\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s time to stock up on sunscreen, but few choices on store shelves today are both safe and effective, according to an annual report by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a nonprofit health and environmental advocacy organization.Now in its 20th year, EWG\u2019s 2026 Guide to Sunscreens analyzed 2,990 products and found only 597 \u2014 about 20% \u2014 deliver safe and effective protection against the harmful rays of the sun.The new guide, released May 19, lists the best baby and child sunscreens, including those which are a good \u201cbang for the buck\u201d and the top recreational sunscreens designed for outdoor activities such as sports or spending time at the beach.Related video at the top: Talking sunscreen tips with an expert dermatologistIn addition, consumers can find top-rated daily use sunscreens, including moisturizers with sun protection factor (SPF) and the best lip balms with SPF in the report.To be recommended by EWG, sunscreens must protect against both UVA and UVB, two types of ultraviolet rays known to damage DNA and age the skin. Due to inhalation risks, sprays and powders are not included. Manufacturers cannot claim over 50+ SPF or use federally banned marketing claims such as \u201cwaterproof.\u201dConsumers are often drawn to more expensive products that reach SPF levels of up to 100+, which claim to block 99% of UVB rays. Yet there\u2019s little difference in effectiveness \u2014 a cheaper 50+ SPF sunscreen can block 98% of rays, according to the report.For some products, SPF numbers may also be inflated. A peer-reviewed study by EWG scientists found, on average, sunscreens provided only a quarter of the UVA protection and 59% of the UVB protection stated on the labels.Recommended sunscreens in the new guide also avoid retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A; and chemicals suspected to cause cancer, skin irritation, allergic reactions or reproductive harm, developmental issues or neurotoxicity.\u201cRetinyl palmitate is part of the retinoid family that dermatologists recommend to fight wrinkles and other signs of aging. Those products come with warnings not to expose skin to the sun,\u201d said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist at EWG.\u201cIn 2010, about 40% of products contained retinal palmitate,\u201d Friedman said. \u201cToday that\u2019s dropped down to 3%, which is good news for consumers.\u201dMineral versus chemical sunscreensThe majority of the 597 products recommended by EWG are predominantly made from minerals that sit on the skin and physically deflect and block the sun\u2019s rays. Because they are not absorbed into the dermis, mineral-based sunscreens cause little skin irritation or toxicity.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two minerals for use in sunscreen \u2014 zinc oxide and titanium dioxide \u2014 which used to be known for the chalky, white cast they left after being applied to the skin. New, innovative formulations and tinted options now on the market have mostly removed that concern, experts say.Chemical sunscreens, however, are designed to soak into the skin and work by creating a chemical reaction that absorbs ultraviolet radiation as energy, dispersing it as heat. A dozen types of chemicals were used for decades in sunscreens without concern. Then, in 2019, FDA scientists found six of the most commonly used ingredients could enter the human bloodstream at unsafe levels after only one day of use.Those chemicals then remained in the blood for days after application stopped. In fact, two of the ingredients \u2014 homosalate and oxybenzone \u2014 stayed in the bloodstream above safety thresholds for more than two weeks.The European Union is regulating homosalate as a potential endocrine disrupter, a chemical that can interfere with the body\u2019s hormones and cause adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological or immune effects.Oxybenzone is a well-studied endocrine disrupter linked to birth defects, reproductive and thyroid hormone changes, and skin allergies. It\u2019s been found in human breast milk, blood and urine \u2014 one study found oxybenzone in over 97% of US urine samples.Due to its impact on the environment, oxybenzone has been banned in Hawaii, Key West, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Thailand and other countries. Studies have found increased coral bleaching and reef death, as well as genetic damage to marine life.Over the last 19 years, the number of products using oxybenzone has dropped from 70% to only 5%, according to the 2026 guide. Despite this change, the guide could recommend only 70 non-mineral sunscreens containing few concerning ingredients.There is good news. For the first time in 20 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new sunscreen ingredient \u2014 bemotrizinol, or BEMT \u2014 that experts say is a safer option than many chemical ingredients currently in use in the United States.Bemotrizinol is a chemical filter that provides adequate UVA protection, is not easily absorbed into the skin, and has the most robust safety data on any UV filter to date, according to EWG. Products containing BEMT should be on the shelves by early fall.The Personal Care Products Council, which represents industry, told CNN via email that questioning the safety and efficacy of sunscreen products undermines decades of evidence-based research.