Most people know that sunscreen’s important when heading outdoors, but almost a third say they never use it—even when they’re in the sun for more than 4 hours! That’s according to Consumer Reports, which just tested sunscreens to find those that offer the best protection.
Testers applied sunscreen to people’s skin at an independent lab. After waiting at least 15 minutes, they exposed the skin to UVA or UVB radiation.
All of the sunscreens offered good to excellent UVB protection. That’s known as the SPF. The SPF, or sun protection factor, tells you how much sun you can handle before burning, compared with wearing no sunscreen at all. Consumer Reports recommends an SPF of at least 30.
And it’s important to reapply sunscreen after you swim or work up a sweat—and as a general rule, every 2 hours.
When it came to UVA rays, tests showed one of the lotions was just fair—Banana Boat Kids’ Tear Free, with an SPF of 50.
But another lotion also marketed for kids did well: Coppertone’s Water Babies, and adults can use it too.
If you prefer spray, save money by getting Target’s Up and Up Sport Sunscreen Continuous Spray with an SPF of 30. It was the least expensive sunscreen tested.
And whether you spray sunscreen on or rub it in, use a generous amount.
A word about skin cancer—Consumer Reports says don’t rely on sunscreen alone for protection. Take other precautions such as wearing a hat and tightly woven clothing. And remember the best protection: Stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day.
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