Sunscreen helps defend your skin from harmful ultraviolet, or UV, radiation. It prevents sunburn, premature aging and reduces the risk of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S.
Our 2025 Guide to Sunscreens evaluates more than 2,200 sun protection factor, or SPF, products, highlighting the top-rated options while pushing the Food and Drug Administration to modernize its standards. This year, 498 out of 2,204 SPF products meet our rigorous criteria, offering consumers a wide selection of safe and effective options to choose from.
Many sunscreens still fall short by offering misleading claims about protection, using outdated formulas, some even containing ingredients with potential health concerns. Federal sunscreen rules have remained largely unchanged since 1999, leaving consumers to navigate products with uncertainty.
That’s where EWG steps in. For nearly two decades, our scientists have cut through the marketing hype by analyzing the ingredients, safety data and product efficacy of thousands of sunscreens to help consumers make informed choices. Our reviews focus on what really matters – protecting your health and the health of your family.
In the absence of new FDA sunscreen regulations that put public health first, EWG’s latest guide is your trusted resource for choosing SPF products, giving consumers hundreds of safer, effective choices for themselves and their families.
When EWG first launched its Guide to Sunscreens, in 2007, the market was flooded with formulas packed with chemicals like oxybenzone, an ingredient now linked to hormone disruption and environmental harm. Many sunscreens put marketing claims ahead of product safety and efficacy.
Over the years, as research exposed the potential risks of certain sunscreen ingredients, consumer demand for safer, more effective products has reshaped the industry.
All trends and percentages this report refers to are based on EWG’s analysis of recreational use sunscreens in the Skin Deep® database. The figures the report cites reflect EWG’s data and not industry sales data.
Consumer preferences and product formulations shifted significantly in the almost two decades since EWG’s first sunscreens guide. They include an increase in SPF numbers on products, the decline of oxybenzone and vitamin A, or retinyl palmitate, and the rise of mineral-based sunscreens.
One of the biggest shifts in the sunscreen market is the growing demand for mineral-based products that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect against harmful UV rays. These two ingredients are the only active sunscreen filters generally recognized as safe and effective by the FDA.
As more consumers prioritize safety and efficacy, they look for sunscreens with more effective mineral options. That’s pushed brands to reformulate with these two ingredients.
In 2007, mineral-only formulas made up a mere 17 percent of sunscreen options available for EWG scientists to review. Today, mineral sunscreens account for 43 percent of the products we review.
Perhaps the most striking trend is the steep decline in the use of oxybenzone, once a staple in non-mineral sunscreens. In 2016, 70 percent of non-mineral sunscreens contained oxybenzone. That number dropped to 60 percent in 2019, 40 percent in 2021. This year, it’s just 9 percent of the non-mineral sunscreens EWG evaluated.
The shift reflects growing awareness of oxybenzone’s high absorption through the skin and other potential health harms, including disruption of the hormone system, as well as its harmful effects on aquatic and marine ecosystems.
Similarly, the once common practice of adding vitamin A, or retinyl palmitate, to sunscreen has all but disappeared. Research has shown that vitamin A can degrade in sunlight, potentially accelerating rather than preventing skin damage.
In 2010, 41 percent of sunscreens contained vitamin A, dropping to 14 percent in 2017, then 3 percent by 2024. Now, in 2025, it’s just 2 percent.
Despite concerns about inhalation risks and uneven application, spray sunscreens remain a consumer favorite. In an attempt to reduce the inhalation risk, the FDA proposed new test requirements for aerosol products in 2019. But it hasn’t finalized them.
In 2007, spray sunscreens made up just under 20 percent of the market, rising to 27 percent by 2016. As of 2025, their share has declined to 26 percent of sunscreens in EWG’s Skin Deep database.
But the inhalation risk remains, and controversy lingers, especially after multiple recalls because of contamination by benzene, a known carcinogen detected in aerosolized sunscreens in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Adding to the concern, studies have shown that when applying spray sunscreen when there is a light wind these products may not provide adequate coverage. The Australian government has gone so far as to recommend avoiding aerosol sunscreens entirely due to poor efficacy.
