Best Sunscreen Products: EWG's 2010 Sunscreen Guide
A super-helpful sunscreen guide just came out yesterday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The group releases one every year and they're now on their 4th edition. In their 2010 report, they review sunscreen products (thousands of them!) and everything from sport sunscreens to SPF makeup, all to make consumers aware of which products are the safest and most effective and which ones don't deserve another try. EWG's report is very comprehensive and if you're interested in all of their findings, click here. Most of you will want just a wrap-up of the results and here they are. First thing you should know: the percentage of products that received EWG's green rating (their highest rating) were few and far between. To give you an idea, EWG reviewed 500 beach and sport sunscreens this year, but only recommended 39 of those as top sunscreens. Why are so many sunscreens missing the mark? EWG's explanation is the rise in SPF products above 50 that don't actually provide the UV protection they claim to provide. Also, the Food and Drug Administation (FDA) has continued to fail to improve regulations around sunscreens. Finally, there have been new discoveries about potentially hazardous ingredients in sunscreens, specifically a form of vitamin A known as retinyl palmitate, which may be connected to skin disease and cancer. Although the FDA is still investigating the conclusivity of this, EWG cautions consumers to stay away from suncreens that contain retinyl palmitate. It's said to be found in 41% of today's sunscreens! EWG also warns against oxybenzone, which can be found in some sunscreens. It's a hormone-disrupting compound which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream. So scary!
Now, it's time to discover which products got EWG's seal of approval! I didn't feature all of the winners here (I chose to highlight the most affordable of the recommended products), but underneath each category, I've linked off to the full list of winners. You're sure to discover some new brands for sun protection here. What was also helpful with EWG's Sunscreen Guide was their Hall of Shame--a list of sunscreens to ban! I'll also talk about those products below, so keep reading! I've also linked out where to buy each of the products.
2. Kabana Skin Care Green Screen Organic Sunscreen, SPF 22, $5
3. Beyond Coastal Lip & Face Screen, $7.69
4. Desert Essence Age Reversal Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30, $9.59
5. Jason Natural Products Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block, $9.40
What was EWG looking for in a top sunscreen? For starters, the sunscreen had to contain the minerals zinc or titanium, which help reduce UVA exposures. According to EWG, "they are the right choice for people who are looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor." The sunscreen also could not contain oxybenzone or Vitamin A and they also wanted to steer clear of spray or powder sunscreens. EWG also looked at non-mineral sunscreens (in other words, those that don't include minerals like zinc or titanium) and recommended several (see them here); however EWG ranks the zinc or titanium-based sunscreens as the better bets.
See the full list of Recommended Beach & Sport Sunscreens >>
1. Badger Lip Balm, SPF 15, $3.25
2. Purple Prairie Botanicals - Sun Stick Lip Balm, $5.99
3. UV Natural Lip Sun Screen, SPF 30, $12.99
4. UV Natural Sport Lip Screen, SPF 40, $11.99
5. Alba Botanica Lip Balm, $2.50
Which SPF lip balms deserved a pucker? Not many! EWG only awarded 4 out of 176 lip balms a green rating. They are the first 4 products pictured above. There were 5 other brands that were fell below these in rating, but still made it on their top lip balm list: Alba Botanica, Beyond Coastal, Jack Black, Jane Iredale and Tarte. What was EWG's criteria? A lip balm that offered broad-spectrum sun protection, but had the fewest ingredients that raised concerns when they're swallowed.
See the full list of Recommended SPF Lip Balms >>
1. Devita Natural Skin Care Solar Protective Moisturizer, $18.86
2. Karen's Botanicals Lovely Lavender Cream, SPF 15, $22
3. Obagi Nu-Derm Physical UV Block, SPF 32, $28.99
4. Keys Soap Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock, $32
5. Sanre Organic Skinfood Rosemary Lavender Day Cream, SPF 30, $36
For SPF moisturizers, EWG had its eye on products that provided long-lasting, broad-spectrum protection against the sun. They gave 8 brands the green rating. In their guide online, they pointed out the importance of "matching the SPF strength with your expected UV exposure to avoid spreading unnecessarily large amounts of sunscreen chemicals on your skin."
