The largest independent sunscreen review is out. Here’s what 20 years of research says you should be putting on your skin.
Every summer, drugstore shelves fill up with sunscreens making bold claims. SPF 100. “Broad spectrum.” “Gentle for all skin types.” But what do those labels actually tell you — and what are they leaving out?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released its 20th annual Guide to Sunscreens, reviewing nearly 2,800 SPF products for ingredient safety and UV protection effectiveness. The findings confirm what functional medicine has long understood: what you put on your body matters just as much as what you put in it.
Here’s what you need to know.
The UVA damage gap
The SPF number on your bottle is measuring one thing: protection from UVB rays, which cause sunburn. It tells you almost nothing about protection from UVA rays — and that’s a problem.
UVA radiation penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB. It’s the primary driver of photoaging (wrinkles, dark spots, collagen breakdown) and a significant contributor to skin cancer and melanoma risk. Unlike UVB, UVA doesn’t make you burn — so you won’t know when you’ve had too much.
EWG’s peer-reviewed research tested 51 U.S. sunscreens and found that, on average, products provided only 59% of their labeled SPF protection against UVB rays — and just 24% of the UVA protection implied by their labels. Only about a third of those products would meet the EU standard for UVA protection.
That means many sunscreens may provide significantly less UVA protection than consumers assume based on the SPF label alone.
High SPF numbers are misleading
SPF 70, 80, 100+. These numbers signal protection, but they don’t deliver on the promise.
- SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
- SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays
That 1% difference is not worth much. What high SPF products do is create a false sense of security that leads people to stay in the sun longer and skip reapplication — increasing overall UV exposure, including the UVA exposure that the SPF number doesn’t measure at all.
EWG recommends choosing a sunscreen with SPF between 15 and 50, applying it generously (about one palmful per application), and reapplying every two hours.
A closer look at sunscreen ingredients
This is where it gets important from a functional medicine standpoint. The FDA has only classified two sunscreen ingredients as “generally recognized as safe and effective” (GRASE): zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
The other 12 commonly used chemical filters — including oxybenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate lack sufficient safety data. FDA studies found several sunscreen ingredients absorbed through the skin at levels that exceed the FDA’s own safety thresholds, with octinoxate absorption detected at levels up to 16 times above that threshold.
What to look for on the label:
Oxybenzone is readily absorbed through the skin and has been associated with hormone disruption in multiple reviews — including a 2023 analysis of 254 studies and a 2025 review confirming concerns about reproductive harm and effects on the developing fetus. The EU has restricted it significantly. The FDA says more data is needed. It’s currently allowed in U.S. products at concentrations up to 6%.
Octinoxate has been linked to endocrine disruption, including impacts on testosterone and progesterone signaling. A 2020 FDA study found it in blood at levels 16 times above the agency’s proposed safety threshold.
Homosalate has raised concerns about potential hormone disruption across European regulatory bodies. The FDA allows it at concentrations up to 15%.
If your sunscreen uses any of these, it’s worth considering a new brand or formula — especially for daily use, for children, and for anyone with hormonal health concerns.
A promising shift: a new ingredient may finally be approved
For the first time in over 25 years, a new sunscreen active ingredient may be coming to the U.S. market.
In December 2025, the FDA proposed classifying bemotrizinol as safe and effective — the first new UV filter to advance through the regulatory process in decades. It’s already widely used in Europe and Asia, and it offers strong broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection with minimal skin absorption and a low risk of irritation.
If the proposal is finalized, products containing bemotrizinol could be on shelves by late 2026. For people who prefer chemical (non-mineral) formulas, this is a meaningful improvement.
How to choose a safer sunscreen
Choose mineral over chemical. Zinc oxide sunscreens are EWG’s top recommendation for daily use because they provide balanced UVA and UVB protection and currently have the strongest FDA safety classification.
Avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are the most well-documented concerns from a hormone disruption standpoint.
Skip the sprays. Aerosol sunscreens carry inhalation risks and deliver uneven coverage. Lotions or sticks are the better choice.
Watch for “fragrance” on the label. In 2026, 36% of sunscreens contain undisclosed fragrance blends — a catch-all that can mask hundreds of chemicals, including allergens and potential hormone disruptors. For daily users, this exposure accumulates.
Don’t chase the high SPF number. The product you’ll actually apply consistently is more protective than a high-SPF bottle you use once. SPF 30–50 is plenty when applied correctly.
Look for the EWG Verified® mark. Products with this designation meet EWG’s strictest standards for ingredient safety, UVA protection, and full transparency. As of 2026, over 60 recreational sunscreens carry this mark, with more than 130 total SPF products including moisturizers and lip balms.
Sun protection beyond sunscreen
Sunscreen works best as part of a larger approach.
UPF clothing and wide-brim hats block UV before it reaches your skin with no reapplication required. For extended time outdoors, a UPF 50+ shirt covers more surface area more reliably than sunscreen alone.
UV-blocking sunglasses protect the eyes and surrounding skin from cumulative UV exposure. Look for lenses that block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.
Timing matters too. Peak UV intensity runs from 10am to 4pm — shifting outdoor activity to morning or late afternoon reduces cumulative exposure meaningfully over time. For kids especially, shade and clothing should be the first line of defense, with sunscreen filling in the gaps.
The takeaway
Sun protection matters — skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and UV damage accumulates over a lifetime.
At Forum Health, we take the same evidence-based approach to what goes on your body that we bring to everything inside it. Choosing a mineral-based, fragrance-free sunscreen with zinc oxide — and actually wearing it every day — is one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term health.
For a full list of EWG-rated products, visit EWG’s Sunscreen Guide.
Want an extra layer of confidence?
Pair EWG’s Sunscreen Guide with the Yuka app when you’re shopping. EWG can help you evaluate sunscreen-specific factors like UVA protection, SPF balance, and ingredient safety, while Yuka makes it easy to scan product labels in real time and compare overall ingredient scores. Together, they can help you choose a sunscreen that fits your skin, your standards, and your daily routine.
This post references EWG’s 2026 Guide to Sunscreens, published by the Environmental Working Group. Forum Health shares this information for educational purposes.
