There are hundreds of choices when it comes to sunscreens on the market. How do you choose the BEST sunscreen for the money? As part of our Ways to Save segments, we decided to tackle this question.
I interviewed Dr. Lori Stetler with Dallas Center Dermatology and Aesthetics. She shared her favorites and I found the corresponding deals!
As always, prices on sunscreens can change at any time. Spring is when you’ll see them go on sale the most. If you’re shopping in store, do a quick check in my coupon database for any available coupons. You’ll find coupons for Neutrogena, Coppertone, and Banana Boat! Also, don’t forget to check for rebates from Ibotta and Checkout 51.
Overall online, it appears Amazon, Walmart and CVS (great in store deals during week of 4/10) have the best deals. In store, I would purchase when your grocery or drug store has the product on sale and then bring a coupon to maximize savings, like next week at CVS.
Best Sunscreen for the Money
Neutrogena
This is Dr. Stetler’s favorite overall because it is broad spectrum in terms of sun protection and type of products.
In the SPF numbers game, Neutrogena has taken a decisive lead with its new Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ ($11.99, drugstores). I actually instead use CVS/pharmacy Ultra Sheer Lotion as it has the same ingredients and only costs $7.99 (plus they currently have a BOGO 50% off sale, making each bottle $6). Note: I use SPF 45 however. I tend to buy generic, BUT I CHECK THE INGREDIENTS. Many have the same ingredients and cost less.
Ultra Sheer body mist – (love these for guys and kids). Amazon sells a pack of three for $25.57 (prices can adjust at any time). Walmart sells one can for $8.37. CVS sells at 50 clear spray at $8.99 (and currently has a BOGO 50% off)
Ultra Sheer dry touch (cream) – Walmart takes the cake on this one at $7.97. CVS has a similar one with a BOGO free offer right now.
Beach Defense Sunscreen and Spray Lotion – (great smell). Amazon wins the savings battle on this one at $9.47.
Pure Free Baby – Amazon is just $0.09 cheaper than Walmart. So it’s a toss up.
Other favorites with links to the cheapest I could find:
Clear face – (oil-free. great for acne prone)
Current Neutrogena Discounts:
Target Cartwheel ~ 5% Off (Target prices were a bit higher and I don’t know if the 5% will offset that. But, if you find a coupon as well, then this could be a good option.)
Another option is to try Jet.com – Neutrogena products 15% off at Jet.com with 2-day free delivery.
Banana Boat
Before you go and buy any Banana Boat products, make sure and go HERE to print off a $1 coupon to help you save in store!
Plus CVS during the week of 4/10 will be offering a buy one get one 50% off deal! Print two coupons for both products and you could save BIG!
Select Cvs, Banana Boat or Hawaiin Tropic Sun Care B1G1 50% off
$1/1 Banana Boat Sun Care Product printable
Final Price: Varies
Banana Boat Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Stick – I’ve found most stores carry them at $3.97. If it’s more, don’t buy it. And on Amazon, you can buy a pack of 3 and just pay $3.60 per stick!
Banana Boat Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50 – Walgreens wins the price war on this one at just $1.99!
Banana Boat Sport Quick Dry Scalp Spray – (great for men with thinning hair) Jet.com is selling this for just $6.44, the lowest I found, plus new customers get 15% off!
Coppertone
If you’re buying in store, make sure and print this $1 Off coupon to help you pinch some pennies!
Coppertone Baby Stick SPF 55 – Amazon is selling this for just $4.37 right now. Other stores have it for $4.60 or more.
Coppertone Sport Spray – Most sell it around $8, but Amazon has a two pack for $11.99 right now. That price hasn’t been beaten that I can find!
Sport Sunscreen Stick – This is $4.89 at Target. If you use the coupon, you’ll pay just $3.89!
Water Babies SPF 50 – (babies and kids). Target has this for $8.99. Use the $1 off coupon and pay $7.99!
Aveeno
If you or your baby has sensitive skin, Dr. Stetler suggests Aveeno products. I did an overall search and found the best deals on Amazon!
