With warm weather around the corner, I decided to look into some new sunscreen and turned to the Skin Deep Database for some guidance. I found some unsettling information in a study done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG): 4 out of 5 sunscreens don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays and/or contain chemicals that may pose health hazards. There are no mandatory sunscreen standards in place, so products vary in safety and effectiveness; and companies are free to claim but not provide broad spectrum, all-day or instant protection. Many sunscreens even lack UVA protection altogether (the sun rays linked to skin damage, aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer). So how do you know which sunscreen to buy? Here are a few effective and safe sunscreens that pose a low health hazard and provide very good UVB and UVA protection*:
Keys Soap Solar RX Sunblock, SPF 30
safety: 0 low hazard, UVB strength: strong, UVA strength: strong view data
Soleo Organics Sunscreen SPF 30+
safety: 0 low hazard, UVB strength: strong, UVA strength: strong view data
Sun Science Organic Daily Wear SPF 30
safety: 1 low hazard, UVB strength: strong, UVA strength: strong view data
Dermalogica Super Sensitive Faceblock SPF 30
safety: 2 low hazard, UVB strength: strong, UVA strength: strong view data
California Baby Everyday/Year-Round Suncreen Lotion SPF 30+
safety: 1 low hazard, UVB strength: medium-strong, UVA strength: medium-strong view data
Lavera Sun Block Neutral SPF 40
safety: 1 low hazard, UVB strength: strong, UVA strength: medium view data
* Provided by the Skin Deep Database. Safety ratings scale: 0-2 low, 3-6 moderate, 7-10 high hazard.
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