk around, I do. I also wear it hiking at elevation (otherwise my regular rules apply when hiking). I prefer some Neutrogena high SPF face sunscreen that's meant for faces and isn't oily. I don't know which one, as it changes from time to time. For awhile Target had a good knock off. I use it on my body and face.
I'm not concerned about aging and wrinkles. We all get them, and I refuse to buy into the sunscreen industry's push for wearing sunscreen daily. As for skin cancer, there's concern that modern sunscreens fool people into thinking they're safe in the sun, rather than trusting their bodies to tell them when to get out. There's also research suggesting lack of vitamin D causes more cancers (and more severe cancers) than the risk of most skin cancers from sun exposure. We were advised by our very mainstream doctor to get more sun exposure (when UVB is higher) and to take supplemental D due to vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency (some family members have insufficient numbers but not deficient numbers). She likes supplemental D to hedge bets, but think sun exposure is better (in moderation and with caution). With one kid, she flat out said he should not wear sunscreen because his numbers are deficient and for some reason supplementation only brings him up into the insufficient zone. He has a fair skin tone but unlike the rest of us he tans easily and rarely burns.
And this is probably controversial, but there is some thought out there that diet and lifestyle can provide some protection from sun exposure. In other words, healthy bodies have better defenses. We stay away from seed oils and choose a diet higher in omega 3 oils, eat colorful foods full of antioxidants, get plenty of sleep, and avoid stress. It can't be that humans all of a sudden can't tolerate the sun -- our behavior and diets have changed significantly in the past 150 - 200 years. (And no, I'm not saying everyone should follow a paleo diet, just that we need to look to food chemicals and processed foods.)
