Summers in Denver and the Rocky Mountains typically entail temperatures over 90 degrees, no humidity, and seasonally high ultraviolet radiation - also known as UV rays. Protect your skin and level up your sunscreen game with top-notch protection against the harsh Colorado sun. Even when it's slightly overcast and not summertime, living in the Mile High City exposes us to higher UV levels, so make sure when you go outside, you're always lathering up, even when you go skiing!
Consumer Reportsreleased its sunscreen ratings for the year, categorized by type: lotion, aerosol spray, and a special category for face sunscreen. Each sunscreen is tested for UVA protection, SPF protection, and the average tested SPF (the average level of sunburn protection based on testing after water immersion). Consumer reports tested over 70 sunscreen brands, awarding each product a score out of 100. These ratings are broken down to include specialized ratings for UVA and SPF protection based on a scale of 1-5.
Here are Consumer Report's top sunscreens from each category:
Top Lotion Sunscreen
- Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50
- Score: 100 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 5 | AVG. Tested SPF: 64 SPF
- Everyday Humans Oh My Bod! SPF 50
- Score: 83 | UVA Protection: 4 | SPF: 5 | AVG. Tested SPF: 55 SPF
- La-Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Lotion SPF 60
- Score: 73 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 4 | AVG. Tested SPF: 33 SPF
Top Spray Sunscreen
- Trader Joe's Spray SPF 50+
- Score: 74 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 4 | AVG. Tested SPF: 34 SPF
- Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Spray SPF 50
- Score: 71 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 4 | AVG. Tested SPF: 32 SPF
- Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Glow Spray SPF 30
- Score: 68 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 3 | AVG. Tested SPF: 26 SPF
Top Face Sunscreen
- Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte Gel SPF 45
- Score: 67 | UVA Protection: 4 | SPF: 4 | AVG. Tested SPF: 33 SPF
- Neutrogena Sport Face Oil-Free Lotion SPF 70+
- Score: 53 | UVA Protection: 3 | SPF: 4 | AVG. Tested SPF: 33 SPF
- Supergoop Every.Single.Face Watery Lotion SPF 50
- Score: 52 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 2 | AVG. Tested SPF: 16 SPF
Top Mineral Sunscreen
- California Kids #supersentitive Tinted Lotion SPF 30+
- Score: 55 | UVA Protection: 2 | SPF: 4 | AVG. Tested SPF: 33 SPF
- Badger Active Mineral Cream SPF 30 Unscented
- Score: 55 | UVA Protection: 5 | SPF: 2 | AVG. Tested SPF: 16 SPF
If you've got a big day of outdoor activities and want another level of protection, it may be worth purchasing asun protection shirt.Whenyou're tubing with friendsor hiking a 14-er, the last thing you want is to press the pause button on fun to reapply sunscreen.
Insect Repellent
Spring showers brought spring flowers, but they also brought the mosquitos! Make sure you're prepared for those summer nights when the bugs are out and hungry. Resisting damage to materials measures the potential to damage your clothes - with higher scores indicating the product will be less likely to cause damage.
Consumer Reports Top Insect Repellents
- Ben's Tick & Insect Repellent Pump
- Score: 96 | Protection From Bugs: 5 | Resists Damage to Materials: 3
- 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8
- Score: 94 | Protection From Bugs: 5 | Resists Damage to Materials: 2
- Off Sportsmen Deep Woods Insect Repellent 3
- Score: 93 | Protection From Bugs: 5 | Resists Damage to Materials: 2
Are you looking for a more natural bug spray route? You can easily make your own bug spray that will help deter pests. Be aware that some herbs and oils can be harmful or irritating. Lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of 3 or women who are pregnant or nursing. Always test any homemade bug spray for a possible allergic reaction.
Here are two simple homemade bug sprays you can make using essential oils:
- Two cups witch hazel, tsp. Lemongrass or citronella oil and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar.
- One cup of alcohol or witch hazel and 10-20 drops of essential oils such as lemongrass, peppermint, or lemon eucalyptus.
Store your finished repellent in a dark-colored bottle or keep it in a dark spot to prolong its effectiveness.
EWG's Skin Deep
When it comes to skincare products, there are many chemicals to be aware of depending on your skin type. TheSkin Deepwebsite offers a robust database that reviews and rates different skincare products focused on understanding potential hazards and health concerns related to ingredients. Skincare and cosmetics are not under the purview of any governing body - therefore, there are no required health studies or premarket tests done on the products, despite the majority of citizens consuming these chemicals and products. Skin Deep allows you to research just about any skincare product to discover any ingredients or items you should avoid. Skin Deep is an excellent resource for discovering cleaner skincare products.
Make sure to protect yourself while you enjoy the incredible Colorado outdoors. If you're looking to save those sunny days for adventure and want to live in a moreshaded neighborhood, we've got you covered with your dedicatedneighborhood expert!
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