Best Sunscreens to Use & Toxic Ones to Avoid (EWG’s 20th Annual Guide to Sunscreens)

It’s no secret that the sun (in moderate doses) provides all sorts of health benefits, including helping our bodies manufacture vital vitamin D. When the sun is strong and the warmer weather rolls in, though, many people are looking for the best sunscreens to cut their risk of sun overexposure, sunburns and possibly skin cancer.

Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 20th annual Guide to Sunscreens is a mix of good and bad news when it comes to the state of sunscreens sold in America and beyond, as usual, but there does appear to be more reason for optimism.

For instance, the presence of oxybenzone (a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical that is readily absorbed into the body) has dropped drastically, going from showing up in 70 percent of non-mineral sunscreens tested in 2016 to all the way down to just 5 percent tested in 2026.

The National Toxicology Program released findings linking oxybenzone exposure to a higher risk of thyroid tumors in female rats. Even the European Commission, which reviews ingredient safety in Europe, published a final opinion finding oxybenzone unsafe for use at current levels.

Thus, this huge drop is a good sign that manufacturers are listening, at least to some degree, so consumers can purchase the safest and best sunscreens, but there is still quite a way to go.

“Wearing any sunscreen is much more important and offers better sun protection for your skin than not applying anything,” said EWG’s Acting Chief Science Officer David Andrews, Ph.D. “But not all sunscreens are created equal. EWG’s guide is a valuable and trusted resource that consumers can turn to every year to find the sunscreens that offer strongest broad spectrum protection without the use of concerning ingredients.”

To help navigate the sunscreen landscape, the EWG introduced the EWG Verified® sunscreens that both meet EWG’s strict standards for sun protection and avoid harmful ingredients. In this 20th annual guide, the group found that 550 out of 2,784 sunscreens reviewed met those standards (less than 20 percent).

That means more than 80 percent still don’t meet EWG’s standards to quality as some of the best sunscreens.

While that’s not the most encouraging number, there are some good signs as well. For instance, 62 products now qualify for the EWG Verified® mark, and vitamin A/retinyl palmitate use, which research has shown can can degrade when exposed to sunlight and potentially cause skin damage instead of helping prevent it, dropped from 41 percent of sunscreens tested in 2010 all the way down to just 2 percent in 2026.

Sunscreen chemicals build up in your blood

The effects of sunscreen may linger longer than expected. A 2020 study led by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that “chemical sunscreen ingredients are systemically absorbed after one application, and some ingredients can stay in the blood for at least three weeks.”

The sunscreen chemicals tested in this FDA study included avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate, and all six active ingredients tested readily absorbed into the bloodstream of humans involved the study at concentrations that surpass an important FDA safety threshold.

This built on previous research showing that sunscreen chemicals hit the bloodstream within a day of using them at levels high enough to prompt a government investigation on safety. Some public safety experts say this is just one example of the backward nature of product regulation in the U.S.

Beyond safety issues is another question: Does sunscreen even work? EWG found in 2022 that nearly 75 percent of sunscreens don’t work and/or contain concerning ingredients that are readily absorbed by the body.

In addition, EWG found that many sunscreens don’t offer the type of protection you would expect from their listed SPF levels.

Things may be slowly moving in the right direction with FDA trying to update its standards, but for now, the onus is still on the consumer to find sunscreen that’s safer and actually works.  

Are you using the best sunscreens?

A past EWG report cited research from Brian Diffey, Ph.D., emeritus professor of photobiology at the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University. He showed that, on average, U.S. sunscreens allow about three times more UVA rays to transfer through skin compared to European sunscreens.

In fact, Americans’ sunscreen choices are fewer and often offer worse UVA protection compared to those available in the European Union.

This matters because UVA rays are more abundant than UVB rays, and UVA damage is more subtle than the sunburns induced mainly by UVB rays. UVA rays can damage your skin invisibly by suppressing the immune system and aging the skin over time.

Overexposure of these rays are also linked to the development of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, too.

According to EWG, most sunscreens sold in the U.S. would not be sold in Europe, which sets much more stringent UVA standards. Specifically, of 51 U.S. products tested, only 35 percent met the EU standard, while 94 percent met the current U.S. standard.

Excess UVA radiation is tied to aging, immune system damage and a higher risk of certain cancers.

Sunscreen is only 1 tool in the sun safety toolbox

Now, it’s important to note that there is no perfect sunscreen. Many contain harmful chemicals, and even mineral-based ones could contain nanoparticles, minute ingredients that can cross the blood-brain barrier and also harm aquatic life.

