Cheap Sunscreen, Priceless Skin: What Works and What Doesn’t

Many budget sunscreens don’t look glamorous, but they get the job done.

Sun protection is not something to overlook. verona studio/Shutterstock

If you’ve wandered through the sunscreen aisle lately, you know it’s become something between a beauty boutique and a science fair. With prices all over the map and labels that sound like chemistry homework, it’s no wonder so many people either overspend or skip sunscreen altogether. But skipping protection? That’s not saving—it’s gambling with your skin.

Let’s clear the fog. You don’t need to drop $30 on a bottle that promises “invisible veil technology” or contains extracts from rare Himalayan flowers. You just need sunscreen that works—without emptying your wallet.

Price Doesn’t Equal Protection

Here’s the good news: The Food and Drug Administration regulates all sunscreen sold in the United States. That means whether you buy it at a fancy department store or from the bottom shelf at Walmart, it has to meet the same SPF standards. So what’s the price difference about? Texture, fragrance, packaging, and branding. Not necessarily performance.