Before you head out for the beach, make sure your go-to sunscreen really gives you the SPF it's advertising.

New tests conducted by the respected magazine Consumer Reports reveals that many sunscreen brands aren't living up to the SPF or Sun Protection Factor ratings they claim to provide.

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Based in the USA, Consumer Reports is the largest, most trusted independent product testing organization in the world. SPF is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB rays from harming the skin.

Consumer Reports said it tested 20 sunscreens, and although it found several to recommend, only two provided the SPF protection promised on their packages after water immersion. One product came in at less than half of its claimed SPF. The others came in 4 to 40 percent below their claims.

The 20 sunscreen sprays and lotions were tested to verify if their claims to provide "broad spectrum" protection and to be water resistant was accurate.

Broad spectrum means the sunscreen should protect against two types of ultraviolet rays: UVB rays that cause sunburn, and UVA rays linked to skin aging. Both types also contribute to skin cancer.

Of the 20 sunscreens tested, 18 came in below their advertised SPF ratings. The tests also discovered that several of the sunscreens are less effective than others at protecting against UVA rays.

Consumer Reports said only two brands offered the claimed SPF protection: BullFrog WaterAmor Sport InstaCool SPF 50+ and Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50.

Consumer Reports recommends seven sunscreens from Banana Boat, BullFrog, Coppertone, Equate (Walmart), Neutrogena, Up & Up (Target) and Well (Walgreens). It noted that while not all of the seven met the SPF claimed on their labels, the products all provided very good to excellent protection overall as well as against UVA and UVB rays individually.

Consumer Reports also named two Best Buys: Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50 and the Spray Up & Up Sport SPF 50.

Consumer Reports also said seven other sunscreens received only fair ratings for protection against UVA rays, which are linked to aging skin and skin cancer. And three sunscreens received fair to poor ratings for UVB protection. UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer.

Consumer Reports recommended three spray-on sunscreens: Bullfrog Water Armor Sport Instacool SPF 50 plus; Well At Walgreens Sport SPF 50 and Banana Boat Ultra Defense Max Skin Protect SPF 110.

It recommended two other lotion sunscreens: Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 and Neutrogena Ultimate Sport SPF 70-plus.

Seven other sunscreens offered fair protection against UVA rays and fair to poor protection against UVB rays.

Beyond Coastal Natural claimed an SPF of 30, but Consumer Reports found its SPF was below 15. Banana Boat Kids' SPF was also below 15, though it claimed it was SPF 50.

Consumer Reports said applying sunscreen should not be considered the sole protective measure against the sun.

The full report and Ratings of sunscreens can be found in the July 2014 issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Tagssunscreen protection, spf test, Consumer Reports, BullFrog WaterAmor Sport InstaCool SPF 50+, Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50