This year nearly 6,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma. Close to 1,000 will die from it.
Consumer Reports recently tested 18 sunscreens, including brands such as Banana Boat, Coppertone, Neutrogena and Aveeno.
"We test to see how well the sunscreens protect against two types of radiation - UVB, which causes sunburn, and UVA, which penetrates deeper, resulting in tanning and aging of the skin," said Nicole Sarrubbo from Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports found Banana Boat Kids and Alba Botanica failed in terms UVA and UVB protection.
Banana Boat Clear Mist Sport Performance Active Dry Protect and Coppertone Sport High Performance Sweat Proof, priced at around $10, came out on top in the tests, meanwhile.
Eco All-Natural Sunscreen was also rated high in the tests, but costs about $25.
Kelly Robertson from Vita Health said organic sunscreens often cost more but come with added advantages.
"It's going to be replenishing lost moisture, providing you with antioxidants and so forth," said Robertson.
The Canadian Dermatology Association has its own list of sunscreens. It recommends more than a dozen brands, all with an SPF of 30 or higher.
"Every sunscreen that has a Canadian dermatology logo on it has been tested by an independent laboratory and meets the requirements for a good sun block so really an individual can't go wrong with that," said Dr. Marni Wiseman from the Canadian Dermatology Association.
Dr. Wiseman said price often doesn't determine how effect a sunscreen will be for a person. She said for the best defence against skin cancer, limit your time in the sun during peak hours, pick a lotion you like and reapply it every two hours.