\u201cSuggesting that only a limited number of sunscreens are safe and effective discourages sunscreen use, which can harm public health, especially for those with repeated sun exposure, said PCPC\u2019s chief scientist Dr. Jaap Venema.David Andrews, the chief scientific officer for EWG, told CNN in an email that \u201cthe FDA itself, not EWG, determined that 12 of the 16 chemical filters currently on U.S. shelves lack sufficient safety data to be classified as safe and effective. That is not EWG\u2019s opinion. That is the FDA\u2019s own finding.\u201dFederal action delayedUnder Trump-appointed FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA proposed new sunscreen regulations in 2019 that asked manufacturers to research the safety of oxybenzone, homosalate, and 10 other chemicals to see if they should be considered GRASE, or \u201cgenerally regarded as safe and effective.\u201dAt the time, those 12 chemicals had been used in sunscreens for decades \u2014 and are still used today. To date, those studies have not been announced, nor has the FDA passed any updated regulations.A spokesperson for the FDA told CNN in an email the FDA is reviewing the public comments it received. \u201cThese timelines can vary depending on the volume and substantiveness of the comments received. The FDA cannot comment on the exact timing of the final order, nor on the specific content of that final order.\u201dDespite the historical lack of regulation, there is a sunny spot: The FDA announced in December it may allow US manufacturers to use bemotrizinol, a popular chemical ingredient used for decades in Europe.\u201cBMT is a filter that provides adequate UVA protection, is not easily absorbed into the skin, and has the most robust safety data on any UV filter to date,\u201d said Friedman. \u201cThis is the first innovation change we\u2019ve seen in the last 20 years.\u201dWhile it\u2019s technically illegal to sell non-FDA-approved sunscreens in the US, consumers have been purchasing European and Asian products online for some time, citing their lightweight feel, better protection and availability to a larger variety of skin tones. That cosmetic touch is important, experts say, as many people avoid sunscreen due to its heavy, greasy feel.More than sunscreenSunscreen should actually be toward the bottom of your list of sun protection options, experts say. Consider a \u201clayered approach\u201d: wear clothing made from tightly woven fabric, sunglasses and wide-brim hats and combine sunscreen with staying in the shade during the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its hottest.Sunscreen lives up to its SPF only when it is applied correctly, and many people don\u2019t apply enough of it, experts say. One ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed to cover exposed areas of the body, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.The academy recommends applying sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outside. Remember to reapply sunscreen to yourself and your children every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.Children are especially vulnerable to the sun \u2014 babies under 6 months should not be exposed to direct sunlight at all. Sunburns in babies can be medical emergencies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Just a few bad sunburns in childhood can raise the risk of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer, called melanoma. Toxic chemicals used for decades in sunscreens can harm developing bodies and brains.Related video below: Early sunscreen habits important for kids | Here’s whyIgnore dangerous social media messagesDon\u2019t fall for any social media hype that tries to say the sun \u201cdoes not cause skin cancer.\u201d Ultraviolet radiation is a \u201cproven human carcinogen,\u201d causing squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.Unless accelerated by a tanning bed, skin damage can take years, if not decades to develop, experts say, leaving today\u2019s unwary youth at risk for early skin aging and lethal skin cancers such as melanoma.\u201cMelanoma is the deadliest cancer known to man,\u201d said Dr. Kelly Olino, clinical director of the Smilow Melanoma Program at the Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, in a prior CNN interview.\u201cMelanoma is the only type of cancer where, if it is two millimeters in size, we say \u2018Goodness, this is serious,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cIf you had a two-millimeter colon cancer, we\u2019d be having a parade saying, \u2018Wow, we got this one really, really early.