Many people will hit the beach or pool this Memorial Day weekend and will be sure to have their sunscreen on hand.
A recent test done by Consumer Reports Magazine looked at a variety of sunscreen brands to see which ones are most effective.
And the results are good for your wallet.
Paying more does not always mean better quality, at least when it comes to sunscreen.
Consumer Reports tested 12 broad-spectrum sunscreens that all claim to protect against cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays.
They found that some of the least expensive brands were also some of the most effective.
"It is surprising. Everyone wants to cut where they can but you don't want to cut the quality," said Consumer Reports representative Nicole Sarrubbo.
The tests measured effectiveness after normal activity and after 80 minutes in water.
"We look at did they tan, did they burn, that way we know if it provided UVA or UVB protection," said Sarrubbo.
At the front of the pack were store labels such as Target's "Up and Up" and Walmart's "Equate".
Brand names like Coppertone and Hawaiian Tropic also ranked well.
Others, such as Terrain and Badger, fell below the standards.
Consumer Reports says the problem is these brands protect against UVA rays but don't provide a lot of UVB protection.
"If a product doesn't protect against UVB rays, you could get sunburned, so it makes sense to look at products that provide both protections," said Sarrubbo.
Protection against skin cancer is vital, which is the most common cancer in the U.S.
Consumer Reports said the best advice is to look for a brand spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 40 and is also waterproof.
They also said to make sure to put it on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours.
