This year's report was supposed to be short and sweet because let's be honest—nobody has time to spend hours researching sunscreen when they needed to buy it yesterday. 

(FYI: It's not nearly as short and sweet as I intended. If you're in a rush, skip straight to Tip #1. That's really the most important thing you need to know before heading down the sunscreen aisle.)

Before we begin, keep in mind that this is the Freedom Medi-Spa Sunscreen Report.

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to like it. These recommendations are based on our own research, experience, and professional opinions. Sunscreen is a complex topic, and there is no shortage of differing viewpoints. We welcome thoughtful discussion and feedback.

Here's the thing: I have my own biases. Everybody does.

I've read studies that suggest many sunscreen ingredients are safe in small amounts. I've also read reports showing that certain ingredients can remain in our systems for weeks after application.

I know that mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are generally considered among the safest options available. I also know they can sometimes leave you looking like you lost a fight with a bag of flour.

On the flip side, add a few chemical ingredients and suddenly you've got something that spreads beautifully, feels elegant on the skin, and doesn't leave a white cast. But then the question becomes: what trade-offs are we making?

This is why sunscreen can be such a difficult topic to navigate.

Most chemists and skincare professionals share the same philosophy: The best sunscreen is the one you will actually use.

I've adopted that philosophy as well. Wearing sunscreen consistently is far more important than spending months trying to find the perfect one. Simply put, find a sunscreen you like and use it.

But, if you can find a mineral-based option that you genuinely enjoy wearing, even better.

At Freedom Medi-Spa, we carry AlumierMD and Colorescience sunscreens. They're all mineral-based, and they're wonderful products. We recommend them primarily for the face, neck, décolleté, and of course, the backs of the hands. The reality is that a premium 55g facial sunscreen packed with skincare ingredients is probably not what you want to be slathering over an entire family during a week-long beach vacation. 

For daily facial SPF, my personal favourites are AlumierMD Sheer Hydration with Tint as a moisturizer and Colorescience Flex when I want a little more coverage.

For larger areas—beach days, pool days, cottage weekends—things get trickier.

You need something effective, reasonably priced, easy to apply, and available in a bottle large enough to survive more than one day with your family. And if you have young children, you need to be able to execute sunscreen reapplication like an F1 pit stop.

Let's be honest—you probably didn't get much cooperation during the first application inside the house. You're certainly not getting more cooperation now that they're covered in sand and trying to sprint toward the water.

So, after far too much reading, researching, and standing in sunscreen aisles staring at ingredient labels, here are my thoughts:

1. Look at the Active Ingredients

If you've skipped everything until this point, congratulations — you've finally arrived at the part that might actually help you navigate the sunscreen aisle.

When looking at body sunscreens, check the active ingredients and, whenever possible, avoid:

• Oxybenzone
• Octinoxate
• Homosalate (over 10%)

And then there's the tricky one: Fragrance.

Fragrance is often buried at the very bottom of the ingredient list, sometimes hidden under one of those fold-out labels that nobody reads until they're standing in the aisle squinting at six-point font.

We'll get into that one in a minute.

2. Parents of Young Kids Wanting to Reapply at the Beach: Don't Hate Me for This One

Avoid sprays.

I know. I know.

When you're trying to reapply sunscreen to a child who is halfway through building a sandcastle, eating a Popsicle, and plotting their escape, a spray sounds like the greatest invention ever.

But they aren't great for a lot of reasons.

If you absolutely must use one, please don't be the parent I've watched spraying their child in the middle of a crowded pool deck while 30 unsuspecting bystanders get an SPF facial they didn't ask for.

First, move somewhere away from other people.

Then have your child (or yourself) hold their breath while you spray. Move outside the spray cloud before breathing normally again. You may need to repeat this a few times to get proper coverage.

The concern isn't necessarily the sunscreen itself—it's inhalation. We simply don't know what repeated exposure to these particles in the lungs may mean over time.

The other issue? Coverage.

You are never going to get a perfectly even application with a spray. A significant amount ends up in the air. Add a little breeze and even less lands where you intended it to.

Yes, rubbing it in afterward helps.

And yes, I can hear you asking, "Then what's the point of the spray?"

Don't shoot the messenger.

3. Let's Talk About Fragrance

I know I already mentioned it, but it deserves its own section.

Fragrance is a bit of a loophole.

When a manufacturer lists "fragrance" on an ingredient panel, they aren't required to disclose every ingredient contained within that fragrance blend. That means it may contain a variety of chemicals, allergens, hormone disruptors, or other ingredients consumers may not be aware of.

From a skin perspective, we've seen firsthand what long-term exposure to fragrance can do.

Over time, skin can become increasingly reactive. Eventually, even simple skincare products can trigger irritation, redness, and discomfort.

Repairing that kind of sensitivity can be a very long road.

Whenever possible, opt for fragrance-free.

4. SPF 30? 50? 100?

Let's put things into perspective.

SPF 50 blocks approximately 98% of UVB rays.

SPF 100 blocks approximately 99%.

That's it.

My recommendation? Find a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 40 that you and your family actually like using.

Then wear it.

And reapply it every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

The best sunscreen is still the one you'll actually use.

5. Wear the Damn Sunscreen

This is where I get a little less diplomatic.

Melanoma and skin cancer rates continue to rise, particularly among young Canadian women.

Historically, rates among men have also been high, largely because they're less likely to wear sunscreen consistently.

Approximately 90% of melanoma cases are linked to excessive UV exposure from the sun or tanning beds.

And honestly...

Who the heck is still using a tanning bed?

Tanning beds can emit up to 15 times the UV radiation of the sun.

Every day, 3–4 Canadians die from melanoma.

So stop arguing.

Wear it.

No, sunscreen is not more dangerous than UV exposure.

Find one you like. Use it consistently. Reapply it.

Someone loves you and wants you to wear it.

Site:

EWG

Melanoma Canada

McGill Health e-news