2019 Sunscreen Product Ratings

Picking a sunscreen can be daunting. You want a product that protects you from the sun that also feels comfortable on your skin. This season there is new information to consider when making your product selection. In February, the Journal of American Medical Association published a study demonstrating that sunscreens are readily absorbed into the blood stream through the skin.  The study suggested we need further research to understand the impact the sunscreens may have on our health.

Many people know that I have always been one to do my homework when making purchases. In light of the new information about the absorption of sunscreens into our bloodstream, I reevaluated the products I have been using. This year I used a combination of Consumer Report’s top picks, Amazon top sellers and Environmental Working Group (EWG) safety ratings to identify quality products. Because of the safety concerns with aerosolized nanoparticles I did not research spray sunscreens. My recommendation is to avoid them all together. Read more about the criteria I use for evaluating sunscreens.

The EWG rates product based on ingredients safety and efficiency with the best score being a 1 and the worse score being a 10. The Consumer Report assigns an an overall score based on aggregate information from testing of UVA protection, SPF rating and variation from SFP rating claims. A higher Consumer Report number is better.

Amazon sunscreens with 1500 or more ratings and an average score of 4+ stars.

Consumer Report’s Professional Top Rated Products:

So what is my final pick? As you can see the choice is challenging. When I take into consideration effectiveness, safety and price I plan to use Badger Active Natural or California Kids lotion this summer.

(This blog post is not sponsored by any manufacturer. However, Relish Health may receive a commission on purchases made through an Amazon link.)

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How to Choose the Best Sunscreen