Sunscreen Ranker journal
The sunscreen
journal.
Daily, evidence-led notes on SPF, UV filters, and sun protection — every claim sourced, no cap.
- UV science The 'Base Tan' Myth: Why Pre-Tanning Equals Only About SPF 3 That pre-vacation 'base tan' you build to avoid burning is worth about SPF 3 - and it's already DNA damage you can't undo. Read it →
- Kids & family Massachusetts Is Still Fighting to Let Kids Use Sunscreen at School and Camp In summer 2025, Massachusetts kids still couldn't apply sunscreen at school or camp without a doctor's note - here's the bill trying to change that. Read it →
- Sensitive skin AHAs, Salicylic Acid & Sun Sensitivity: Why the FDA Says Wear SPF The exfoliating acids that clear your skin also make it easier to burn - and the FDA put that warning right on the label. Read it →
- Seasonal UV Index vs. Temperature: Why a Cool Day Can Still Torch Your Skin Your skin doesn't read the thermometer - here's why a crisp 60-degree afternoon can carry a sunburn-grade UV Index. Read it →
- Global 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. Read it →
- Trends Why Is U.S. Sunscreen 'Behind'? How Drug Regulation Changed Everything The viral 'American sunscreen sucks' takes skip the real reason - the FDA regulates SPF as a drug, and that changes everything. Read it →
- Application Do You Need Sunscreen Indoors? UVA Through Windows, Explained If you sit by a window or commute by car, the glass blocking your sunburn isn't blocking the rays that age your skin - here's the fix. Read it →
- Formulation Beyond UV: Why 2025 Research Says Sunscreens Should Fight Blue Light and Infrared Sun protection is expanding past UVA and UVB - a 2025 scientific review explains the blue-light and infrared gap your 'broad spectrum' label doesn't cover. Read it →
- Filter chemistry Korea's Watchdog Flags 4-MBC in Popular Sunscreens (July 2025) Korean sunscreens dominate global wishlists, but a July 2025 domestic audit shows even legal filters can hide EU-flagged concerns - here's how to read the label. Read it →
- Makeup + SPF Why SPF in Your Foundation Is Only About 1% Sun-Blocker (CU Anschutz, 2025) Here's the exact reason your SPF foundation underdelivers, straight from a cancer center: the protective active is a tiny fraction of the formula, and you'd never apply enough. Read it →
- Trends Indie SPF in 2025: Australia-Approved Filters and Melanin-Friendly Formulas The 2025 indie SPF boom is chasing two things U.S. legacy brands lag on — next-gen filters available abroad and formulas built for deeper skin tones. Read it →
- Skin cancer How to Do a Monthly Skin Self-Exam at Home (Head-to-Toe Checklist) Turn the vague advice to 'watch for changes' into a real monthly routine — including the scalp, soles, and other spots people miss. Read it →
- Formulation Iron Oxides in Tinted Sunscreen: The One Common Ingredient That Blocks Visible Light If you have melasma or stubborn hyperpigmentation, the tint in your sunscreen isn't just makeup — it's the part that fights visible light. Read it →
- Seasonal Climate Change Tripled the Toll of Europe's Late-June 2025 Heatwave, Study Finds The same atmospheric setups that turn deadly in heatwaves also deliver peak UV — context for treating extreme-heat days as both a heat-safety and a sun-safety emergency. Read it →
- Application The Lab Behind the SPF Scandal: Doubts Over Princeton Consumer Research's 'Too Perfect' Results SPF numbers are only as trustworthy as the lab behind them — and the PCR whistleblower story shows how the testing system itself can inflate claims. Read it →
- Skin cancer Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen in 2025: Reef-Safe Without Risking Skin Cancer You can protect both the reef and your skin — a dermatologist explains how to pick a mineral sunscreen that still guards against melanoma, no trade-off required. Read it →
- Reef-safe Hawaii's 2025 Law Puts Free Mineral Sunscreen Dispensers at State Beaches Heading to Hawaii? The state is now installing free reef-safe mineral sunscreen at beaches — so there's no excuse, or extra cost, to comply. Read it →
- Global Australia Sues Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic Over 'Reef Friendly' Claims The reef-safe labeling fight just went global — regulators are now targeting the same products you'll find on shelves wherever you travel. Read it →
- Global Korea Tested 38 Sunscreens in 2025: No Benzene, but Plenty of Overblown Claims K-beauty sunscreens passed the benzene and heavy-metal tests in 2025 — the real catch was unverified marketing claims. Read it →
- Global EU Homosalate Limit Hits Full Force July 2025: From 10% to 7.34% If you buy European sunscreen, the formula you loved may have quietly changed in 2025 — here's what the lower homosalate cap means for your label. Read it →
- Global Spain and Portugal Hit 46°C in the Record-Breaking 2025 European Heatwave The same extreme-heat days that broke June records also delivered punishing midday UV — here's why shade, clothing, and reapplied SPF matter most in a spike like this. Read it →
- Makeup + SPF WWD's 2025 Tinted-Moisturizer Test: When an SPF 30 Tint Is (and Isn't) Enough Two dermatologists give the real-world verdict: a tinted SPF moisturizer can carry a low-exposure day, but it's no beach-day sunscreen. Read it →
- UV science Endocrine Disruptors in Sunscreen: What the EU's 2025 Opinions Actually Said "Endocrine disruptor" is the scariest phrase in sunscreen marketing — the EU's 2025 case-by-case rulings show how scientists weigh hormone activity against real exposure. Read it →
- Filter chemistry Two Benzophenones, Two 2025 Verdicts: EU Clears BP-5 but Not BP-2 The EU's June 2025 ruling split two near-identically named filters into opposite verdicts — and shows why "benzophenones are bad" is the wrong takeaway. Read it →