That's because the government has given makers a 6-month delay on meeting new labeling rules.
So some companies won't change their labels for months, while others have already changed theirs, in preparation for the original June 2012 deadline.
Among the new rules: SPF numbers will be capped at 50, and there will be a ban on claims such as "waterproof" or "sweatproof." Government scientists say those can't be supported.
Right now, shoppers can see products with a 100 SPF on the same shelves as products which have language that conforms to the new rules.
Big makers have till December to change their labels; smaller companies have till December 2013. The delay was granted after some companies complained they wouldn't be able to meet the deadlines. The FDA feared some companies would stop making products, causing a sunscreen shortage.
For now, it is best to look for sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15, and ones that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
