May 4, 2021
Original article and page source found here.
It’s no secret that the sun (in moderate doses) provides all sorts of health benefits, including helping our bodies manufacture vital vitamin D. With warmer weather right around the corner, though, many people are looking for the best sunscreens to cut their risk of sun overexposure, sunburns and possibly skin cancer
Environmental Working Group’s 15th annual Guide to Sunscreens is a mix of good and bad news when it comes to the state of sunscreens sold in American and beyond. For instance, oxybenzone — a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical that is readily absorbed into the body — is now present in 40 percent of the 1,800 products EWG investigated. While that may seem high, consider this: two years ago, about 60 percent of sunscreens contained this concerning chemical.
In December, the National Toxicology Program released findings linking oxybenzone exposure to a higher risk of thyroid tumors in female rats. And at the end of March, the European Commission, which reviews ingredient safety in Europe, published a final opinion finding oxybenzone unsafe for use at current levels.
“Yet again, the sunscreen market is flooded with products that use potentially harmful ingredients and provide poor UVA protection,” said Leiba. “EWG’s guide is one of the only tools available to help consumers find products that provide adequate protection and are made without ingredients that may pose health concerns.
“U.S. sunscreens will not sufficiently improve until the Food and Drug Administration sets stronger regulations, restricts the use of harmful chemicals and approves new active ingredients that offer stronger UVA and UVB protection without concern of causing harm,” says Nneka Leiba, EWG vice president of Health Living Science.
Sunscreen Chemicals Build Up in Your Blood
The effects of sunscreen may linger longer than expected, too. An FDA-led 2020 study found that “chemical sunscreen ingredients are systemically absorbed after one application, and some ingredients can stay in the blood for at least three weeks.”
The sunscreen chemicals tested include avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate, and all six active ingredients tested readily absorbed into the bloodstream of humans in the study — and at concentrations that surpass an important FDA safety threshold.
This builds on previous research showing that sunscreen chemicals hit the bloodstream within a day of using them — and at levels high enough to prompt a government investigation on safety.
“We slather these ingredients on our skin, but these chemicals haven’t been adequately tested,” Leiba says. “This is just one example of the backward nature of product regulation in the U.S.”
Beyond safety issues is another question: Does sunscreen even work? Environmental Working Group’s found that nearly 75 percent of sunscreens don’t work and/or contain concerning ingredients that are readily absorbed by the body.
Things may be slowing moving in the right direction, but for now, the onus is still on the consumer to find sunscreen that’s safer and actually works.
Are You Using the Best Sunscreens?
A past EWG report cited research of Brian Diffey, PhD, emeritus professor of photobiology at the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University. He’s shown that, on average, U.S. sunscreens allow about three times more UVA rays to transfer through skin compared to European sunscreens. In fact, Americans sunscreen choices are fewer and often offer worse UVA protection compared to those available in the European Union.
This matters because UVA rays are more abundant than UVB rays, and UVA damage is more subtle than the sunburns induced mainly by UVB rays. UVA rays can damage your skin invisibly by suppressing the immune system and aging the skin over time; overexposure of these rays are also linked to the development of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, too.
According to EWG, most sunscreens sold in the U.S. would not be sold in Europe, which sets much more stringent UVA standards.
In the U.S., sunscreen regulations haven’t been updated since 2011. And while the FDA signaled it would take on the issue of UVA exposure, its recent proposal was withdrawn in the first coronavirus relief bill. The agency is due to propose its long-awaited rules on sunscreens again this fall.
Sunscreen Is Only One Tool in the Sun Safety Toolbox
Now, it’s important to note that there is no perfect sunscreen. Many contain harmful chemicals, and even mineral-based ones often contain nanoparticles, minute ingredients that can cross the blood-brain barrier and also harm aquatic life. Beyond that, sunscreen is unique compared to many other personal care products because you coat it thickly onto your skin, often multiple times a day. You don’t get that type of hours-long, skin-absorbing exposure with something like, say, shampoo you quickly wash off.
That’s why it’s very important to look for safer sunscreens if you use them and to recognize that you can’t only rely on sunscreens alone to prevent sun overexposure.
No product is going to be fully protective and no product will last on your skin for more than two hours max, EWG has noted in the past. They recommend thickly applying sunscreen coatings, reapplying every time you’re out of the water and choosing a better product to begin with are all key. But other sun smart methods to avoid overexposures are a must. In fact, sunscreen should actually be your last line of defense against the sun after adopting other more effective measures. More on those later.
