After a review of thousands of sunscreen products, nonprofit Environmental Working Group has released its 20th annual guide to sunscreens.
Only 550 of the 2,784 SPF products reviewed by the group met its criteria, and only 62 are considered “EWG certified.”
“That means that they provide adequate UVA and UVB protection. They are not formulated with things like vitamin A or oxybenzone, and they avoid ingredients with concerns for toxicity,” said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist with EWG.
Harmful UV radiation accumulates over a lifetime of exposure, and sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect skin from sunburn, premature aging and the risk of skin cancer.
“UV radiation number is the biggest modifiable risk factor for skin cancer,” said Dr. Victor Quan, a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine.
In addition to “broad spectrum” protection, Quan says SPF matters.
“What you need is 30 [SPF] or above. Anything 30 or above you’ll get more than 90% protection. SPF 50 gets you 98% protection,” Quan said.
But experts say higher SPF doesn’t always mean better.
“In some cases, these higher SPF values can mean less UVA protection and also give consumers this false sense of security, maybe thinking that they are more protected, so they don’t need to reapply,” said Friedman.
The EWG says it prioritizes lotions or sticks over spray, which has a risk of inhalation and uneven coverage.
The group also prefers mineral over chemical sunscreen.
Friedman says consumers should look for products with zinc oxide, which provides protection but isn’t absorbed through the skin.
“Many of the filters that are on the market that are chemical filters typically have been shown to absorb grit into the body at greater rates. So, some of these really enter into the bloodstream, can stay in the blood stream even after a one-time application, and some of the ones that are available have also been associated with things like hormone disruption, such as oxybenzone,” said Friedman.
For those who prefer nonmineral but don’t want chemical, the EWG is optimistic about the ingredient bemotrizinol. The FDA proposed classifying it as safe and effective in late 2025; the first time in decades a new filter may be allowed in the U.S. market.
“This is a chemical filter that does provide that UVA-UVB balance. It is not readily absorbed into the skin, and also safety data has suggested that it’s not irritating, does not cause allergic reactions, and is not associated with tumor formation when placed on the skin,” Friedman said.
Experts say avoid expired sunscreen to ensure the ingredients work effectively and reapply every two hours.
Regardless of skin tone, Quan says cumulative UV radiation will always contribute toward skin cancer risk, so everyone with prolonged sun exposure should use sunscreen.
And whether you choose spray, lotion, chemical or mineral, Dr. Quan says any sunscreen is better than none.
“You want to pick a sunscreen you like to use, that you’re going to use on a consistent basis,” Quan said.
