How to Evaluate UVA Protection

Active Ingredients Are Critical – They Determine How Well Protected You Are

The first thing you need to do is look at the active ingredients listed on the label. Then, the percent concentration.

All sunscreens contain active ingredients – these are the ingredients that provide the sun protecting effects in the formula. You will hear them referred to as sunscreen actives, filters, agents, blockers, or blocking agents.

The active ingredients should appear at the beginning of the ingredient list. It’s usually labeled “Active Ingredients: “

All other ingredients will be listed afterward, in descending order of concentration. It’s usually labeled “Inactive Ingredients: “

You should also see a percentage next to the active ingredient, e.g. “Zinc Oxide 7.0%.” This is the percent concentration of the ingredient. The higher the better. There are legal maximums though.