Beyond that, sunscreen is unique compared to many other personal care products because you coat it thickly onto your skin, often multiple times a day. You don’t get that type of hourslong, skin-absorbing exposure with something like, say, shampoo you quickly wash off.

That’s why it’s very important to look for safer sunscreens if you use them and to recognize that you can’t only rely on sunscreens alone to prevent sun overexposure.

No product is going to be fully protective, and no product will last on your skin for more than two hours max, EWG has noted. The group says thickly applying sunscreen coatings, reapplying every time you’re out of the water and choosing a better product to begin with are all key.

Other sun-smart methods to avoid overexposures are musts. In fact, sunscreen should actually be your last line of defense against the sun after adopting other more effective measures. (More on those later.)

“The sunscreen industry continues to bury its head in the sand,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “The market is flooded with products that provide poor UVA protection and use concerning ingredients. Sunscreen sales have increased dramatically, so sunscreen companies can certainly afford to conduct the studies needed to ensure their customers are safe.” 

So what are the best sunscreens out there? Let’s take a look.

Best sunscreens of 2026: for recreation 

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the only two ingredients the FDA recognized as safe or effective, so the best sunscreens tend to include these ingredients.

In total, 214 recreational sunscreens met the EWG standards in 2026. Here are some of the most highly rated and best sunscreens that met EWG’s criteria for safety and effectiveness:

• 4ocean Reef Safe Sunscreen Tin, SPF 40
• ATTITUDE Sunly Mineral Sunscreen Stick, Orange Blossom, SPF 30 (and other ATTITUDE products)
• Babo Botanicals Super Shield Fragrance Free Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 (and other Babo Batonicals products)
• CRUNCHI Sunlight® Body Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Evereden Fluid Silk Mineral Sunscreen PRO Lotion, SPF 50
• Happy Ocean Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 45 (and other Happy Ocean products)
• Kokua Sun Care Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
• Mustela Mineral Sunscreen Stick, Face and Body, SPF 50
• Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
• Saint Solaire Mineral Sunscreen Tin, SPF 34
• Solara Suncare Go! Mineral Defense Sport Antioxidant Face Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 (and other Solara Suncare products)
• Sonage Protec Plus Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
• Stream2Sea Sport Sunscreen Lotion, Tinted, SPF 30 (and other Stream2Sea products)
• Thinkbaby Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
• Thinkkids Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, Kids, SPF 30
• Thinksport Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 (and other Thinksport products)

Best sunscreens of 2026: daily use

In total, 201 daily use SPF met the EWG standards in 2026. EWG rated these products to be among the best sunscreens:

• Active Skin Repair Hydrating Daily Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Ao Skincare 6000X Elemental Screen, SPF 30
• ATTITUDE Oceanly Phyto-Sun Tinted Cream, SPF 30 (and other ATTITUDE products)
• Ava Isa Every Morning Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 (and other Ava Isa products)
• Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Fragrance Free Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF50 (and other Babo Botanicals products)
• Counter Daily Sheer Defense, SPF 25
• CRUNCHI Sunlight® Tinted Sunscreen, SPF 30 (and other CRUNCHI Sunlight products)
• Evereden Kids Protective Mineral Face Cream SPF20
• ITP Beauty Daily Bawse Clean, Tinted Sunscreen Serum (Dew You, On the Glow, Golden Hour), SPF 28
• Juice Beauty PREBIOTIX Glow Daily Multi-Tasking Moisturizer, SPF 45
• NENA Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
• Rejuva Minerals Sheer Daily Wear Face Protection, SPF 16
• Shaklee Youth Activating BB Cream, Shade 1, SPF 30 (and other Shaklee Youth products)
• Solara Suncare Go! Daily Defense Soothing Mineral Face Sunscreen, SPF 30 (and other Solara Suncare products)
• Sonage Roux Tinted Day Creme, SPF 30
• Stream2Sea Every Day Mineral Sunscreen, Tint, SPF 45 (and other Stream2Sea products)
• True Botanicals Skin Barrier Sun Shield, SPF 30
• Well People Daygleamer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 34 (and other Well People products)

If you’re looking for lip balm with SPF protection, EWG suggests these picks. 

Best baby sunscreens (kid-friendly)

In total, 36 baby sunscreens met EWG standards in 2026. Here were some of the best sunscreens for babies and children:

• ATTITUDE Sunly Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Unscented, SPF 30 (and other ATTITUDE products)
• Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
• Happy Ocean Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Kids, SPF 45
• Mustela Mineral Sunscreen Stick, Face and Body, SPF 50
• Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
• Stream2Sea EcoStick Sunscreen Stick For Kids, SPF 35+ (and other Stream2Sea products)
• Thinkbaby Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
• Thinkkids Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, Kids, SPF 30

Most toxic sunscreens to avoid

Here’s a big takeaway that’ll make things somewhat less complicated. EWG recommends avoiding all spray sunscreens.

