Reviewed guide
How to Read a Sunscreen Label
A field-by-field checklist for SPF, broad spectrum, water resistance, active ingredients, directions, warnings, and expiration.
Reviewed 2026-08-24 · SunShieldLab editorial review
Front-label facts
Identify the SPF value, broad-spectrum designation, and any water-resistance duration. These are separate attributes and should be recorded separately when comparing products.
Drug Facts panel
Review active ingredients, uses, warnings, directions, and inactive ingredients on the current package. Ingredient lists and percentages should be copied only from reliable, current sources.
Directions and warnings
Application timing, reapplication, use while swimming or sweating, eye-area cautions, and age-related directions can affect whether a product fits the intended use.
Expiration and storage
Check the expiration date and storage directions. Product information and packaging can change, so verify the current merchant or manufacturer label before use.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed evidence used in this guide
A broad-spectrum sunscreen has passed the applicable test for protection across UVA and UVB radiation; broad-spectrum status should be checked separately from SPF.
SPF primarily indicates a sunscreen’s tested level of protection against sunburn associated with UVB radiation; it is not a time multiplier.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun (What do SPF and Broad Spectrum mean?)
Sunscreen is not waterproof. In the United States, a water-resistant label states whether tested protection is retained for 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun (Is sunscreen waterproof?)