How to decipher sunscreen labels

I hate to tell you this, but it's not enough to take any old sunscreen off the drugstore shelf and apply it to your skin. To make sure you're choosing the right formula for your skin type and needs (and applying it right!), you need to read each product's label first. It's all fine and dandy until you realize you have no idea what the fancy-sounding terms on the label even mean. Tell the truth: do you know the official meaning of phrases like "Broad Spectrum" and "SPF"? How about "water resistant" and "sport"? If the answer is yes, then kudos to you! Keep going, keep going. If the answer is no, you'll want to read this. Below we share a crash course in deciphering sunscreen labels. And that's not all! Just in time for summer, we're also sharing best practices for choosing a sunscreen that can give your skin the protection it deserves and, quite frankly, needs.

WHAT IS BROAD SPECTRUM SUN CREAM?

When a sunscreen says "Broad Spectrum" on the label, it means the formula can help protect your skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. As a refreshing agent, UVA rays can contribute to premature signs of visible skin aging, such as visible wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays, on the other hand, are primarily responsible for sunburn and other skin damage. When sunscreen offers broad spectrum protection, it can help protect against the visible signs of early skin aging, sunburn, and skin cancer when used with other sun protection measures. (Psst - that's really good!).

WHAT IS SPF?

SPF stands for "sun protection factor". The number associated with SPF, whether it be 15 or 100, determines how much UV (burning rays) sunscreen can help filter out. For example, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) claims that SPF 15 can filter out 93% of the sun's UVB rays, while SPF 30 can filter out 97% of the sun's UVB rays.

WHAT IS A WATERPROOF SUN CREAM?

Great question! Because sweat and water can wash sunscreen off our skin, manufacturers have developed waterproof sunscreens, which means the formula is more likely to stay on wet skin for a period of time. Some products are waterproof for up to 40 minutes in water, while others can stay in water for up to 80 minutes. See the label of your sunscreen for instructions on proper use. For example, if you towel dry after swimming, you should immediately reapply sunscreen, as it will likely rub off in the process.

Editor's Note: When using a waterproof sunscreen, be sure to reapply the formula at least every two hours, even if your skin remains dry.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SUN CREAM?

Sun protection comes in two basic forms: physical and chemical sunscreen. Physical sunscreen, often formulated with active ingredients such as titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, helps protect the skin by reflecting the sun's rays away from the skin's surface. Chemical sunscreen, often formulated with active ingredients such as octocrylene or avobenzone, helps protect the skin by absorbing UV rays. There are also some sunscreens that are classified as physical and chemical sunscreens based on their composition. 

WHAT DOES "BABY" MEAN ON SUN CREAM?

The FDA has not defined the term "children's" for sunscreen. Generally speaking, when you see this term on a sunscreen label, it means that the sunscreen likely contains titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, which are less likely to irritate a child's sensitive skin.

WHAT IS "SPORT" ON SUN CREAM?

As with "children's," the FDA has not defined the term "sport" for sunscreen. According to Consumer Reports, "sports" and "active" products tend to be sweat and/or water resistant and less likely to irritate your eyes. When in doubt, check the label.

BEST PRACTICS 

I hope you now have a better understanding of some of the common terms used on sunscreen labels. Before heading to the pharmacy and testing your new knowledge on this topic, there are a few additional points to keep in mind. First, there is currently no sunscreen that can filter out 100% of the sun's UV rays. As such, it's important to wear protective clothing, seek shade, and avoid peak hours of sunshine (10am to 4pm when the sun's rays are at their strongest) in addition to using sunscreen. Also, since the SPF number only takes into account UVB rays, it is important to protect against the equally harmful UVA rays. To cover all of your bases, AAD recommends using a broad spectrum SPF of 30 or higher that is also water resistant. Typically, a good application of sunscreen is about one ounce—enough to fill a shot glass—to cover exposed body parts. This number may vary depending on your size. Finally, reapply the same amount of sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you're sweating or toweling profusely.