Sunscreen Manufacturers: Who Can You Trust?

There are dozens of sunscreen manufacturers producing hundreds of sun block products, from facial and lip block to baby sun block. When you start looking at the variety of options available to you, how can you possibly choose one?

For starters, consider your requirements. If you live in Australia, with the world's highest skin cancer rate (one of every two Aussies will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime), you want the best possible SPF available - and you want it at a reasonable price because you're going to use it every day. There are plenty of Aussie companies who can provide this skin protection to you, including Blue Lizard.

If you're not quite so concerned about skin cancer and want to be able to get a decent suntan while still protecting your skin from the most harmful UV-B rays, you can probably get all the protection you need from a less-expensive brand like Coppertone. Or you can look for a premium tanning oil that provides UV-B protection while maximizing your tanning from UV-A.

Your baby's skin will require at least an SPF-30 sun block, and your lips and other particularly sensitive areas like your face will need a special sun block as well. If you spend a lot of time in the water, a super-waterproof product like BullFrog can give you the protection you're looking for. If you need a premium sun block, you can always try Anthelios products.

When you purchase sunblock, look for an SPF rating and a UVA /UVB rating. Many "sun blocks" don't include UVA protection because for a long time it wasn't considered necessary. And avoid products with PABA, as it's been shown to be a carcinogen. There's also no real need to go above an SPF of 30; higher protection does not make an appreciable difference.

No matter what your needs are, you'll be able to find a good product within your budget if you shop around. Keep your sun protection requirements in mind as you shop, and look for samples before you buy.