Store Brand Sunscreens Rated Best Buys

Consumer Reports recently escorted 10 popular sunscreen brands into a lab to see how well they protect against ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation (as compared to what their labels claim). Other tests assessed how well sunscreens lasted on volunteers who soaked in a tub of water for at least 40 minutes.

Walgreens Continuous Spray Sport SPF 90 received an overall score of 88, surpassing Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 lotion, which received an overall score of 79. Both of those sunscreens received Consumer Reports Best Buy honor in the SPF 45+ category.

Target Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30 with a score of 75 beat out Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30, which received a score of 74. Aveeno Continuous Protection Spray SPF 45 received the best score, 92, among the tested sunscreens in the SPF 30-45 range. However, Consumer Reports named Target’s Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30 as a Best Buy in that category.

Consumer Reports subscribers may view the full sunscreen test results online to see ratings for other brands like Neutrogena. Results also appear in the July 2009 print issue of Consumer Reports. A couple of the tested sunscreens didn’t live up to their label claims!

Are you surprised by the effectiveness of store brand sunscreen?

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