See the full list of Recommended SPF Moisturizers >>
1. Avene Tinted Compact, SPF 50, $29
2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Compact Cream Foundation, $4.99
3. Zia Natural Skincare Mica Foundation, $17.33
4. CoverBlend Concealing Treatment Makeup, SPF 20, $28
5. Jane Iredale PurePressed Base, SPF 20, $36.95
And finally, onto SPF makeup. There a lot to choose from these days. EWG in fact reviewed 362 kinds of SPF makeup, but they only approved 4 products for highest safety and effectiveness: Avene Tinted Compact, SPF 50 (Honey), Avene Tinted Compact, SPF 50 (Sable/Beige), Jane Iredale HE Bronzer for Men, SPF 18 and Jane Iredale PurePressed Base, SPF 20. What's important, according to EWG, is that the product is "free of the red-flag ingredients oxybenzone and vitamin A, and that it is not in a loose powder form that can be easily inhaled." Their concern is that could lead to inflammation and tissue damage). The other brands that were recognized as good buys were: ColoreScience, CoverBlend, Maybelline and Zia Natural Skincare.
See the full list of Recommended SPF Makeup >>
And now, onto the sunscreen products you should be wary of! You'll recognize many of these brands and you may even use some of these. Many of the sunscreens were for (big gasp) babies!
1. Banana Boat Baby Max Protect, SPF 100
EWG says,"the sky-high SPF protects against sunburn but leaves skin exposed to damaging UVA rays."
2. Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection, SPF 55
EWG contradicts Aveeno's "Mild as water" statement and says this is nothing like water when swallowed.
3. Anthony Logistics for Men Sunstick, SPF 15
EWG calls out that this stick is not safe for eyes at all and actually, not a lot of sunscreen makers are creating products that are eye-safe.
4. Banana Boat Ultra Defense Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
EWG points out that "even though sunscreen makers like Banana Boat often use stabilizing additives to keep their ingredients from breaking down in sunlight, the product still doesn't last forever on the skin."
5. Hawaiian Tropic Baby Creme Lotion, SPF 50
EWG claims that "this would only earn 1 star in FDA's proposed 4 star UVA labeling scheme" and that it does not provide "advanced UVA protection" like the bottle says.
See the rest of EWG's Hall of Shame >>
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Do you use any of these sunscreens above? What's your take? Do they work for you? Let us know!
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Do you use any of these sunscreens above? What's your take? Do they work for you? Let us know!
Want to get more educated? Check out AOL Shopping's very own guides:
- Sun-Damaged, No More: The Ultimate Sun Protection Know-it-All Guide
- Sun Protection for Hair and Eyes
- Self Tanner Reviews
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Comments page 1 of 3
Neutral
Mandy said 5-25-2010 @2:05PM
IdolTan is an excellent one step product, which provides the ease of 3 products in one. This product is a must for anyone who wants a quick and easy, natural and safe formula for a beautiful tan applied in minutes. I love this product, and can attest to its efficiency and effectiveness. I will never go back to any other tanning product after using IdolTan ( Http://tr.im/IdolTan )
replyNeutral
Martha said 5-25-2010 @4:46PM
Does IdolTan add color or work with the sun?
Neutral
Simzee said 5-26-2010 @5:09AM
Sunscreens accelorates SKIN CANCER. Go ahead...put on some more. LOLOLOLOLOLO
Neutral
Sue said 5-25-2010 @2:12PM
It's nice to have a good guide to sunscreens so that you can buy one that works well and has been tested.
replyHttp://www.treatingskincancer.com
Neutral
ray said 5-25-2010 @7:22PM
amen to that ! skin cancer kills !
Highest Rank
Kristeh said 5-25-2010 @3:15PM
It's more than just a bit dissappointing that none of these sunscreens are the top brand sunscreens and that I don't think that I will be able to purchase them in any of the stores near me. & these companies that target parents with their baby sunscreens should be penalized for marketing unsafe products to babies and children.
replyNeutral
Melody Vaudrey said 5-25-2010 @3:34PM
AMEN To that!!!!
