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Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.
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EWG's Sunscreen Quick Tips
Of course the best defenses against getting too much harmful UV radiation are:
- Protective clothes,
- Shade, and
- Timing.
But when those aren't options, it's time to get out the sunscreen.
Some sunscreens prevent sunburn but not other types of skin damage. Make sure yours provides broad-spectrum protection and follow our other tips for better protection:
Don't be fooled by a label that boasts of high SPF. Anything higher than "SPF 50+" can tempt you to stay in the sun too long, suppressing sunburn but not other kinds of skin damage. FDA says these numbers are misleading. Stick to SPF 15-50+, reapply often and pick a product based on your own skin, time planned outside, shade and cloud cover. Learn more about sky-high SPFs.
News about Vitamin A. Eating vitamin A-laden vegetables is good for you, but spreading vitamin A on the skin may not be. New government data show that tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with vitamin A-laced creams. Vitamin A, listed as "retinyl palmitate" on the ingredient label, is in 41 percent of sunscreens. Avoid them. Learn more.
Ingredients matter. Avoid the sunscreen chemical oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and contaminates the body. Look for active ingredients zinc, titanium, avobenzone or Mexoryl SX. These substances protect skin from harmful UVA radiation and remain on the skin, with little if any penetrating into the body. Also, skip sunscreens with insect repellent - if you need bug spray, buy it separately and apply it first.
Pick a good sunscreen. EWG's sunscreen database rates the safety and efficacy of about 1,400 products with SPF, including about 500 sunscreens for beach and sports. We give high ratings to brands that provide broad-spectrum, long-lasting protection with ingredients that pose fewer health concerns when the body absorbs them
Cream, spray or powder - and how often? Sprays and powders cloud the air with tiny particles of sunscreen that may not be safe to breathe. Choose creams instead. Reapply them often, because sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off and rub off on towels and clothing.
Message for men: Wear sunscreen. Surveys show that 34 percent of men wear sunscreen, compared to 78 percent of women. Start using it now to reduce your cumulative lifetime exposure to damaging UV radiation.
Got your Vitamin D? Many people don't get enough vitamin D, which skin manufactures in the presence of sunlight. Your doctor can test your level and recommend supplements or a few minutes of sun daily on your bare skin (without sunscreen). Learn more.
Download our 1-page sun safety tip sheet so it's handy when you need it.
Have you thought about producing a guide that shows good sunscreen a dollar per ounce basis? I ask because the Badger, California Baby, and Jason sunscreens are all not just more expensive than conventional sunscreens -- they're dramatically more expensive. A 20+ ounce tube of Coppertone goes for $8 - $10 in Arizona. A 3 ounce tube of California Baby goes for $10 – 13.
In Arizona, 3 ounces don't go very far. A guide to the approximate cost per ounce of recommended sunscreens would help enormously, especially for those of us who, like me, run and swim in very sunny climates.
what about amway attitude sunscreen lotion
I am on a fixed income and I have had hormone based breast cancer. Unfortunately cost is a concern for me.I have to swim, not only for a botched hand surgery that has caused lymphodema/artist here!
I have a compromised immune system, too bad there is not a food bank for people who need consumer products not laden with toxic stuff.
A price comparison would be very helpful.
For most of us a necessary addition ton the site.
This is an excellent suggestion. I wear sunscreen almost daily for work AND play nearly year around. It would be so helpful for budgeting the amount I need throughout the year.
I would love to see a guide like this. With 5 kids swimming for hours every day, we go through sunscreen like crazy, no way can we afford the California Baby (for example), but would like to buy the best that we can for the price we can pay.
Please consider adding a test to determine if sunscreen runs once sweating on a forehead begins, and if it runs does it cause pain and harm to eyes. I have tried many types of sunscreen and gravitate toward the ultra sweatproof because of the pain in the eyes and inconvenience of other sunscreens that are not sweatproof.
this is outstanding work! I know you don't like sprays, but what about the scalp when you can't always wear a hat?