Sunscreen sprayers, beware: You could be doing it wrong

People still have a lot to learn about putting on sunscreen. That's what Consumer Reports found when we interviewed 135 people at Rye Playland Beach in Rye, N.Y., in July. We let people select one of eight different products and asked them what they look for in a sunscreen.  

Most people—60 percent—hadn't bothered to apply sunscreen before they came to the beach. But in order to get the best protection, you need to apply it 15 to 30 minutes before heading out in the sun.

When asked to choose a product, more than half selected a spray. Almost all of those people said sprays are easy to apply, most said they dry quickly and said they felt they can get adequate coverage.

Sprays can be protective if used correctly, but it can be hard to judge the amount of sunscreen you're using, which may lead to less protection. To ensure you're getting good coverage, hold the nozzle 4 to 6 inches away from your body, spray, and then rub the product into your skin. Spray each body part twice in case you miss an area. Even better, spray the product into your hand, then rub it onto your body.

More than half of people who chose sprays said they're good for kids. But Consumer Reports doesn't recommend using them on children because inhaling spray may cause lung irritation. Also, as their labels state, sprays are flammable; in 2012 more than 20 different types of Banana Boat sunscreen sprays were voluntarily withdrawn from the market. There were reports of people being burned while wearing some of the products when they got close to an open flame—such as a grill—before the sprays dried.

Find out what you need to know about sunscreen before you buy it and see which seven sunscreens came out on top in Consumer Reports' lab tests.

Here are some of the other things we learned from talking to beachgoers.

• Lotions were less popular than sprays; less than half of people chose them. Only 46 percent said it was easy to get good coverage, and just 41 percent said they were easy to apply.
• About a third of participants chose a product based on its SPF, which refers to a sunscreen's ability to shield you from ultraviolet B rays. Those can cause sunburn and skin cancer. Products with SPFs of 50 and 70+ were far more popular than those with an SPF of 30. About 20 percent of people said they picked a product because it blocks more of the sun's rays. But an ultrahigh SPF doesn't mean you're getting twice the protection of an SPF 30 or 50. The difference in the protection provided by an SPF 30 and an SPF 50 is tiny; an SPF of 30 offers 97 percent protection against UVB rays, while an SPF of 50 provides 98 percent protection.
• Twelve percent of people said they didn't need to apply as much with the SPF they chose. That's not true, though; you need to apply the same amount of sunscreen regardless of the SPF. It takes an ounce (about 2 tablespoons) to cover your face and body adequately. Our tests found that using half the recommended amount of sunscreen gives you only half the SPF protection.
• All products offered for this survey claimed to be water resistant, broad spectrum sunscreens. But only about a quarter of participants said they were looking for a water resistant product, and only 18 percent wanted one that's broad spectrum. Yet these are important features. Water resistant means a sunscreen will be effective even if you're swimming or sweating, and broad spectrum products protect against UVB and the more deeply penetrating UVA rays, which can cause skin aging and contribute to skin cancer.
• Most people said they reapply sunscreen after swimming, and about a third said they reapply once or twice during the day or after heavy sweating. Only 20 percent said they reapply every two hours, yet that's the recommendation for the best protection.
• About 37 percent of respondents said they don't check the ingredients when they buy a new bottle of sunscreen. About 40 percent don't know what to look for and/or trust that the product is safe. One common misconception is that "natural" sunscreens are safer than "chemical" sunscreens. The term "natural" is usually used when a product's only active ingredients are titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide (though some also contain chemical sunscreens). But those ingredients are often broken down into tiny nanoparticles so that they go on clear instead of as a thick, white paste. Some experts are concerned about the health effects of those compounds.
• The majority of people interviewed said they wear sunscreen when they're at the beach or pool; others use it in the summer when they're outside or it's sunny. Few wear it year-round, yet everyday exposure to the sun contributes to skin damage and can lead to cancer.

—Deborah Pike Olsen