3/25/2022

Safer Sunscreens List Expanded

Some sunscreens and facial moisturizers contain potentially problematic compounds. In response to questions from readers, we reviewed and added six more products (from brands such as Cetaphil and Neutrogena) to our list of sunscreens with safer ingredients. (The newly added products are highlighted in yellow in our list).

3/31/2022

Safe Makeup Sunscreens

We’ve added nine makeup foundations to our lists of safe sunscreen products, which include dozens of regular sunscreens, facial moisturizers, and lip balms.

5/10/2024

Environmental Effects of Mineral Sunscreens

Mineral sunscreens are believed to be safer for ocean life than chemical sunscreens, but they still may do some harm, according to a recent study. Learn more in our article about finding the best sunscreen.

5/17/2024

Our Recommended Sunscreens

With summer around the corner, we updated our list of recommended sunscreens. Each is broad-spectrum for UVA and UVB, does not contain untested chemical sunscreens, and has not been found to be contaminated with benzene (a carcinogen).

5/31/2024

More on Sunscreens

With summer season here, we’ve added the following information to our article about sunscreens:

• What to consider when selecting a tinted sunscreen
• What EWG Verified means, and which of our recommended broad spectrum sunscreens are EWG Verified
• The pros and cons of Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Fluid

8/02/2022

More Sunscreen Recalled Due to Benzene

Another popular brand of sunscreen has been recalled due to contamination with the toxic chemical benzene. Get the details and see the amounts of benzene found in more than 200 popular sun products in our updated article What is the best sunscreen based on safety and efficacy?

Also see our list of safer sunscreen products.

8/16/2022

Re-Applying Sunscreen

How often do you really need to re-apply sunscreen and does this vary by type of sunscreen? Find out in our updated article about finding the best sunscreen.

10/19/2021

A Sunscreen Combination to Avoid

Combining certain ingredients in sunscreen may inadvertently reduce sunscreen protection and generate toxic compounds, according to new research. Find out which ingredient combinations to avoid in our answer to the question: Which compounds in sunscreen should I be concerned about?

3/24/2025

Bug Spray or Sunscreen: Which to Apply First?

Find out in which order you should apply sunscreen and insect repellent in our article about bug sprays for preventing tick and mosquito bites, which includes our Top Pick among repellents.

Also see our article: What is the best sunscreen based on safety and efficacy?

7/11/2023

European Sunscreens

Many sunscreen products in Europe contain sunscreen ingredients not found in U.S. products. Learn the pros and cons of these ingredients in our article about sunscreens.

8/08/2023

Problem With Sun Protective Clothing

A recent study showed a problem with some sun-protective clothing. Get the details in the “Is sun-protection clothing effective?" section of our article about sunscreens.

Also see our list of safer sunscreens.

8/11/2023

Sun-Protection Clothing

Which brands of sun-protection clothing contain UV finishes that might wear off and which don’t? Find out in our article about sunscreens and other sun-protection products.

Also see our list of safer sunscreens.

8/15/2023

DNA Repair Enzymes?

Do sunscreens with "DNA repair enzymes" really help reverse sun damage? Find out in our article about sunscreens.

4/11/2023

Safer Sunscreens?

See which sunscreen products contain less problematic ingredients and how they compare on cost at today’s prices. See our lists of safer sunscreens and facial moisturizers, lip balms, and makeup foundations.

4/21/2023

Best Sun-Protection Clothing

Find out how well clothing protects against UV rays and which fabrics and colors provide the most protection in our CL Answer about sunscreens.

Also see our list of safer sunscreens.

6/02/2023

Benzene Found in More Sunscreens

A recent study identified benzene in 80% of tested sunscreen products, with three products containing benzene levels considered to be high. Get the details in our updated article about safe sunscreens.

6/06/2023

Update on Recalled Sunscreens

ConsumerLab asked companies with recalled sunscreens if the products had been reformulated and re-tested. See the responses in our article about carcinogens in sunscreen.

8/23/2022

How to Get UV-A Protection from Sunscreen

UV-A radiation from the sun causes wrinkles and age-spots. Many people don't realize that SPF values on sunscreens refer only to UV-B protection. Find out what to look for on labels to determine UV-A protection.

We've also updated our list of sunscreens made with safer ingredients.

11/30/2021

Safer Sunscreens?

We reported last month that certain combinations of sunscreen ingredients may reduce sunscreen protection and generate toxic compounds.

In response to reader questions, we've put together a list of sunscreens that do not have these concerning combinations.

8/08/2024

Zinc vs. Titanium Sunscreen

Are sunscreens made with zinc oxide better than those made with titanium dioxide or a combination of the two? Find out in our article about sunscreens, which includes recommended products.

5/12/2025

Pros & Cons of Korean Sunscreens

Korean sunscreen products have become popular in the U.S., but be aware of concerns that exist with them. Get the details in our article about safe and effective sunscreens.

5/15/2025

Sunscreen & Sweating

Does applying sunscreen prevent sweating or increase body temperature? Find out what a recent study showed in our article about sunscreens, which includes examples of less problematic sunscreens.

5/15/2025

Sunscreens & Rosacea

Find out which sunscreens and foundations with sunscreen do not contain ingredients known to trigger rosacea. We’ve added this to our larger article about sunscreen safety and effectiveness.

10/10/2023

Sunscreen in Winter?

Is it necessary to wear sunscreen in winter in northern climates? Find out what a recent analysis concluded in our updated article about sunscreens. Also see our list of safer sunscreens.

2/03/2025

Facial Moisturizers With SPF

We’ve added three products to our list of safer facial moisturizers with sun protection. See our article on sunscreens, which includes examples of safer sunscreens, lip balms & glosses, and foundations.