\u2019\u201d Related video below: Opthamologist’s advice for protecting your eyes from the summer sun\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to stock up on sunscreen, but few choices on store shelves today are both safe and effective, according to an annual report<\/a> by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a nonprofit health and environmental advocacy organization.<\/p>\n Now in its 20th year, EWG\u2019s 2026 Guide to Sunscreens<\/a> analyzed 2,990 products and found only 597 \u2014 about 20% \u2014 deliver safe and effective protection against the harmful rays of the sun.<\/p>\n The new guide, released May 19, lists the best baby and child sunscreens,<\/a> including those which are a good \u201cbang for the buck<\/a>\u201d and the top recreational sunscreens <\/a>designed for outdoor activities such as sports or spending time at the beach.<\/p>\n Related video at the top: Talking sunscreen tips with an expert dermatologist<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition, consumers can find top-rated daily use sunscreens<\/a>, including moisturizers with sun protection factor (SPF) and the best lip balms <\/a>with SPF in the report.<\/p>\n To be recommended by EWG, sunscreens must protect against both UVA and UVB, two types of ultraviolet rays known to damage DNA and age the skin. Due to inhalation risks, sprays and powders are not included. Manufacturers cannot claim over 50+ SPF or use federally banned marketing claims such as \u201cwaterproof<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Consumers are often drawn to more expensive products that reach SPF levels of up to 100+, which claim to block 99% of UVB rays. Yet there\u2019s little difference in effectiveness \u2014 a cheaper 50+ SPF sunscreen can block 98% of rays, according to the report.<\/p>\n For some products, SPF numbers may also be inflated. A peer-reviewed study<\/a> by EWG scientists found, on average, sunscreens provided only a quarter of the UVA protection and 59% of the UVB protection stated on the labels.<\/p>\n Recommended sunscreens in the new guide also avoid retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A; and chemicals suspected to cause cancer, skin irritation, allergic reactions or reproductive harm, developmental issues or neurotoxicity.<\/p>\n \u201cRetinyl palmitate is part of the retinoid family that dermatologists recommend to fight wrinkles and other signs of aging. Those products come with warnings not to expose skin to the sun,\u201d said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist at EWG.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2010, about 40% of products contained retinal palmitate,\u201d Friedman said. \u201cToday that\u2019s dropped down to 3%, which is good news for consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n Mineral versus chemical sunscreens<\/p>\n The majority of the 597 products recommended by EWG are predominantly made from minerals that sit on the skin and physically deflect and block the sun\u2019s rays. Because they are not absorbed into the dermis, mineral-based sunscreens cause little skin irritation or toxicity.<\/p>\n The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two minerals for use in sunscreen \u2014 zinc oxide and titanium dioxide \u2014 which used to be known for the chalky, white cast they left after being applied to the skin. New, innovative formulations and tinted options now on the market have mostly removed that concern, experts say.<\/p>\n Chemical sunscreens, however, are designed to soak into the skin and work by creating a chemical reaction that absorbs ultraviolet radiation as energy, dispersing it as heat. A dozen types of chemicals were used for decades in sunscreens without concern. Then, in 2019, FDA scientists<\/a> found six of the most commonly used ingredients could enter the human bloodstream at unsafe levels after only one day of use<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those chemicals then remained in the blood for days after application stopped. In fact, two of the ingredients \u2014 homosalate and oxybenzone \u2014 stayed in the bloodstream above safety thresholds for more than two weeks.<\/p>\n The European Union is regulating homosalate<\/a> as a potential endocrine disrupter, a chemical that can interfere with the body\u2019s hormones and cause adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological or immune effects.<\/p>\n Oxybenzone is a well-studied endocrine disrupter linked to birth defects<\/a>, reproductive and thyroid hormone changes<\/a>, and skin allergies. It\u2019s been found in human breast milk, blood and urine \u2014 one study found oxybenzone in over 97% of US urine samples.<\/a><\/p>\n Due to its impact on the environment, oxybenzone has been banned in Hawaii, Key West<\/a>, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Thailand and other countries. Studies have found increased coral bleaching<\/a> and reef death, as well as genetic damage to marine life.<\/p>\n Over the last 19 years, the number of products using oxybenzone has dropped from 70% to only 5%, according to the 2026 guide. Despite this change, the guide could recommend only 70 non-mineral sunscreens containing few concerning ingredients.