Not only are they very difficult to apply effectively and evenly, but there’s some concern the ingredients could potentially cause irreversible lung damage. The truth is, the ingredients just haven’t been tested in the aerosol capacity for long-term impact on human health, like so many other everyday chemicals, unfortunately. 

In 2021, spray sunscreens contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen, prompted a sunscreen recall of 14 popular products. Independent testing found that the problem is widespread.

When it comes to sunscreens, here are some of the other worst overall offenders scoring in the Red Zone (10) for major safety concerns. Overall, these products tested poorly in the EWG analysis and are considered bad choices for sun protection.

Just remember, this list is not exhaustive. To check your favorite sunscreen or to peruse the database, click here.

• ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Emulsion Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Banana Boat Kids Max Protect & Play Sunscreen Lotion, Spf 100
• Equate Beauty Ultra Light Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
• Lanshin Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Tinted Emulsion Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Bondi Sands Sunny Spritz Face Mist, SPF 60
• Bondi Sands Sunny Spritz Body Mist, SPF 60
• Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Sunscreen Clear Spray, SPF 70
• CVS Health Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
• Best Choice Sport Broad Spectrum Spf 70 Sunscreen Spray
• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Spray, Fragrance Free, SPF 70
• Studio Selection Sheer Touch Broad Spectrum, Spf 100
• Hampton Sun Kids UV Advanced Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70
• Panama Jack Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
• Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 100
• Studio Selection Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray, Spf 70
• Banana Boat Kids Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 65
• Bare Republic Clearscreen Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100
• Banana Boat Ultra Defense Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100
• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 60+
• Ocean Potion Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70
• The Seaweed Bath Co. Sport+ Cooling Mist, Peppermint & Aloe, SPF 60
• COOLA Classic Body Sunscreen Spray, Peach Blossom, SPF 70
• Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
• COOLA Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70

This is by no means a complete list. Be sure to check your individual product’s safety assessment at EWG.org. 

