Consumer Reports tests sunscreens every year and they find that many products don’t deliver the sun protection (SPF) they promise.
“They’re all not created equal,” said Trisha Calvo, deputy editor for health and food at Consumer Reports. “There really are differences between the same sunscreens that claim the same SPFs. So, we test them for the protection against UVB and UVA rays.”
When it comes to choosing a sunscreen, Calvo suggests getting one with an SPF of at least 30 – and an SPF 50 might even be better.
“Even though the differences in protection [between SPF 30 and SPF 50] are not so great,” she said, “people don’t necessarily apply sunscreen the way that they should. So, a higher SPF up to about 50, might give you a little bit more protection.”
This year, Consumer Reports tested 52 sunscreens and found two that qualify as CR Best Buys: Equate Ultra Lotion SPF 50 available at Walmart, and Trader Joe’s Spray SPF 50.
Note: All the mineral sunscreens CR tested appear near the middle or bottom of the ratings.
More Info: CR Sunscreen Buying Guide
