SPF: an indicator of how well a lotion pro- tects the skin from the sun’s UVB rays. These are the rays that lead to sunburn. Look for types of sunscreen that provide at least an SPF of 30.
Active Ingredients: To make sure you are getting op- timal UVA protection, look for active ingredients such as Avobenzone and Zinc Oxide.
PA Rating: It is also impor- tant to analyze a sunscreen lotion’s PA rating (a Japanese rating system which measures UVA protection on a scale of one to three pluses).
Water Resistance: Because most people spend a lot of time in the water during the summer, you should also look for types of sunscreens that provide strong water and sweat resistance. According to the FDA, a sunblock product that is labeled “water resistant” holds its SPF protection for at least 4o minutes of sweating or swimming.