In the EWG’s 2021 best sunscreens report, the group analyzed the ingredients and labeling claims of more than 1,800 products with SPF. “The majority of sunscreen products sold in the U.S. don’t offer adequate protection against both UVA and UVB rays,” notes Carla Burns, a senior Healthy Living Science analyst at EWG. “But the good news is there are more than 400 SPF products that meet our rigorous standards.”
So what are the best sunscreens out there? Let’s take a look.
The Best Sunscreens of 2021: For Recreation
“Based on the best current science and toxicology data, we continue to recommend sunscreens with the mineral active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, because they are the only two ingredients the FDA recognized as safe or effective in their proposed draft rules,” Burns says.
Here are some of the most highly rated sunscreens that met EWG’s criteria for safety and effectiveness:
365 Everyday Value Mineral Sunscreen Sport Lotion, SPF 30
3rd Rock Sunblock Sunscreen Lotion, Aromatherapeutic, SPF 35
ATTITUDE Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance Free, SPF 30
All Good Sunstick, Unscented, SPF 30
All Good Sunscreen Butter, 50+
Badger Sunscreen Cream, Unscented, SPF 30
Badger Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream, SPF 30 & 40
Block Island Organics Natural Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
BurnOut Natural for Family Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
BurnOut Ocean Tested Physical Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Butterbean Organics Simple Healthy Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
C’est Moi GENTLE Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Earth Mama Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 25 & 40
Eco Logical Skin Care All Natural Face Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
Eleven By Venus Williams On-The-Defense Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Erbaviva Organic Skincare Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Erin’s Faces Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Body, SPF 32
Green Goo Plants With Purpose Solar Goo Zinc Oxide + Shea Butter + Coconut Oil Sunscreen Cream, SPF 30
Just Skin Food Natural & Organic Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
Kabana Organic Skincare Green Screen Sunscreen Lotion, Original, SPF 32
Ke Ko Organics Ko’a Sun Cream, Tinted, SPF 31
Laguna Herbals Face & Body Sunscreen Stick, Coconut, SPF 30
Love Sun Body Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance-Free, SPF 30 & 50
Loving Naturals Clear Body Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
Maui Natural Organics All Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Nurture My Body Pure and Simple Organic Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 32
Nuori Mineral Defence Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Olita Kids Mineral Sunscreen Sunstick, SPF 30
Pacific Beach Organics Riptide Sunscreen Lotion, Tinted, SPF 32
Rocket Pure Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Raw Elements Face + Body Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Sea Kind Alive Reef Safe Sunscreen, SPF 30
Star Naturals Natural Sunscreen Stick, SPF 25
Summer Lotion Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
SunBioLogic Men’s Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
Suntegrity Natural Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Sport, SPF 30
Suntribe Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Sunumbra Family Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
thinksport Body & Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
thinksport Kids Body & Face Sunscreen Lotion, Sport, SPF 30
Waxhead Sun Defense Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
Waxhead Sun Defense Skin Nourishing Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Also of note, many sunscreen powerhouse brands are now offering safer options, although not all of these brands’ offerings are considered safer EWG picks. (Scores of 0-2 are considered safer, while higher scores indicate poorer safety ratings.) EWG has been analyzing and pushing for safer sunscreens for more than a decade, and positive shifts are occurring even within big brands and store brands. For instance, the following products made EWG’s best sunscreen list with a score of “2:”
Banana Boat Kids Sport Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50+
Coppertone Water Babies Pure & Simple Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
Coppertone Defend & Care Face Sunscreen Lotion, Oil Free, SPF 30
Equate Kids Mineral Based Sunscreen Stick, SPF 5
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Neutrogena Clear Body Breakout Free Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Trader Joe’s Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40
Best Sunscreens: Non-Mineral
This year’s rankings also includes the top picks for non-mineral brands. This is perfect if you’re someone who can’t get onboard with the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide-based sunscreens. Most of these aren’t rated quite as safe as the above list, but you can compare to see what fits your needs best:
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Lotion, Aloe Vera, SPF 30
Australian Gold Sport Lotion, Ultra Chill, SPF 30
Banana Boat Kids Sport Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50+
Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15
Coppertone Defend & Care Face Sunscreen Lotion, Oil Free, SPF 30
Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
CVS Health 30 Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Daylogic Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Equate Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
JASON Facial Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 20
Kiss My Face Sport Hot Spots Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
Neutrogena Clear Face/Body Breakout Free Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
