Summer has always been my favorite season and the beach, any beach, is my ideal vacation spot. ย I guess it’s because I grew up visting the beach every summer.
Back in the day, I shunned sunscreen like it was the plague. I was a baby oil/iodine concoction addict when I was a teen. As a young adult, I had my own tanning bed. ย I took tanning seriously.
After seeing several of my friends battle skin cancer, I pulled my head out of the sand, educated myself and became a strong advocate of sunscreen.
I won’t lie, the urge to get a deep, dark tan still exists somewhere in my psyche and I think I look better with a little color. ย And what about that vitamin D? ย But . . .
What do the experts say?
To help prevent cancerย and premature aging, experts recommend that you:
- Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen year-round of at least SPF 15 that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Avoid sun exposure between the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wear protective clothing, such as a broad-brimmed hat and long sleeves.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun and every two hours after while you are exposed.
SkinCancer.org says “The verdict is in: ย Sunscreen helps prevent melanoma and other skin cancers!”
These days, you’ll always find sunscreen in my beach AND makeup bags. Are all sunscreens created equal? ย No! According to Consumer Reports, ย 11 out of 34 of the most popular sunscreens failed to deliver the SPF protection promised on their labels.
The top 5 Sunscreens
1. ย La Roch-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-in Sunscreen
2. ย Vichy Capital Soleil 50 Lightweight Foaming Lotion
3. ย Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50
4. ย Banana Boat SunComfort
5. ย (TIE) L’Oreal Quick Dry Sheer Finish 50+
6. (TIE) Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50+
I have to admit that I had never heard of the top 2 sunscreens. ย I found the La Roch-Posay at Ulta and it’s pricey – $35.99 for a 5 oz. bottle. ย The Vichy Foaming Lotion can be found online for $29.99 (4.97 oz).
I go through a lot of sunscreen and my favorite, Neutrogena Beach Defense, didn’t make the cut. When I purchase new sunscreen for my upcoming beach trip, I think I’ll bypass the top 2 and try one of the others that are more budget friendly.
The Worst
1. Aloe Gator SPF
2. ย EltaMD UV Aero SPF 45
3. ย Yes to Cucumbers Natural SPF 30
4. ย Goddess Garden Organics Sunny Boby Natural 30
5. ย Vanicream SPF 50+
What’s your favorite sunscreen? ย Did it make the top 5?