If the FDA moves forward with its regulations, manufacturers of spray and powdered sunscreens will be required to prove their products are both safe and effective.
The use of undisclosed “fragrance” remains a persistent issue in some sunscreens, which leaves consumers in the dark about what they’re being exposed to.
In 2025, 36 percent of sunscreens contained fragrance blends – many of which may include allergens, hormone disruptors and even carcinogens.
To help consumers make healthier choices, EWG added new search features to the sunscreens database, allowing users to filter for products based on preferences such as sticks, tints or third-party certifications, while avoiding harmful ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate, fragrances and allergens.
A 2022 federal law required the FDA to develop guidelines by July 2024 for companies to follow in disclosing some of the fragrance allergens in certain sunscreens and other personal care products. But the agency has yet to release a proposal, missing a later self-imposed goal. Budget and staffing cuts raise concerns that the FDA might miss future deadlines.
In the meantime, EWG continues to urge consumers to choose fragrance-free sunscreens or those carrying the EWG Verified® mark, which guarantees ingredient transparency and the absence of harmful fragrance chemicals.
Only 10 percent of sunscreens reviewed in 2025 have SPF values higher than 50. In 2007, just 5 percent of sunscreens in the guide had SPF values over 50. High SPF sunscreens provide only slightly more UVB protection than lower SPF products.
When used correctly, SPF 50 blocks about 98 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 100 blocks approximately 99 percent. Sunscreens with SPF values between 30 and 50 offer sufficient protection for most consumers when properly applied.
SPF ratings mostly measure UVB protection – not UVA, which is responsible for deeper skin damage and aging. Many high-SPF sunscreens also rely on SPF boosters that may inflate SPF numbers without truly improving broad spectrum protection.
The bottom line? The best sunscreen is the one you use daily and reapply often. Until stronger regulations arrive, staying informed and choosing broad-spectrum protection remains key to sun safety.
Many high-SPF sunscreens don’t achieve their ratings by simply increasing the concentration of active UV filters. Instead, they rely on SPF boosters – ingredients the FDA doesn’t classify as UV filters, which are more strictly regulated but may be chemically similar to them.
Some boosters can bend light, effectively increasing a sunscreen’s apparent thickness and improving SPF value. Others reduce inflammation, potentially masking sunburn, rather than preventing long-term skin damage. This creates a false sense of security, leading users to potentially stay in the sun longer without adequate UVA protection.
Over the years, the rise of ultra-high SPF claims – SPF 70, 80, even 100+ – has fueled concerns about misleading labeling.
In 2016, EWG urged the FDA to investigate SPF boosters and their role in inflating SPF values without necessarily increasing UVA protection.
The FDA has long contended that SPF higher than 50 is “inherently misleading.” SPF values are limited to 50+ in most countries. In 2011, the FDA proposed prohibiting labels higher than SPF 50+, but the sunscreen rules were never finalized. This may fuel the use of these boosters.
Butyloctyl salicylate, or BOS, is a common sunscreen additive that is advertised to improve texture, boost SPF ratings and stabilize active ingredients. It is not classified as an active UV filter, but BOS absorbs UV radiation and may enhance SPF test results. Similar SPF boosters used in sunscreens include tridecyl salicylate and ethyl ferulate.
BOS is part of a class of chemicals, called salicylates, along with other sunscreen active ingredients homosalate and octisalate. An assessment by the European Union suggested classifying these chemicals as potential reproductive and developmental toxicants, due to metabolism to salicylic acid in the body.
Animal studies show salicylic acid and some other salicylates can harm reproduction and the developing fetus. As a result, the EU prohibits salicylic acid in products for children under age 3 and recent assessments by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety recommend additional restrictions for salicylic acid and some other salicylates in kids products. The EU is currently assessing this group of chemicals, but more research into health risks are needed.
For this reason, EWG’s list of best sunscreens for babies and kids restricts the use of butyloctyl salicylate because younger skin is more vulnerable to product absorption.
