Sun-loving subscribers to the Julep beauty products service were psyched to see they could get lipstick with SPF 30 sunscreen protection. That is, until they opened their orders and found that the sunscreen would only be effective for a few more weeks. [More]
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You Really Shouldn’t Try Making Your Own Sunscreen
By 7.6.16
The promise of DIY sunscreen is similar to that of other products you make for yourself at home: for your time, you’ll get a product that’s gentler, not full of mysterious “chemicals,” and cheaper. While many things are fun and easy to make yourself at home, sunscreen shouldn’t be one of them: its effectiveness is lab-tested and quantified right on the bottle. [More]
5 Things You Should Know Before Buying Sunscreen This Year
By 5.17.16
Whether you’re hitting the beach, doing yard work, or just out and about in the sun this summer, using sunscreen to protect your skin is generally a good idea. But not all products provide the same level of protection, and some don’t live up to the promises on their packaging.
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Does A Reformulation Make Coppertone Sport Less Effective?
By 6.25.13
Natalia noticed two bottles of sunscreen side by side at CVS. Initially, it appeared that one was a great deal because it offered 33% more volume at the same price: sort of a reverse Grocery Shrink Ray. Turning the bottle over, though, she read that the bottle had a little less of each of the effective ingredients: about 10% less by volume than the smaller bottle. Doesn’t that mean you have to use more sunblock to get the same effect? [More]
Store-Brand Sunscreens From Target, Walmart, Walgreens Outperform Higher-Priced Options In Test
By 5.23.13
If you think you get what you pay for when you buy sunscreen, you might be in for a surprise. Our less-sunburned cousins at Consumer Reports recently put a dozen sun-protection products to the test and the ones that came out on top were also among the least expensive. [More]
FDA’s New Sunscreen Labeling Rules Go Into Effect, But Without A Cap On SPF Ratings
By 5.20.13
We’ve heard the Food and Drug Administration say it once, and we’ll reiterate it again: buying a sunscreen with an SPF of over 50 doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get extra protection from the sun’s rays. The FDA’s new rules regarding sunscreen labels have been in the works for a while and are going into effect this summer, but despite concerns, many products will still showcase an SPF rating over over 50. [More]
FDA Announces New Labeling Standards For Sunscreen
By 6.14.11
Earlier today, the Food and Drug Administration announced new labeling guidlines for sunscreen in an effort to make it clear to consumers which products offer the best chance of keeping your skin from turning into shoe leather. [More]
If This SPF Goes Any Higher, My Sunscreen Will Turn Into Aluminum Foil
By 5.14.09
The difference in UVB protection between an SPF 100 and SPF 50 is marginal. Far from offering double the blockage, SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. (SPF 30, that old-timer, holds its own, deflecting 96.7 percent).
FDA Overhauls Sunscreen Ratings As Part Of Continuing War Against The Sun
By 8.26.07
A recently issued rule from the FDA would overhaul and expand the agency’s fight against the sun’s radiation. The proposed regulation would require sunscreen makers to test for effectiveness against UVA rays, which unlike UVB rays, do not burn the skin; UVA instead gives us an attractive bronze that can cause cancer.
