2009 Sunscreen Guide

EWG posted their 2009 Sunscreen guide to inform you on whether your favorite brand actually works.

Surprisingly, 3 of 5 brand-name sunscreens either don’t protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals — or both. An Environmental Working Group investigation of 1,694 sunscreens rates the season’s best — and worst.

Some companies have responded to EWG’s 3-year campaign for safer, more effective sunscreens. 70% of sunscreen products now contain strong UVA filters, compared to 29% last year. The bad news: much UVA protection is still too thin to save your skin.

One plus for 2009: 19% fewer sunscreens contain oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor approved by FDA as an active ingredient in sunscreen.

Few sunscreens live up to their advertising claims, and the federal government is powerless to make them. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been promising to regulate sunscreens since 1978, when gasoline was 63 cents a gallon and the BeeGees’ “Saturday Night Fever” topped the charts.

In the meantime, EWG’s research team has created this comprehensive guide — listing 100 recommended products and other sun safety tips — to help you and your family have fun in the sun — safely.

View EWGs top rated products including sunscreen, lip balms, moisturizers with SPF.

Extracted from Environmental Working Group.