An analysis of 20 sunscreens by Consumer Reports found that only two provided the SPF protection claimed on the label.
The analysis – and rating of overall performance of those sunscreens – was released by the advocacy organization just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer.
Courtesy U.S. Food and Drug Administration
According to the survey, a product's SPF was the most important factor in determining what sunscreen to purchase.
According to a survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, a product’s sun protection factor (SPF) was the most important factor in determining what sunscreen to purchase.
Consumer Reports decided to put those SPF claims to the test in its own labs. The only two that tested at the SPF level claimed were BullFrog WaterArmor Sport InstaCool SPF 50-plus and Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50. One product, Beyond Coastal Natural SPF 30, tested at half its claim. The other products tested at 4%-40% below the claimed SPF.
"We can’t say why our test results differ from the manufacturers’ claims, but they show that SPF isn’t always carved in stone," the Consumer Reports authors wrote.
The group also debunked some of what it called the "myths" about sunscreens, including that sprays provide the best coverage, and that "natural" sunscreens are safer than other sunscreens. In addition, mineral-based sunscreens are no more effective than other sunscreens, says Consumer Reports.
Also, the article said that there is no practical or meaningful difference between a sunscreen labeled for children and one for adults. In most cases, the active ingredients and the concentration of those ingredients are exactly the same. Some of the kids’ sunscreens contain only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which may be less irritating than products that contain chemical sunscreens such as avobenzone, according to the article.
The organization tested UVB protection by spreading a standard amount of sunscreen on a volunteer’s back, immersing them in a tub of water for a bit, and then exposing them to six intensities of UVB light from a sun simulator for a standard period of time. The skin patches were examined the next day for redness and the measured SPF was used to calculate the UVB scores.
For UVA, Consumer Reports conducted a critical wavelength test similar to what the Food and Drug Administration requires of manufacturers. The test assesses how well UV rays are absorbed by clear plastic plates that have been treated with the sunscreen.
The overall performance score was based on both the UVA and UVB results.
Among lotions, the best-performing product was Coppertone’s Water Babies SPF 50. Walmart’s less-expensive Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50 was the second-best performer. BullFrog’s WaterArmor Sport InstaCool SPF 50-plus was the top performing spray, followed by Target’s Up & Up Sport SPF 50. Banana Boat Ultra Defense Max Skin Protect SPF 110 spray and Neutrogena Ultimate Sport SPF 70-plus lotion were the highest-performing products with ultra-high SPFs.
The article and ratings are available online to subscribers and will be published in the group’s July 2014 print publication, Consumer Reports.
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