Consumer Alert: Buying the right sunscreen this summer

A new study by Consumer Reports finds that sunscreen products with the same SPF may not be equal when it comes to protecting people from the sun.
Testers screened 73 products and found that only 13 offer sufficient protection against cancer-causing sun rays.
Consumer Reports says that La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60 Melt-in sunscreen, and Trader Joe’s SPF 50+ spray are the best sunscreens to use. Both received a perfect score of 100.
Testers also warn consumers to read labels carefully before purchase. They says that some words have very specific meanings.
“Water resistant” means that the product has been tested and will stay effective for 40 to 80 minutes after it is applied. “Broad spectrum” means that the sunscreen is effective against UVA and UVB radiation.
But experts say that phrases like “sport” or “doctor recommended” do not mean anything specific and are often just marketing terms.
Tests also found that most sunscreens fall short of their SPF rating. They say that consumers should pick an SPF 10 points higher than what they need in order to offer better protection.
The full report can be found on the Consumer Reports website.
Of the 73 sunscreens tested, six received ratings of 95 or higher:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk (100)
Trader Joe's Spray SPF 50+ (100)
Equate (Walmart) Sport Lotion SPF 50 (99)
Banana Boat SunComfort Clear Ultra Mist Spray SPF 50+ (96)
BullFrog Land Sport Quik Gel SPF 50 (95) and Coppertone WaterBabies SPF 50 Lotion (95)