ShopSmart puts sunscreens to the test
I tend to reach for the same sunscreen year after year, but only because it made some magazine’s list of “best” sunscreens years ago. Otherwise, I’d probably still be trying to decipher all the choices.
Now comes help from the September issue of ShopSmart, which put 10 sunscreens to the test to find the best. The magazine tested each sunscreen’s ability to screen out UVA and UVB rays, as well as how they held up in water and how each felt, smelled and rubbed in or sprayed on. The brands tested were Aveeno, Banana Boat, Bull Frog, Coppertone, CVS, Neutrogena, Up & Up and Walgreens.
Best Lotion: Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50
Price: $9.12 for an 8-ounce bottle
Why ShopSmart likes it: It gave the best protection of any lotion tested and took no longer than 30 seconds to rub in completely. That’s perfect if you have a squirmy kid or spouse to coat.
(No it’s not just for babies despite the name.) It has a slight baby oil/powder scent, but it’s not overpowering. And it kept working after 80 minutes, even in the water-though it’s still smart to reapply it after swimming.
Best Spray: Walgreens Sport Continuous Spray SPF 50
Price: $7.99 for a 6-ounce bottle
Why ShopSmart likes it: It offers excellent protection at a reasonable price and kept up the protection when tested it in water. Plus because it’s a spray, you don’t need someone to do your back. It left a slight sheen on ShopSmart’s testers, but that’s a small price to pay for all that UV blocking. Just plan for a little extra drying time. And it has a fairly strong citrusy floral scent.
Bargain Buy: Up & Up Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30 (a Target brand)
Price: $5.24 for a 6-ounce bottle
Why ShopSmart likes it: This spray gave decent UVA protection and excellent UVB protection for only 87 cents an ounce, making it the least expensive sunscreen ShopSmart tested. Just one bummer: Testers weren’t crazy about the way it smelled. The fragrance was a citrusy floral blend with hints of plastic and chemicals.
ShopSmart is from the publisher of Consumer Reports.
Brooke Shields: Coppertone and “Lipstick Jungle”
Actress and model Brooke Shields — fresh from the television series “Lipstick Jungle” – is the spokeswoman for Coppertone’s new beauty line, Coppertone NutraShield with Dual Defense.
NutraShield with Dual Defense is a broad spectrum lotion enriched with antioxidants that promote natural skin repair and combat premature skin aging from the sun.
Now, back to “Lipstick Jungle.” Word is that it’s doomed, but now there seems to be a glimmer of hope. Read the story in the New York Post.
Check out this tanned hide
See what basking in the sun will get you? Next time you want to soak up a few rays, remember this picture. Sunscreen, anyone? How about some tinted body lotion or self-tanning cream?
Sunscreens — do they let the sun in?
Just as we head into a holiday weekend comes news that many sunscreens don’t protect our skin like they should.
The Environmental Working Group found that 85 percent of sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from UV rays or have ingredients that either are known health hazards or have not been tested for safety.
The worst offenders: Leading brands such as Coppertone, Neutrogena and Banana Boat.
Scientists found that some popular sunscreen chemicals actually break down when exposed to sunlight. Others penetrate the skin, causing the possibility of allergic reactiion, hormone disruption and skin damage.
To read the report and a list of recommended sunscreen products, click here
