With beach days on the horizon, I wanted to share some important information about sun protection and help you figure out which sunscreens you should buy. Recently, one of my favorite publications for reviews of literally everything put out a list of the best sunscreens based on how much they actually worked. They looked at how much SPF the formula actually was, vs. what was on the bottle.
I was horrified to see that some of the sunscreen brands I’ve been buying for years were really NOT good. Like… the bottle says SPF 30 and the formula is actually 4. For someone who is as fair skinned as me, SPF 4 just does not cut it! All of the below sunscreens were rated highest in their group for their UV protection and how much SPF they actually have. Read on for the top sunscreens in each group: lotions, sprays, and face.
The Best Sunscreen Lotion
Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50
I was impressed that this sunscreen lotion scored basically a perfect 100 for blocking UVA and UVB rays and for having a higher-than-advertised SPF (it came in at 64 instead of the bottle’s 50). Plus it’s affordable! And they sell it basically everywhere. All really great things! I bought a bunch of this for our summer.
Everyday Humans Oh My Bod! SPF 50
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Lotion SPF 60
Equate Ultra Lotion SPF 50
Solimo Baby Lotion SPF 50
Coppertone Sport 4-in-1 Performance Lotion SPF 50
You might also want to read what to bring on a beach day with little kids
The Best Spray
Trader Joe’s Spray SPF 50+
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water+Sun Protection Spray SPF 50
Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Glow Spray SPF 30
Sun Bum SPF 50
Banana Boat Sport Ultra Spray SPF 100
Note: This one came in at only SPF 36 when the bottle says 100, so you should look at it as a “30” vs. a “100”.
Equate Sport Spray SPF 50
The Best Face Sunscreen
Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Matte Gel SPF 45
Neutrogena Sport Face Oil-Free Lotion SPF 70+
Banana Boat Sport Ultra Face Lotion SPF 30
Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Face Lotion SPF 30
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And some FAQs about sunscreen, too
What is SPF?
SPF blocks the harmful UVB rays that can injure the top layers of skin. I used to think that the SPF number was equal to how many minutes you could be in the sun without a risk of burning. And that’s kind of true to a point. According to the FDA, “SPF is a measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to produce sunburn on protected skin (i.e., in the presence of sunscreen) relative to the amount of solar energy required to produce sunburn on unprotected skin”. In everyday terms, it means that the amount of time you can be in the sun before you need to reapply is dependent on how fast your skin normally burns.
Do I need sunscreen at 3pm?
It totally depends on where you are, if it’s cloudy or rainy, etc. Generally, the sun’s harmful UVB rays are strongest between 10am and 4pm.
Can I put sunscreen on an infant?
You’re not supposed to put sunscreen on an infant younger than 6 months. I had assumed it was because their skin is just so delicate, but our pediatrician said it’s mostly to keep infants OUT of the sun. Some people think that one application of sunscreen means you can just be in the sun for the entire day. To be cautious, the recommendation is that infants under 6 months don’t use sunscreen – and therefore stay out of the sun more.
Should I put sunscreen on my lips?
YES! I’ve seen some awful lip sunburns.
What is the rule on sunscreen expiration?
You should throw out your sunscreen at the expiration date and get a new one. Especially if your sunscreen expired two years ago. Over time sunscreen ingredients break down, making the SPF lower than it says on the bottle. It’s just not worth taking the risk of using expired sunscreen that isn’t doing anything, only to get an awful sunburn!
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