<\/p>\n There is good news. For the first time in 20 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new sunscreen ingredient \u2014 bemotrizinol, or BEMT \u2014 that experts say is a safer option than many chemical ingredients currently in use in the United States.<\/p>\n Bemotrizinol is a chemical filter that provides adequate UVA protection, is not easily absorbed into the skin, and has the most robust safety data on any UV filter to date, according to EWG. Products containing BEMT should be on the shelves by early fall.<\/p>\n The Personal Care Products Council, which represents industry, told CNN via email that questioning the safety and efficacy of sunscreen products undermines decades of evidence-based research.<\/p>\n \u201cSuggesting that only a limited number of sunscreens are safe and effective discourages sunscreen use, which can harm public health, especially for those with repeated sun exposure, said PCPC\u2019s chief scientist Dr. Jaap Venema.<\/p>\n David Andrews, the chief scientific officer for EWG, told CNN in an email that \u201cthe FDA itself, not EWG, determined that 12 of the 16 chemical filters currently on U.S. shelves lack sufficient safety data to be classified as safe and effective. That is not EWG\u2019s opinion. That is the FDA\u2019s own finding.\u201d<\/p>\n Federal action delayed<\/p>\n Under Trump-appointed FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA proposed new sunscreen regulations in 2019 that asked manufacturers to research the safety of oxybenzone, homosalate, and 10 other chemicals to see if they should be considered GRASE, or \u201cgenerally regarded as safe and effective.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, those 12 chemicals had been used in sunscreens for decades \u2014 and are still used today. To date, those studies have not been announced, nor has the FDA passed any updated regulations.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the FDA told CNN in an email the FDA is reviewing the public comments it received. \u201cThese timelines can vary depending on the volume and substantiveness of the comments received. The FDA cannot comment on the exact timing of the final order, nor on the specific content of that final order.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the historical lack of regulation, there is a sunny spot: The FDA announced<\/a> in December it may allow US manufacturers to use bemotrizinol, a popular chemical ingredient used for decades in Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cBMT is a filter that provides adequate UVA protection, is not easily absorbed into the skin, and has the most robust safety data on any UV filter to date,\u201d said Friedman. \u201cThis is the first innovation change we\u2019ve seen in the last 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n While it\u2019s technically illegal to sell non-FDA-approved sunscreens in the US, consumers have been purchasing<\/a> European and Asian products online for some time, citing their lightweight feel, better protection and availability to a larger variety of skin tones. That cosmetic touch<\/a> is important, experts say, as many people avoid sunscreen<\/a> due to its heavy, greasy feel.<\/p>\n More than sunscreen<\/p>\n Sunscreen should actually be toward the bottom of your list of sun protection options, experts say. Consider a \u201clayered approach\u201d: wear clothing made from tightly woven fabric, sunglasses and wide-brim hats and combine sunscreen with staying in the shade during the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its hottest.<\/p>\n Sunscreen lives up to its SPF only when it is applied correctly, and many people don\u2019t apply enough of it, experts say. One ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed to cover exposed areas of the body, according to the American Academy of Dermatology<\/a>.<\/p>\n The academy recommends applying sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outside. Remember to reapply sunscreen to yourself and your children every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.<\/p>\n Children are especially vulnerable to the sun \u2014 babies under 6 months should not be exposed to direct sunlight at all. Sunburns in babies can be medical emergencies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a>. Just a few bad sunburns in childhood can raise the risk of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer, called melanoma. Toxic chemicals used for decades in sunscreens can harm developing bodies and brains.<\/p>\n Related video below: Early sunscreen habits important for kids | Here’s why<\/strong><\/p>\n Ignore dangerous social media messages<\/p>\n Don\u2019t fall for any social media hype that tries to say the sun \u201cdoes not cause skin cancer.\u201d Ultraviolet radiation is a \u201cproven human carcinogen,\u201d causing squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unless accelerated by a tanning bed, skin damage can take years, if not decades to develop, experts say, leaving today\u2019s unwary youth at risk for early skin aging and lethal skin cancers such as melanoma.<\/p>\n