EU UVA-Circle Logo vs. US 'Broad Spectrum': Which Is Stricter?
A US product can say 'broad spectrum' and still offer far weaker UVA protection than an EU sunscreen wearing the UVA-in-a-circle logo - here's why.
To earn the EU UVA-circle logo, a sunscreen must have a UVA-PF of at least one-third of its SPF AND a critical wavelength of 370 nm or more. The US 'broad spectrum' label requires only the 370 nm critical wavelength.
Regulatory labeling experts note that two standards using the same wavelength benchmark can still differ in stringency: the EU adds a proportional UVA-PF requirement, so the same wavelength threshold does not guarantee the same real-world UVA protection.
Questions we get a lot
What does the EU UVA-in-a-circle logo mean?
It indicates the product meets the EU recommendation for UVA protection. To carry it, a sunscreen must have a UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) of at least one-third of its SPF and a critical wavelength of 370 nm or more. It is a proportional standard, so higher-SPF products need higher UVA protection too.
Is 'broad spectrum' weaker than the EU UVA logo?
It can be. The US 'broad spectrum' label requires only that a product reach a critical wavelength of 370 nm. The EU logo adds a requirement that UVA-PF be at least one-third of SPF, so a US 'broad spectrum' product can legally provide less UVA protection than an EU-logo product at the same SPF.
Where can I find the official EU list of allowed UV filters?
The European Commission maintains the list of permitted UV filters in Annex VI of the cosmetics regulation, accessible through the CosIng database. It is the authoritative reference for which filters are legal in the EU.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'My US sunscreen says broad spectrum - does that mean it has the same UVA protection as my European one?'