![]() “There are 11 chemicals that we know from the scientific literature that pose an environmental threat,” says Downs. As a result, Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone, beginning in 2021, and some retailers, such as REI, are implementing policies against carrying products that contain it.īut oxybenzone isn’t the only damaging ingredient. Downs, Ph.D., executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, a nonprofit scientific research organization.Īnd research supports the evidence that oxybenzone, a commonly used chemical sunscreen ingredient, contributes to coral bleaching, a condition that leaves coral vulnerable to infection and prevents it from getting the nutrients it needs to survive. Up to 6,000 tons of sunscreens are estimated to wash into coral reefs around the globe each year.īut you can’t be sure you’re making an environmentally friendly choice by using a sunscreen labeled “reef safe.” Sunscreen manufacturers aren’t required to test and demonstrate that such products won’t harm aquatic life, says Craig A. Some of the ingredients in sunscreen can damage delicate coral reef systems, which in turn can affect the health of the oceans. If you still want a mineral sunscreen, we suggest California Kids #Supersensitive Lotion SPF 30+ or Badger Active Unscented Cream SPF 30. However, in the past six years of sunscreen testing, we haven’t found a mineral product that offers both top-notch UVA and UVB protection, and meets its labeled SPF, says Susan Booth, the project leader for our sunscreen testing. ![]() ![]() Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, for example, aren’t just plucked from the earth and plopped into your sunscreen they’re processed and refined, too.ĭermatologists often recommend titanium and zinc formulas for children and people with sensitive skin. These so-called physical sunscreens protect against UV rays by deflecting them, while chemical sunscreens, such as avobenzone, absorb UV light.īut just because a sunscreen has mineral ingredients doesn’t mean it’s better for you than a chemical one. There are no standards for these terms, but they’re commonly used for sunscreens that contain the minerals titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or both as active ingredients. So explore our ratings of 73 lotions, sprays, and sticks (based on our scientific testing) to make sure you’re less likely to get burned at the checkout counter-or on the beach. The federal government requires sunscreen claims to be “truthful and not misleading.” But only three of the main claims consumers see-“SPF,” “broad-spectrum,” and “water-resistant”-are strictly regulated by the government and therefore have agreed-upon definitions. ![]() Here, then, is the help you need: seven common terms and what they actually mean-and don’t. Kundu, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who researches how people buy and use sunscreen. But with bottles and tubes covered with claims, “it’s really hard to make sense of what all the terminology means,” says Roopal V. Whether you have fair or dark skin, you hit the beach every day or only on vacation, or you’re 16 or 60, you need to use sunscreen if you’ll be in the sun for longer than a few minutes.
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