Sunscreen Reviews and Buying Guide:

Many of us put on sunscreen to avoid the harmful effects of the sun, with the biggest concern being skin cancer. Skin cancer has become more prevalent in the last decade or so and more cases are being caught early enough so that the cancer can be removed without further problems. You may ask what is the difference between "sunblock" and "sunscreen". Sunblock is more of a marketing term given to sunscreen, although no sunscreen is able to completely protect your skin from those harmful rays of the sun. Even the highest levels of SPF (sun protection factor) will still let some of the harmful rays through. As for SPF, many consumers are confused as to how much better SPF 30 is than say SPF 15. Is it double the protection (15 vs 30)? No, an SPF 15 will block 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks just 4% more (97%). Anything higher than a SPF 30 rating does not give you any better protection from UV rays. Ultimately, you need a sunscreen or sunblock that blocks out the vast majority of UVB as well as UVA rays.

---

What are UVA and UVB rays? Sunlight has 2 different types of light that effect us. You get surface sunburns from the UVB light but the UVA light actually penetrates your skin and breaks down collagen - causing wrinkles. Studies show that 90% of wrinkles are directly caused by the sun's UVA light. Sun exposure and consequent sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging in both men and women. Melanomas of the skin are caused by the harmful UVA rays. Even on cloudy days, the sun can penetrate the clouds, and wearing sunscreen should be a must. Don't assume that because it's not sunny that the suns rays are not effecting you. Sunscreens and sunblocks must contain titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789) or Mexoryl SX to protect you from UVA rays. The FDA just approved Mexoryl SX in the US in July 2006 so now you can find sunscreen that will protect you. Sunscreens are now available in sprays, lotions, and powders and many have fragrances added so they don't smell. You'll also want to consider sweatproof sunscreen if you are active and certainly look for a waterproof sunblock if you expect to be in the water throughout the day. As a precaution, I always put on more sunscreen even after my kids or myself get out of a pool or water source like lakes, streams or the ocean. Parents and individuals should not be fooled by the words "sunblock" on any packaging of suntan lotion or sunscreen. As we stated above, no sunscreen is 100% guaranteed to stop all sun rays, but many are better than others. Definitely stay away from any sunscreen that doesn't provide some UVA protection since those rays are just as harmful if not more so than the UVB rays that cause sunburns. Experts also agree that the majority of damage done to your skin by the sun occurs before the age of 25 so protect yourself and your children when they are young so that too much sun exposure won't come back to haunt them later in life with aged looking skin or even worse, skin cancer. Some of the more popular brands of sunscreen and sunblock include Blue Lizard, Bullfrog, Coppertone, L'Oreal Ombrelle, Neutrogena, Hawaiian Tropics, Banana Boat, Lancome, Spwipes, Vanicream, and La Roche Posay Anthelios. Most sunscreens cost about $10 to $15 for a 4 to 10 oz bottle. You can find them at your local Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Longs Drugs, pharmacy, or online at Amazon.com. As a side note on skin protection, some health experts say you can do just as much harm by loading your skin up with sunscreen and sunblock products if those products are not free and clear of chemicals. You are now seeing natural sunscreens and organic sunscreens that are biodegradable and better for your and the environment. Down below we have tried to list the top sunscreens in a few categories to give you an idea of which ones are not only the best selling but the most beneficial to your skin and the future of it.

Best Sunscreen:

It's not that easy rating one sunscreen higher than another, so we came up with 2 winners for "best sunscreen". La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Lait SPF 60 is considered a top rated sunscreen product that comes highly recommended by dermatologists since it contains the chemical Mexoryl - one of the best known ingredients in sunscreen that can protect skin from wrinkles caused by the UVA rays from the sun. The Posay Anthelios sunscreen is expensive at $30 for a little less than 2 oz. You can find it online and in some stores. The second leading sunscreen product is Neutrogena UVA/UVB Sunblock Lotion ($7.50/4 oz) which gives you UVA protection without added oils and fragrances. Neutrogena says the sunblock lotion is sweatproof and does not irritate your skin. Amazingly enough, the majority of sunscreens don't offer UVA protection (unlike the 2 listed here), so as a buyer beware of sunblocks that claim high SPF #'s (like 45 or higher) but provide no protection from UVA rays.

Child/Baby Sunscreen:

When it comes to your children, the biggest favor you can do for them is to keep them protected from the harmful rays of the sun even when they are infants and toddlers. There are baby sunscreen products available, but many of them are really no different than the adult versions. What you want is a brand with a high SPF (50+) and a baby sunscreen with UVA protection. Some of the leading kids sunblock products are Banana Boat Kids, Coppertone Kids, Coppertone Waterbabies, and Blue Lizard Baby SPF 30. We suggest going with a proven winner in Blue Lizard Baby SPF 30. Blue Lizard sunscreen sells for about $13 and you get 9 ounces. The sunscreen is fragrance free (easier on your kids skin), and it has a combination of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (UVA blockers).

Top UVA Protection Sunblock:

Now that you are more aware of what UVA and UVB rays can do to your skin if exposure is not stopped, you realize that protecting yourself from UVA rays is just as important as those UVB rays. Remember that many sunscreens DO NOT protect you from UVA rays, for some reason the producers of sunscreens have only concentrated on UVB rays. The best UVA protection sunblock is Ombrelle Sunscreen Lotion from L'Oreal. It contains avobenzone and Mexoryl SX, 2 very effective ingredients that block UVA. The kids version of this sunblock is made with titanium dioxide which make is less harsh on kids skin. The sunscreen lotion sells for about $10 (4 oz bottle). Ombrelle sunscreen is sold in Canada and in some online stores. The FDA approved the use of Mexoryl in sunscreen sold in the US (7/2006) so sunscreen producers are still working on a formula to sell in the United States. Expect one available sometime in 2007.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Sports and Outdoors