Consumer Report shows sunscreens don’t meet SPF claims
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Consumer Reports tested dozens of sunscreens and brands over a four year period and found some misleading results with their SPF labels.
From lotions to sprays, many of us use some type of sunscreen for many reasons, but some sunscreens may not be protecting you as much as you think.
Consumer Reports tested 60 sunscreens and found almost half of the products failed to meet their SPF claim on the label of being SPF 30 or higher.
“We found that two sunscreens with kids in their names claimed an SPF of 50 plus and in our tests tested at an SPF of 8,” Consumer Reports Deputy Editor Trisha Calvo said.
Those brands were CVS kids lotions spf 50+ and Banana Boat tear free sting free kids lotion.
“That’s a bit disconcerning,” Parent Dana Wheeler said.
Wheeler said she is not sure what to trust.
“It’s like if you spend more money, because you think you’re getting better coverage, are you just throwing money in the trash,” Wheeler said.
Wilmington Dermatologist Rosalyn George said the overall results were not that surprising.
“It’s interesting, because a lot of the ones that they showed are not necessarily ones that I recommend to my patients.”
George said there are three things she recommends for sunscreen.
“Broad spectrum, also an SPF of at least 30 and they want to look for water resistant,” George said.
She said she recommends brands like Coppertone, Neutrogena, and Elta. The report shows chemical-based sunscreens performed better than mineral-based sunscreens.
“Just use it,” George said.
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