Most Harmful Sunscreens

One of the Safest Sunscreens - Kiss My Face Natural Mineral Sunscreen with Hydresia

The Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) recently released its 6th Annual Sunscreen Report, which analyzes the ingredients in over 1,800 sunscreen products and ranks them from least harmful to most harmful. Bottom line: stay away from all sunscreen SPRAYS and avoid anything that contains RETINYL PALMINATE (Vitamin A) or OXYBENZONE and anything ABOVE an SPF 40 (as higher SPFs require the absorbency or toxic chemicals).

I broke down EWG's findings into the following quick "at-a-glace" groupings according to (1) most harmful sunscreens ingredients and (2) safest sunscreens that are affordable and easy to find. NOTE: My consistently favorite brand, Badger, made the EWG "Safest" list yet again.

Some of the Most Harmful Sunscreens (Each with a "Highly Hazardous" score of 7-10):
Selected according to popularity of brand and ease of ability to purchase. Ordered alphabetically.

• Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Spray Active, SPF 70
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Active MAX Protect Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 110
• Coppertone Sport Clear Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 90
• CVS Sheer Mist Sunscreen, SPF 70
• Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock, SPF 70
• Rite Aid Extreme Sport Continuous Spray, SPF 70+
• Wegmans Sheer Sunscreen Body Mist, SPF 55
• Walgreens Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70

Safest Sunscreens (Each with a "Low Hazardous" Score of 0-1):
Selected according to affordability and ease of ability to purchase. Ordered alphabetically.

• All Terrain (following products only):
• AquaSport Sunscreen Stick, SPF 28
• KidSport Sunscreen Stick Skin Protectant, SPF 28
• TerraSport Face Stick Skin Protectant, SPF 28
• Aubrey Organics (following products only):
• Natural Sun Green Tea Sunscreen, SPF 30+
• Sun Sports Stick Unscented Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Natural Sun Unscented Sensitive Skin/Children Sunscreen, SPF 30+
• Badger (following products only):
• All-Season Face Stick, SPF 35
• Baby Sunscreen, Chamomile & Calendula, SPF 30+
• Broad Spectrum Sport Sunscreen, SPF 35
• Chamomile Baby Sunscreen, SPF 34
• Lightly Scented Lavender Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Lightly Scented Lavender Sunscreen, SPF 30+
• Sport Sunscreen, SPF 35
• Sunscreen For Face & Body, SPF 30Badger Sunscreen, Lavender, SPF 34
• Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 34
• Unscented Sunscreen All Season Face Stick, SPF 30+
• Unscented Sunscreen, SPF 30+
• California Baby (following products only):
• Everyday/Year-round Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
• No Fragrance Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
• Kiss My Face (following products only):
• Natural Mineral Sunscreen with Hydresia, SPF 40
• 100% Natural Mineral Sunblock SunStick, Blue, SPF 30
• 100% Natural Mineral Sunblock SunStick, Pink, SPF 30
• 100% Natural Mineral Sunblock SunStick, White, SPF 30
• Seventh Generation Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30
• UV Natural (ALL products) :
• Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Sport Lip Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
• Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+

Click here to view all sunscreens rated by the Environment Working Group.