EWG’s 2021 peer-reviewed study revealed troubling results about sunscreen efficacy in the U.S. It found most sunscreens sold in the U.S. fail to provide the level of UVA protection their SPF ratings imply.
Of 51 products tested, the average sunscreen reduced ultraviolet exposure by only half of what would be expected based on its SPF. Only 18 out of 51 products met the stricter UVA protection standards required in Europe.
While SPF is a good indicator of protection against UVB rays, the primary cause of sunburn, the study showed many sunscreens fall short in offering reliable protection against UVA rays. This is concerning because UVA rays contribute to long-term skin damage and wrinkles and they increase the risk of skin cancer.
On average, the UVA protection factor in these products was just a quarter of the labeled SPF value, which leads consumers to think they’re better protected than they are.
To help consumers navigate these risks, EWG’s sunscreen ranking system uses our testing results to recommend products that offer the best balance of effective protection and low toxicity. Our guide ensures your sunscreen options protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
To further guide consumers toward safer sunscreens, EWG expanded its EWG Verified program in 2023 to include recreational sunscreens. The only SPF products to earn the mark are those that meet the strictest standards for both health and efficacy, ensuring they are free from ingredients banned in the EU and Canada while complying with international regulations.
EWG Verified sunscreens also surpass U.S. and European UVA protection standards, providing superior defense against harmful rays.
Since its launch, the program has grown significantly, with a 425 percent increase in EWG Verified sunscreens. Today, 63 sunscreens from 13 brands carry the mark – with more than 120 products, including moisturizer and lip balm with SPF.
Outdated regulations continue to put U.S. consumers at risk from ineffective and potentially harmful sunscreens. The blame lies with manufacturers that refuse to provide the FDA with necessary safety data, stalling progress.
Even laws like the Sunscreen Innovation Act and the CARES Act, meant to speed up approvals of sunscreen ingredients, haven’t achieved that aim. As a result, American products are inferior to those in Europe and Asia.
Manufacturers continue to use ingredients the FDA has shown absorb through the skin and flagged for further assessment. Research links some of these chemicals to hormone disruption, yet companies have resisted investments in safety tests. Instead, they exploit regulatory gaps while keeping Americans in the dark about the potential risks of their products.
To protect public health, Congress must enforce strict deadlines for manufacturers to submit safety data, with noncompliant ingredients removed from the market.
The FDA should approve modern alternatives for sunscreen ingredients and wind up the use of outdated formulations. Consumers can drive change by demanding safer, more effective sunscreens.
Sunscreen regulations vary widely around the world, resulting in a patchwork of standards and product availability.
In the U.S., sunscreens are classified as over-the-counter drugs and must meet strict FDA guidelines. In contrast, many other countries treat sunscreens as cosmetics, which allows for looser regulations and often more innovative formulations.
This difference has led many consumers to wonder whether international sunscreens – especially products available on online platforms like Amazon and Temu – are a better choice.
While international sunscreens may feature advanced ingredients and formulations, they cannot legally be sold or imported into the U.S. for commercial purposes. Even personal purchases made while traveling may be subject to customs restrictions, although enforcement tends to be more relaxed for individual quantities. The FDA has suggested it may allow more flexibility for personal imports of sunscreen, provided there is no major health risk.
Despite the appeal of international options, U.S. consumers have access to many safe and effective sunscreens. In 2025, EWG highly recommends mineral-based formulas, especially those containing zinc oxide, for their consistent, broad-spectrum protection and safety.
Sunscreen is only one component of a complete sun safety routine.
When choosing a sunscreen:
Make it a habit to use sunscreen. Sun protection is one of the most effective ways to guard your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Look for mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide and avoid products with questionable or harmful ingredients. Don’t be swayed by sky-high SPF claims; instead, focus on proper application, reliable formulas like lotions or sticks, and regular reapplication. But remember, the best sunscreen is the one you’ll use every day.
Since 2007, EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens has helped consumers cut through the marketing noise and make informed choices. In the absence of strong FDA oversight, we remain committed to pushing for better regulations and offering science-backed recommendations.
