Sunscreen PSA - YouLookFab Forum

For two years I have been using a Walmart product called Equate with an SPF of 60 (arms and upper body) and 30 (legs). DH has been using various sprays, since he doesn't like the creams.

Yesterday I was at the library, and leafing through the Consumer Reports magazine that had a review of 73 different sun screen products. The Equate products were given surprisingly good reviews with the SPF 50 Ultra protection cream receiving a score of 99/100 (and 2nd place on the list.). A lot of the established products were rated in the 60's, which surprised me. Equate is a budget brand and half the price of most established brands.

FWIW, the creams go on easily and relatively odor free. I find all the sprays revolting, but the Equate Sport SPF 30 spray wasn't too bad. The Children's SPF 60 spray has a strong baby powder smell. I can attest that with this stuff on I don't burn and hardly tan, even when out for 6 hours on a bike ride or in the garden. I use the creams.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

5 years ago

Anonymous

Good information. Thank you.

Interesting, thank you!

JAileen

Veteran

I have a friend who swears by Walmart’s sunscreen. She looks kind of scary, though, because she doesn’t rub it all in!!!

Joy

Good to know. Thank you for the information. If it accidentally gets in your eyes, does it burn?

Runcarla

Joy, I use a different product on my face so can't say. Sorry.

Elizabeth P

Do you know if it’s mineral or chemical based? I want to move to mineral ones, but haven’t done any looking yet... a recomenation like this could make life easy!

Elizabeth P - NOT mineral based. No mineral based products made the list of CR recommended products since they did not meet the criiteria of sufficient protection against both UVA and UVB. I was disappointed in that, because I was keen to switch to mineral as well. I am using a mineral based product on my face, along with a hat, and the Equate products from the neck down. I do wash off all product at the end of the day.

I don't have the article (it was in a newer CR magazine (July 2018) that couldn't be signed out yet) but they tested for UVA and UVB, water and sweat proof, etc. It was noted that many brands did not meet the SPF quoted on their containers.

rachylou

That’s interesting. What was #1?

#1 was a La Roche-Posay product with an SPF of 60 that cost 7 X as much as the Equate. (A product had to score better than 80 to get a recommendation from CR.)

Haha Forget that!

kkards

very interesting....and good to know...because the last time i read the CR reviews of suncreen, years ago, all "house brands" got really low reviews, i believe at that time CR said that they were all to watery so would need to apply more to get the same coverage as the branded suncreens....good to see that the house brands have made improvements.

Astrid

We have been buying the Lidl house brand, Cien Sunscreen, for the family for years and the brand regularly got good reviews in consumer tests. And it's really inexpensive, I think less than 3€ for a bottle. Sunscreen is important, but when you make an informed decision it doesn't need to break the bank.

LaPed

It's a shame CR won't offer recommendations for mineral sunscreens. Hawaii has passed legislation banning any sunscreen that isn't reef-safe. https://www.washingtonpost.com.....edirect=on

Ginger

Wow, that's really good to know! I've used the Equate brand for years for OTC painkillers/allergy meds and things like that, but I haven't tried the sunscreen. (To be honest I'm mostly out of the sun in the summer - it's way too hot to mess around in.) But I will definitely keep this in mind when I run out.

Beth Ann

Thanks for the info! I always stand there with bottles in my hands, wondering which is best!

I, for one, will not be shifting to mineral based blocks. I had a horrible reaction to the newer micronized versions with bumps all over my face.

Janet

(website)

I think we have maybe a dozen different kinds of sunscreen in our house, so this is good to know.

I also hate the spray kind — they seem wasteful. I see so much of the spray just fly into the air and not go on the skin, and they seem to run out quickly. I also don’t like the feel.

Style Fan

Thanks for the info, Carla. I use mineral sunscreen on my face, neck, upper chest and hands. I haven't found one for the body that I like.

Category