Sunscreen report key findings

• EWG recommends avoiding high-SPF sunscreens, as they’ve been shown that they provide limited benefits compared to lower-SPF sunscreens, and they can give people a false sense of security against the sun.
• Spray sunscreens contain cancer-causing benzene, so you should avoid them.
• Europe continues to do a far better job at sunscreen regulation than the U.S. “EWG estimates that most sunscreens sold in the U.S. would be too weak to qualify for the European Union market, because they don’t filter UVA rays well enough … An EWG study of laboratory tests of 51 sunscreen products found that only 35% of the products tested met the EU standard, but 94% would pass the current U.S. standard.”
• Your skin is your body’s largest immune system organ. Excess sun exposure can impair the immune system, but many sunscreen chemicals are readily absorbed into the bloodstream, where they could cause ill effects, too.
• The rate of new melanoma cases among American adults has more than tripled since the 1970s.
• Evidence is increasing that UVA exposure causes skin cancer. Despite that, sunscreen rules requiring adequate UVA protection are lacking.
• Oxybenzone is in use in some American chemical-based sunscreens. Lab testing shows skin penetration rates of 1 percent to 9 percent. That’s concerning, given the fact that it acts like an estrogen in the body and is linked to abnormal sperm function in animal studies and endometriosis in studies of women. Oxybenzone also acts as a skin allergen in a significant number of people. (So does methylisothiazolinone, a common sunscreen preservative found in the majority of products surveyed.) Thankfully, places like Hawaii and Key West have banned oxybenzone in sunscreen due to its ability to bleach and kill coral reefs.
• In a previous EWG review, about 40 percent of sunscreens contained vitamin A ingredients. This type of ingredient can react with UV rays and increase the risk of skin tumors, according to government animal testing data. The good news is that in 2026 only 2 percent of tested sunscreens contained vitamin A.
• Scientists don’t know for sure if sunscreen helps prevent melanoma.
• Be wary of ultra high SPF claims. There are more of them today than several years ago. The U.S. hasn’t approved modern sunscreen ingredients that would do a better job of broad-spectrum protection.
• Avoid spray sunscreens. It’s very difficult to apply in a thickness that will provide adequate protection, plus it increases the risk you’re sending potentially damaging sunscreen chemicals directly into your lungs (and the lungs of everyone sitting around you).
• Inactive ingredients often make up 50 percent to 70 percent of sunscreen formulations, and EWG urges the FDA to investigate the safety of these ingredients, too.
• FDA pilot testing uncovered spray sunscreen products that would not meet proposed standards.
• EWG recommends that consumers avoid all spray and powder sunscreen products.
• If you’re opting for sunscreen for protection from overexposure to the sun, EWG advises to opt for mineral-based sunscreen products with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide active ingredients and avoid products with ingredients like oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate.
• The sunscreen market has improved substantially over the last 20 years, with more mineral sunscreens, less oxybenzone, cleaner formulations and better consumer awareness.
• EWG reviewed nearly 2,800 sunscreen products in 2026, and only about 550 met its standards for safety, balanced UVA/UVB protection, ingredient quality, stability and labeling transparency.
• The biggest issue EWG identifies is not that sunscreen is inherently dangerous, but that many products provide weaker UVA protection than consumers think.
• SPF primarily measures UVB protection (sunburn prevention), not UVA protection (aging, pigmentation, collagen breakdown, immune suppression and melanoma risk).
• Consumers often misunderstand SPF values: SPF 50 blocks about 98 percent of UVB rays. SPF 100 blocks about 99 percent. The protection increase between SPF 50 and SPF 100 is much smaller than marketing implies.
• High-SPF products may create a false sense of security that causes people to stay in the sun longer, reapply less often and underestimate UVA exposure.
• European standards generally require UVA protection to equal at least one-third of the labeled SPF value, while many U.S. sunscreens fall below that balance.
• One major criticism is that SPF testing in the U.S. is inconsistent and subjective because it relies on visually assessing skin redness after UV exposure.
• Mineral sunscreen usage has nearly tripled over the past two decades.
• EWG strongly favors zinc oxide-based mineral lotions for daily sunscreen use.
• Oxybenzone use has sharply declined (“nosedived”) across the sunscreen market.
• Spray sunscreens remain a major concern for EWG because of uneven application, inhalation exposure, insufficient skin coverage and prior contamination issues, such as benzene recalls.
• EWG generally recommends lotions and sticks over sprays whenever possible.
• EWG says 36 percent of sunscreens still contain undisclosed fragrance mixtures. “Fragrance” can legally hide dozens or hundreds of chemicals, including potential allergens and sensitizers.
• Fragrance exposure is considered especially relevant for children, sensitive skin, daily facial sunscreen use and cumulative long-term exposure.
• EWG argues the U.S. sunscreen market is technologically behind Europe and Asia because the FDA has approved very few new UV filters in recent decades.
• Europe and Asia already use newer-generation UV filters with stronger UVA protection, better photostability and improved cosmetic feel.
• EWG highlights bemotrizinol (BEMT) as one of the most promising newer filters because it offers broad-spectrum, photostable protection, and the FDA is reviewing this promising new ingredient for use in the best sunscreens.
• If you avoid the sun, get your vitamin D levels checked at your health care provider. A growing number of the population is deficient, thanks to sunscreens and spending more time indoors.

The good news is you can get enough vitamin D and protect yourself from burns without always turning to sunscreen.

How to avoid too much sun

Getting some sun exposure is vital for good health because it helps your body create vitamin D. There are multiple ways to get vitamin D, but your best bet is to get it from standing in the sun or eating vitamin D-rich foods.

In fact, sitting in the sun unexposed for about 10 minutes helps your body create roughly 10,000 units of natural vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to certain cancers, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, depression, osteoporosis and many other ailments, so it’s important to get enough. Like almost anything, though, you can get too much of a good thing and want to make sure you avoid sunburns.

You should consider sunscreen your last line of defense to prevent sunburns, though, even the best sunscreens. In fact, there’s no clear evidence that using sunscreens actually prevents skin cancer, including in the best sunscreens, and some ingredients may actually fuel skin cancer.

Avoid overexposure during peak sunlight hours, and use sunglasses and sun-protective hats and clothing. These things reduce your risk of burns without sunscreen.

Final thoughts

• When direct sunlight hits our skin under peak conditions, our bodies manufacture high levels of vitamin D. Not getting enough vitamin D has been linked to all sorts of health problems, including cancer, arthritis, depression and other diseases.
• However, you can get too much of a good thing, which is why it’s important to take steps to prevent overexposure and sunburns.
• There is no perfect sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens generally rate safer, but they often contain nanoparticles that are not tightly regulated or studied for long-term impact on human or aquatic health. Chemical sunscreens often contain hormone-disrupting chemicals or even an ingredient that could trigger skin cancer. Still, EWG’s report helps consumers seeking sunscreen find safer choices while avoiding the most poorly rated brands.
• Sunscreen should be used as the last step in a process to protect the body from the sun. Sun-protective measures like hats, sunglasses, seeking shade and avoiding peak sunlight for extended periods of time should be used before turning to sunscreen, and when you do choose sunscreen, make sure it’s one of the best sunscreens.