5 ON YOUR SIDE: Best sunscreens of 2024 [Video]

No matter what you’re doing outside, remember this: Wear sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn and skin cancer. Consumer Reports tests dozens of sunscreens every year. The good news is you don’t need to pay top dollar to find a sunscreen that works, but you need to choose carefully and wisely since some of those claims on the label might leave your skin burnt and your wallet.

Consumer Reports sunscreen testing is no walk in the park. Experts test dozens of lotions, sprays, and sticks to ensure you’re protected if you take that walk yourself.

Testers evaluate how well sunscreens protect against two types of the sun’s rays—UVA and UVB—which cause aging, skin cancer, and sunburn. Sensory specialists also evaluate the scent and feel of each sunscreen.

To test for SPF – the “sun protection factor” and a measure of how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays, testers apply …