However, CVS this coming week (4/10) is offering a Buy 2, Get third free option on sunscreen! Get a price point on Amazon for the particular product you are interested in and then match this price with CVS! Plus go here to print of a $1 off coupon (try to get 3 as you are purchasing 3 products.)
CVS:
All Aveeno Hand/Body Lotion, Baby, Personal Cleansing or Sun Care (excludes trial/travel) B2G1 Free
$1/1 Aveeno Product printable [Excludes cleansing bars, trial sizes and 2.5 oz. body lotion sizes]
$1/1 Aveeno Product, exp. 5/29/16 (SS 04/03/16) [Excludes Cleansing Bars, Moisturizing Bars, Trial Sizes and 2.5Oz Body Lotion Sizes]
$2/2 Aveeno Products printable [Excludes cleansing bars, trial sizes and 2.5 oz. body lotion sizes]
Final Price: Varies
If you’re shopping in store, Target also has a 5% off Cartwheel Offer!
Additional Tips
Do you need the highest SPF possible?
The answer depends on how much sunscreen you apply. If you slather on the same amount used to establish SPF values (about half a teaspoon on your face alone), 97 percent of skin-reddening UVB rays are blocked by an SPF 30, 99 percent by an SPF 100.
Most people apply 25 to 50 percent of the amount of sunscreen used to determine SPF. Half the necessary dosage will yield only about one-third of the listed SPF. So a higher number is a nice insurance policy: Go easy on an SPF 100, and you’re still left with an SPF of about 30. Even a triple-digit SPF, though, must be reapplied every two hours (all sunscreen eventually degrades in the sun) or after swimming. And SPF measures protection only against UVB rays, not UVA, which also contribute to skin aging and cancer.
Sunscreens that contain Helioplex (like Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer line) are a great bet.
Also keep this in mind. You’ll want a sunscreen with broad-spectrum or multi-spectrum protection for both UVB and UVA. Ingredients with broad-spectrum protection include benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates,titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789) and ecamsule (Mexoryl SX).
- SPF 15 or higher for UVB protection. The SPF factor rates how effective the sunscreen is in preventing sunburn caused by UVB rays. If you’d normally burn in 10 minutes, SPF 15 multiplies that by a factor of 15, meaning you could go 150 minutes before burning. Keep in mind that the higher the SPF, the smaller the increased benefit: contrary to what you might think, SPF 30 isn’t twice as strong as SPF 15. While SPF 15 filters out 93% of UVB, SPF 30 filters out 97%, only a slight improvement.
- UVA protection. When it comes to UVA protection, you need to pay attention to the ingredients. Look for a sunscreen that contains at least one of the following, ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone, or zinc oxide. Any of those should do the trick.
- Water and sweat resistance. If you’re going to be active or in the water, it’s worth getting a sunscreen resistant to water and sweat. The FDA defines water resistant sunscreen as meaning that the SPF level stays effective after 40 minutes in the water. Very water resistant means it holds after 80 minutes of being in the water. Reapply them regularly if you’re taking a dip.
- Kid-friendly sunscreen. The sensitive skin of babies and children is easily irritated by chemicals in adult sunscreens, so avoid sunscreens with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and benzephenones like dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone. Children’s sunscreens use ingredients less likely to irritate the skin, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Unlike chemical ingredients, these protect babies’ skin without being absorbed, Fairbrother says.For kids 6 months or older, look for a sunscreen designed for children with an SPF of 15 or higher. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies under 6 months be kept out of the sun altogether.
- Sunscreen for skin problems or allergies. People who have sensitive skin or skin conditions like rosacea may also benefit from using sunscreens designed for children. Go for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide instead of chemicals like para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone. If you have skin irritation or allergies, avoid sunscreens with alcohol, fragrances, or preservatives.
Sunscreen is an important part of a sun protection regimen that should also include seeking the shade, avoiding UV tanning, and wearing protective clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. By educating yourself about your many sunscreen options, you can be confident that the product you choose will fit your particular needs, offering you the best protection from the sun’s harmful rays — and helping to ensure that you use it regularly. After all, the sunscreen you apply consistently is the best sunscreen of all.
Some information gathered from WebMD.
