Some Americans are reaching for sunscreens made outside the U.S. Here’s what skincare experts think about it.

Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is your best defense against the sun’s harmful rays — but is your sunscreen falling behind other options available around the world? 

Because the United States regulates sunscreen as a drug, experts say consumers are limited in their options compared to other places like Europe and South Korea, where sunscreen is regulated like a cosmetic. 

“Because sunscreens are considered drugs, they are tightly regulated and require extensive testing to be approved to be sold in the U.S. This regulation has unfortunately led to far fewer available ingredients that filter UV rays for U.S. sunscreen manufacturers,” says Dr. Samer Jaber, board-certified dermatologist at Washington Square Dermatology in New York. 

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