Sunscreen Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Sunscreen

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and the benefits of sunscreens outweigh potential risks from their ingredients. And while you should use sunscreen every day of the year, it’s even more important during summertime – when the days are longer, the sun is stronger, and it’s easier to spend more time outdoors.

When choosing sunscreen, be sure to read the label before you buy. Food and Drug Administration regulations require the labels to follow certain guidelines. Our guide can help you understand the terms.

What is UVA & UVB?

The sunlight that reaches us is made up of two types of harmful rays: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, the skin’s thickest layer.

 Unprotected exposure can lead to premature skin aging and wrinkling (photoaging), and suppression of the immune system. UVB rays will usually burn the superficial layers of your skin. It plays a key role in the development of skin cancer. The intensity of UVB rays vary by season, location and time of day, with 10AM to 2PM being the peak hours. Sunburned skin doesn’t just feel awful, it can cause permanent damage over time.

What is SPF?

 SPF stands for sun protection factor. Sunscreens are classified by an SPF number which refers to their ability to deflect UVB rays. The SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to burn sunscreen-protected skin vs. unprotected skin.

SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays;

SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%;

SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%;

SPF 100 about 99%.

No sunscreen protects you completely. The FDA requires any sunscreen with SPF below 15 to carry a warning that it only protects against sunburn, not skin cancer or skin aging.

Is sunscreen really waterproof?

“Water resistant” does not mean “waterproof.” No sunscreens are waterproof or “sweatproof,” and manufacturers are not allowed to claim that they are.

Water resistant sunscreens must pass independent tests to prove they retain their stated SPF while swimming or sweating. Labels must now state 40min or 80min water resistance. "Sweat-proof", "Waterproof", & "sunblock" claims are no longer allowed by the FDA. 

How to use sunscreen?

Shake it before used. It helps distribute the active ingredients throughout the sunscreen.

Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. For lotions, a good rule of thumb is to use a shot glass full (about an ounce) to cover your entire bathing-suit-clad body.  For sprays, apply as much as can be rubbed in, then repeat. Regardless of which kind you use, reapply every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or sweating.

Don’t think you can get away with digging out an old suncream you used on holiday over a year ago; sun cream goes off after 12 months.

Protect Your Eye From the Sun

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We try out 18 different sunscreens 

We use black tape to map out a grid on the back of a test subject. 18 different sunscreens with SPF 50 (Sun Protection Factor) from the USA, Europe, Japan and more were pitted against each other.

 Only one sunscreen had an SPF 42 due to a wrong purchase.

The experiment was carried out from 1:30pm to 4:45pm at an outdoor temperature of 34°C. 

  And this was the outcome after three hours:

 European sunscreens like LaRoche-Posay have stronger protection against the sun whereas Japanese sunscreens like Allie by Kanebo feel better on the skin. Who do not want to spend too much on sunscreen still have good alternatives like Kose, which is both wallet-friendly and effective.

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