No-Ad Suncare General Protection Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15
Panama Jack Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Sonrei Sea Clearly Sunscreen Gel, SPF 30
Walgreens Sport Sunscreen Lotion, Fresh Scent, SPF 30
Wegmans Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
The Best Sunscreens of 2021: Daily-Use/Moisturizers
For its 2021 sunscreen report, EWG rated these products to be among the best:
Algenist Alive Prebiotic Balancing Moisturizer, SPF 15
AKT Therapy Elemental Sun Balm, SPF 30
Andalou Naturals Men Face Guard Daily Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Ao Skincare 6000X Elemental Screen, SPF 30
ATTITUDE Mineral Sensitive Skin Sunscreen, Fragrance Free, SPF 30
Beautycounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face, SPF 25
Biossance Squalane + Mineral, SPF 45
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30
Block Island Organics Natural Face Moisturizer, SPF 30
Cyberderm Every Morning Sun Whip, SPF 30
Earth Mama Lady Face Mineral Sunscreen Tinted Face Stick, Light/Medium & Medium/Dark Tints, SPF 40
Eleven By Venus Williams Unrivaled Sun Serum, SPF 35
Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer, SPF 30
Kari Gran Essential SPF Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 28
Keys KPRO Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen, SPF 30+
Love Sun Body Moisturizing Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Loving Naturals Daily UV Cream, Unscented, SPF 20
MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Creme, SPF 30
Marie Veronique Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen Lotion, Extra Light Tint, SPF 30
Raw Elements Daily Moisturizer, SPF 30
Solara Suncare Clean Freak Nutrient Boosted Daily Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30
Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30
Suntegrity 5 in 1 Natural Moisturizing Tinted Face Sunscreen, SPF 30
Sunumbra Daily Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15+
thinksport Everyday Face Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Naturally Tinted, SPF 30+
White & Elm Everyday, SPF 15
While the products above rated “1” (remember, 0-2 are considered safest and most effective by EWG — the lower the score, the better), it is important to note that large beauty companies are creating safer options, too. For instance, EWG analysts scored Olay’s following three products scored “2.”
Olay Regenerist Mineral Sunscreen Hydrating Moisturizer, Fragrance Free, SPF 15 & 30
Olay Total Effects Whip Face Moisturizer with Sunscreen, Fragrance-Free, SPF 25
And if you’re looking for lip balm with SPF protection, EWG suggests these picks.
Top Picks for the Best Baby Sunscreens (and Overall Kid-Friendly Picks)
3rd Rock Sunblock Sunscreen Lotion, Infant, SPF 35
Adorable Baby Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
Badger Baby Active Sunscreen Cream, Chamomile & Calendula, SPF 30 & 40
California Baby Everyday/Year-Round Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
Earth Mama Baby Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 40
Earth Mama Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40
Erbaviva Organic Skincare Baby Sun Stick, Lavender Chamomile, SPF 30
Erbaviva Organic Skincare Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Just Skin Food Baby Beach Bum Sunscreen Stick, SPF 31
Nurture My Body Baby Organic Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 32
Raw Elements Baby + Kids Sunscreen Lotion Tin, SPF 30
Raw Elements Baby + Kids Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
Star Naturals Baby Natural Sunscreen Stick, SPF 25
TruBaby Water & Play Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
UV Natural Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
Waxhead Sun Defense Baby Zinc Oxide Vitamin E + D Enriched Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35
MADE OF Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
thinkbaby Body & Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
Most Toxic Sunscreens to Avoid
Here’s a big takeaway that’ll make things somewhat less complicated. EWG recommends avoiding all spray sunscreens. Not only are they very difficult to apply effectiveness and evenly, but there’s some concern the ingredients could potentially cause irreversible lung damage. The truth is, the ingredients just haven’t been tested in the aerosol capacity for long-term impact on human health, like so many other everyday chemicals, unfortunately.
When it comes to sunscreens, here are some of the other worst overall offenders scoring in the Red Zone (10) for major safety concerns. Overall, these products tested poorly in the EWG analysis and are considered bad choices for sun protection. Just remember, this list is not exhaustive. To check your favorite sunscreen or to peruse the database, click here.)
Walgreens Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
Panama Jack Sunscreen Continuous Spray, SPF 100
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 85+
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100+
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100+
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 60+
Neutrogena Age Shield Face Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 110
Equate Beauty Ultra Light Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
CVS Health Ultra Sheer Lotion, SPF 100
CVS Health Sensitive Skin Sun Lotion, SPF 60+
CVS Health Ultra Protection Sun Lotion, SPF 100
Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
COOLA Classic Body Sunscreen Spray, Peach Blossom, SPF 70
Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
Banana Boat Ultra Defense Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100
Banana Boat Kids MAX Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100
Australian Gold Botanical Natural Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70
This is by no means a complete list. Be sure to check your individual product’s safety assessment at EWG.org.