Summer is here and that means spending a lot more time outdoors.
If you’re spending any amount of time in the sun, you should be wearing sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Not all sunscreens are created equal, however. Consumer Reports tested dozens of different sunscreens -- both lotions and sprays -- and found that some offer much better protection than others.
Listed below are the top five sunscreens, according to Consumer Reports.
1. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk lotion
2. Trader Joe’s Spray SPF 50+
3. Equate Sport Lotion SPF 50
4. Pure Sun Defense Disney Frozen Lotion SPF 50
5. Banana Boat SunComfort Clear Ultramist Spray SPF 50+
If you can’t find one of the top-rated sunscreens, Consumer Reports recommends finding one that has an SPF rating of at least 40. Some sunscreens produce lower real-life SPF protection than their label says, so the higher the better.
Consumer Reports says sunscreens with active ingredients like avobenzone provide better protection than natural sunscreens like zinc oxide.