[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Warning: The
sunscreen you’re slathering on at the pool or the beach may be hazardous to your health.
A May 2025 report from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) found
fewer than one-fourth (22.6%) of the 2,204 sunscreen products it tested were effective. For its 19th annual Guide to Sunscreens, EWG evaluated the most products it ever had. The analysis showed only 498 products met the group’s strictest criteria for effectiveness and safety.
Is sunscreen bad for you?
“Wearing any sunscreen is much more important and offers better sun protection for your skin than not applying anything,” says David Andrews, EWG’s acting chief science officer. “But not all sunscreens are created equal. EWG’s guide is a valuable and trusted resource that consumers can turn to every year to find the sunscreens that offer strongest
broad spectrum protection without the use of concerning ingredients.”
EWG points out that undisclosed fragrances showed up in 36% of the products it tested. These fragrances can include allergens and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
The report also highlights the rising use of what it says are underregulated SPF (sun protection factor) “boosters” in sunscreens. These boosters might inflate a product’s SPF values without improving broad spectrum protection against the sun’s harmful UVA (ultraviolet A) and UVB (ultraviolet B) rays, according to EWG.
“Even if a sunscreen delivers its labeled SPF, it may fall short by containing concerning ingredients,” Andrews says. “Our top-rated products offer balanced protection from UVA and UVB radiation.”
The EWG report also warns about the potential harm caused by spray-on sunscreens, which represent 26% of the products tested by EWG. The group says spray-on sunscreen can be risky, since their ingredients are normally inhaled, and may be less effective than a sunscreen lotion due to uneven coverage when the spray is applied outdoors.
SPF explained
Sunscreen brand Coppertone explains that sunscreen ingredients protect skin by reflecting, absorbing or scattering UV rays,
reducing the risk of damage from the sun. The number of UV rays that are filtered depends on the level of SPF you apply, according to Coppertone:
- SPF 15 stops up to 93% UVB rays
- SPF 30 stops up to 97% UVB rays
- SPF 50 stops up to 98% UVB rays
- SPF 100 stops up to 99% UVB rays
“UVB rays can never be totally filtered, which is why it is important to reapply SPF protection at least every two hours,” says Coppertone.
EWG recommends picking a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or below that’s right for your skin type and that aligns with how much time you spend in the sun.
The American Cancer Society recommends using
sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, while the American Academy of Dermatology suggests using one with an
SPF of 30 or more.
Coppertone says the SPF number indicates how long it takes to get a sunburn after applying sunscreen versus not applying any sunscreen. The company provides this example:
If you’re able to spend 10 minutes in the sun without burning, a lotion with SPF 30 will multiply this “self-protection time” by 30 to equal 300 minutes, and a lotion with SPF 50 will equal 500 minutes.
“That said, this is only an estimate,” says Coppertone, “as each person’s skin takes a different amount of time to burn, and other factors can be at play such as the weather, skin type and geographic location.”
Sunny developments for sunscreens
Although EWG’s report delivers some bad news about sunscreens, it also supplies some good news.
EWG says 63 sunscreens from 13 brands now qualify for the EWG Verified designation. Only products that meet EWG’s highest standards for safety, transparency and UVA/UVB protection can use the designation. To find EWG-certified sunscreens, visit
ewg.org/ewgverified.
In a couple of other positive developments, EWG says sunscreen manufacturers are rapidly dropping the use of two potentially troubling ingredients: oxybenzone and vitamin A.
“Oxybenzone has high absorption through the skin and exposure is linked to potential health harms, including disruption of the hormone system, in addition to harmful effects on aquatic and marine ecosystems,” EWG explains.
The group’s Guide to Sunscreens indicates oxybenzone now represents only 9% percent of non-mineral sunscreens, down from a high of 70%.
In addition, EWG warns against using sunscreen that contains vitamin A. The group says vitamin A “can degrade in sunlight, potentially accelerating rather than preventing skin cancer.” Vitamin A turned up in just 2% of the sunscreens tested by EWG, down from a peak of 41%.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="185513" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1749844122377{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/australian-gold-clear-sunscreen-stick-spf-50"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="185514" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1749844138849{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/badger-face-mineral-sunscreen-spf-30"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="185515" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1749844159797{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/truskin-mineral-sunscreen-with-vitamin-c-spf-30"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
