Sunscreens protect the skin. They play an important role in blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation from being absorbed by the skin. UV radiation damages the skin and can lead to sunburns and skin cancer. No sunscreen blocks UV radiation 100%.

Sunscreen works by blocking and absorbing UV rays through a combination of physical and chemical particles. Physical particles, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are used to reflect UV radiation from the skin. Another factor to consider in sunscreen is the sun protection factor, or SPF.

Regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent, and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent. Help prevent premature skin aging caused by the sun, including wrinkles, sagging and age spots.

But most people don’t apply sunscreen properly — failing to reapply often enough or to coat their bodies with a thick, protective layer. SPF only measures how well lotion protects you from UVB rays, so it won’t tell you anything about protection from UVA light.

Here are five of the safest sunscreens, according to EWG — all under $15 on Amazon.

• Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen Lotion, about $9 on Amazon.
• Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Lotion, Sensitive, about $14.
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry Touch Sunscreen, about $10.
• Thinksport Sunscreen Lotion, about $11.

8 Clean Sunscreens

• The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 30.
• UnSun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 30.
• The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 50.
• Saie Sunvisor.
• Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30.
• Beautycounter Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage.

My personal favorite safest spray sunscreen:

• Beautycounter Countersun Spray Sunscreen.
• Alba Botanica Spray Sunscreens.
• All Good SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen Spray, Water Resistant.
• Babyganics Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50+
• Bare Republic Sunscreen Sprays.
• COOLA Sunscreen Sprays.
• Goddess Garden Sunscreen Sprays.

Even more troubling, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that since spray-on sunscreens contain flammable ingredients such as alcohol, they have the potential to catch fire — even after they’ve been applied. The FDA reports at least five incidents of people being burned after using spray-on sunscreen.

Spray or lotion? While spray takes less time to apply and is easier to use on your children, convenience doesn’t always mean better. On average, people tend to get less sunscreen out of a spray because they only spray for a couple of seconds. Overall, sunscreen lotion is the best way to go.

Oxybenzone: This ingredient is one of the most commonly-used sunscreen chemicals. Oxybenzone is linked to endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, contact allergies, and photoallergies, meaning exposure to light is required to generate an allergic response.

Small Amounts of Zinc from Zinc Oxide Particles in Sunscreens Applied Outdoors Are Absorbed through Human Skin.

Zinc Oxide, widely used in broad-spectrum sunscreens, can be safely applied in repeated doses without the risk of local skin toxicity, according to the findings of a recent study.

Zinc is an essential mineral that helps the body inside and out. It can even help maintain the health of your largest organ: your skin. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, zinc is especially beneficial for inflammatory acne and related scarring.

Taking in too much zinc can be harmful, however, and it may cause a range of symptoms, including nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), an excessive intake of zinc can cause zinc toxicity.

Lower levels put you at a higher risk of heart disease. A review of several studies on zinc and cholesterol levels suggests that supplementing with more than 50 mg of zinc per day may lower your “good” HDL levels and not have any effect on your “bad” LDL cholesterol ( 11 , 12 , 13 ).

People use oral zinc to help treat colds, but it can decrease the effectiveness of certain drugs and cause side effects. The recommended daily amount of zinc is 8 milligrams (mg) for women and 11 mg for adult men.

In pooled analyses of both studies (n=94), vitamin C plus zinc was significantly more efficient than placebo at reducing rhinorrhoea over 5 days of treatment. Furthermore, symptom relief was quicker and the product was well tolerated.