Neutral
Susan said 5-26-2010 @6:16AM
Coppertone Sport had decent ratings of 3-4. My Neutragena Face Shield 110 SPF did not (had a 7), but I'm sticking to it, because for me, who has tried dozens of brands over the years, I still like it the best, just ahead of Coppertone Sport. They said the SPF was misleading, and one of the chemicals (not vitamin A) "might" be harmful. Well even if they are off by a full third on the SPF, it's better than what else is out there on the market, and I've read no reliable, reproducible studies that show that the chemicals in it cause harm. And I've tried a few of the products on their list.....
Neutral
john davis said 5-26-2010 @8:20AM
purple parrot is the best i have found!it is available n s florida
replyNeutral
mamabear said 5-25-2010 @3:07PM
Check those top 5. They had ratings of 2 and there are some on the website with 1. Badger face and body spf 30 is a top. Expensive, but rather pay for it now, then in medical bills later. Just ordered some!
replyNeutral
mamabear said 5-25-2010 @5:35PM
Just checked back and they now have the #1 changed to Badger in this article. That's better. Soleo and Loving Naturals are also voted good. Loving Naturals is fairly new, but has high hopes.
Highest Rank
Ron said 5-25-2010 @3:15PM
For those of us with sensative skin and precancerous lesions, the highly rated sunscreen SPFs are too low or not even given. We need at least a 40 SPF and need to know the UPF. For us this information is useless
replyHighest Rank
mjp3333 said 5-25-2010 @6:21PM
in response to the posting by the 55 year old who says she has been out in the sun & unprotected since the age of 1 & claims that there is nothing to worry about - I invite her to NYU's melanoma center in nyc where people are fighting for their lives - all because of the suns harmful rays. It begins as skin cancer & can QUICKLY spread to any part/organ of the body. Some areas are inoperable & will mean terminal cancer. I am 38, have 2 small kids & just might leave them without a mom if my melanoma returns in an inoperable spot. I've had it twice & the 2nd time, it chose my lymph nodes. Melanoma does not respond to chemotherapy, so you will be left with slim odds of living long. Saying that you should sun bath &/or never use sunscreen is THE SAME as saying "smoke 3 packs a day - there's nothing to worry about!" that is just IGNORANT!!!!!!!!!!!
Lowest Rank
koz said 5-25-2010 @3:25PM
I don't use them and I have been in the sun for 59 years since the first year I was born.
replyI have photos of me and my parents at the beach when I was 1 year old and I have been going every sum.
I am light skinned and have burned at least once every summer for the past 55 years. I use SPF 5 to 10 only the rest is loaded up with chemicals that who know whats in it that causes what.
I was told once that nobody leave this planet alive so why worry about it.
Neutral
lar said 5-25-2010 @3:31PM
the one they list as #1 has Vit A in it....wasn't that something EWG said should NOT be in the best of the best..?
replyNeutral
david m davis said 5-25-2010 @4:20PM
I was filling a prescription for a patient who asked me if I played golf. My reply was no since I have skin cancer. He suggested I try Coppertone Sport which I did. Surprised that this product was not mentioned in this article. Have been using this product for 10 years and can stay outside in the sun all day.
replyNeutral
Susan said 5-26-2010 @7:50AM
It's mentioned in the report, got decent ratings, just not in the short article.
Neutral
Lori said 5-25-2010 @3:47PM
Guess I should have called the EWG years ago when I was given a prescription for Retin A and told that while I was using it stay completely out of the sun. My doctor at the time told me that Vitamin A and sun do not mix.
replyNeutral
Amy said 5-25-2010 @3:56PM
So confusing...I read in the first article, "Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer" that came out about all of this that the ingredient Titatium is thought to be dangerous. This is from that article:
reply"Increasingly, as AOL News reported in March, the industry is using titanium dioxide that is made nanosized, which a growing number of researchers believe have serious health implications."
And this article states:
"What was EWG looking for in a top sunscreen? For starters, the sunscreen had to contain the minerals zinc or titanium, which help reduce UVA exposures. According to EWG, "they are the right choice for people who are looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor." "
So what's what?
Neutral
Mandy said 5-25-2010 @4:03PM
IdolTan is an excellent one step product, which provides the ease of 3 products in one. This product is a must for anyone who wants a quick and easy, natural and safe formula for a beautiful tan applied in minutes.. I love this product, and can attest to its efficiency and effectiveness. I will never go back to any other tanning product after using IdolTan ( Http://tr.im/IdolTan )
reply