The Best Sunscreens for Summer Fun

We all know that protecting our skin from harmful UV rays is a high priority all summer, but with so many different products on the market, it’s sometimes difficult to decide which one will offer the best protection. Here is a quick guide to some of the best sunscreens available.

For the Family: No-Ad Sunblock Lotion SPF 45 is considered a great deal for families. It’s inexpensive and comes in large bottles for daily use. It’s also water resistant, and provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

For Sports: If you’re going to be playing hard outside all day, Banana Boat Sport Performance Dri-Block Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 may help you out. It dries well, is lightweight, and offers a broad range of protection.

For Sensitive Skin: Try Blue Lizard Suncream Sensitive SPF 30. While it’s on the thick side, it doesn’t contain many of the chemicals other sunscreens may have; instead, it relies on zinc oxide and titanium oxide to protect against UVA and UVB rays. It’s also available in Blue Lizard Baby form for young ones.

For Daily Facial Use: If you have oily skin, you may want to try Aveda’s Dual Nature Face Protection SPF15 Skincare, which is oil-free. If you have dry skin, there’s Eucerin’s Extra Protective moisture lotion SPF 30, which contains a moisturizer.

No matter what you choose, be sure to follow these tips for general sun safety:

• Use a lip balm with SPF protection.
• Wear a sun hat to protect your head if you can. A burned scalp is very painful!
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. If you wear prescription glasses, see if you can get a tinted pair.
• Put your sunscreen on fifteen minutes to half an hour before going outside, and reapply every two hours (unless specified otherwise on the bottle).
• SPF 30 is generally enough for most people; in fact, the FDA may put a stop to any labels that go over 50.
• If a sunscreen is labeled “broad spectrum,” it will cover both UVA and UVB rays.
• Wear sun protective clothing if you can.
• Throw away sunscreen that is over two years old.
• Seek the shade during midday when the sun is brightest.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies under six months of age should not wear sunscreen, and be kept out of the sun altogether; but anyone older than six months needs it regularly.