10/02/2025

Benefit of Tinted Sunscreen

Tinted sunscreen is recommended for a variety of skin conditions to even out skin tone. A new study showed this for people with melasma (brown or blue-gray patches that can darken with sun exposure). Get the details in our article about sunscreens, which includes our list of preferred sunscreens.

7/25/2025

Sunscreens We Prefer

Find out which two of the following three brands of sunscreen have products that made our list of more than 20 preferred sunscreens and which did not:

• Avène
• Bullfrog
• Waxhead

6/16/2025

When SPF 50 Is Recommended

Skin care experts typically recommend using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, but even higher SPF sunscreen might be better in some cases. Find out why in our article about sunscreens and also see our list of higher SPF sunscreens that we prefer.

8/12/2024

UVA & UVB Protection

Find out how to make sure your sunscreen provides adequate UVA and UVB protection.

3/29/2022

Lip Balms and Glosses

We reviewed and added 11 lip balms and glosses from brands like Burt's Bees, Colorscience, and Eos to our list of sunscreen products with safe ingredients.

5/15/2019

Vitamin D and Sunscreen

Is it possible to protect your skin from sunburn but still produce vitamin D? See what a recent study found in the Getting vitamin D from sunlight section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin D.

3/08/2022

Safer Facial Moisturizers

Sunscreen ingredients in many facial moisturizers are not known to be safe. See our list of those that are potentially problematic and those that are safer options.

11/02/2021

Sun Protection and Bone Health

Does staying out of the sun or using sunscreen increase the risk of osteoporosis or bone fracture? Find out what a recent study suggests in the Getting vitamin D from sunlight section of our Vitamin D Supplements Review.

4/14/2023

Best Bug Sprays for Skin and Clothes

Find out which insect repellants (for ticks and mosquitoes) are our Top Picks for use on skin and on clothing and gear based on their ingredients.

Also find out:

• Why lotions and wipes are not among our Top Picks.
• If you should apply insect repellent before or after sunscreen.
• If mosquito repellents work against ticks.

5/27/2022

Best Bug Sprays

Find out which insect repellants (for ticks and mosquitoes) are our Top Picks for use on skin and on clothing and gear based on their ingredients.

Also find out:

• Why lotions and wipes are not among our Top Picks.
• If you should apply insect repellent before or after sunscreen.
• If mosquito repellents work against ticks.

9/24/2024

Cotz Sunscreen

Based on a member request, we’ve added information about CoTZ Flawless Complexion SPF 50 Lightly Tinted Sunscreen in our article about safe and effective sunscreens.

8/01/2024

Sunscreen – When to Replace It?

Can you use sunscreen that's more than a year old? Find out in our article about finding safe and effective sunscreens.

8/18/2023

Benzene in Supplements?

Can sodium benzoate, a preservative used in supplements and foods, be converted to benzene, a toxic compound? Find out what a recent study showed in our article about Inactive Ingredients.

Also see our articles about benzene in sunscreens and deodorants.

6/13/2023

Cosmetics for Sun Protection?

Foundations and other cosmetics may be labeled with an SPF value, but they are generally not considered to be good alternatives to sunscreen. Find out why, and see product suggestions, in the updated article about safe and effective sunscreens.

4/04/2023

Lip Balm Sunscreen Safety?

Some lip balms contain nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide – is this safe? Find out in our updated CL Answer about sunscreens.

10/05/2021

More Sunscreens Recalled

Five more sunscreen products sold in the U.S. have been recalled due to contamination with benzene, a carcinogen. We've added these, and their specific lot numbers, to our list of nearly 300 products tested for benzene. See the details in our article about Benzene in Sunscreen and After-Sun Products.

10/07/2022

Avoiding Gluten in Sunscreen?

Should people with celiac disease be concerned about gluten in sunscreen? Find out in our article Choosing the Best Sunscreen, which includes our list of sunscreens with safer ingredients (including those that do not contain gluten).

Also see our article on how to find supplements without gluten.

10/07/2022

Sunscreen & Vitamin D Deficiency?

Is the use of sunscreen associated with vitamin D deficiency? Find out what a recent analysis showed in the Getting vitamin D from sunlight section of our Vitamin D Supplements Review.

Also see our comparisons of sunscreens in our answer to the question: What is the best sunscreen based on safety and efficacy?

11/04/2022

Sunscreen Allergy

Although uncommon, sunscreens can cause allergic skin reactions upon exposure to sunlight. Get the details about a recently reported case, and find out who is most likely to be affected, in our article about the best sunscreen based on safety and efficacy.

11/10/2025

Do You Need Sunscreen in Winter?

Find out what’s now recommended in our article about sunscreen, which includes our list of preferred sunscreens.

4/16/2026

Sunscreen Irritation

Which types of sunscreen are less likely to trigger skin irritation or allergic reactions? Find out in our guide to safer, effective sunscreens, including our preferred products list.

10/21/2024

Carcinogen in Dry Shampoo – Legal Settlement

In 2022, we reported that benzene (a carcinogen) was found in many dry shampoos. A company that sells several of these products recently announced a cash settlement for consumers. Purchasers may be entitled to receive compensation. For details, see our article about benzene in dry shampoos.

Also read about benzene in spray deoderants and in sunscreens.

4/04/2025

Bug Spray + Sunscreen?

Learn the "dos and don'ts" of using insect repellent along with sunscreen for these to be safe and effective in our article about choosing insect repellents.

Also see our article about safe sunscreens.

5/22/2025

MadHippie Sunscreen

We’ve added information about MadHippie Sunscreen to our article about sunscreens. See which of its products made our “less problematic” list and which do not.