Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 7:42AM by Cynthia Anderson Beauty report: Sunscreen report calls many brands harmful
Alba Botanica, available at drugstores nationwide, was given high marksThe word is out all over the news this morning: The Environmental Working Group has released its list of top rated sun screens, and as expected many popular brands get a failing grade. Citing both harmful additives (in some cases known-carcinogens) and misleading labeling that suggests the formulas are far more protective than they actually are, major brands such as Coppertone received poor ratings from the the group.
Quick Facts from the official report:
1. As everyone should know, the best protection against the sun's harmful rays is a physical barrier, i.e. hat, sunglasses, and a long sleeved tee-shirt.
2. Obviously, that isn't always possible (although hats are major this year), so when you can't or don't want a physical barrier look for sun screens with mineral-based protection such as zinc and titanium. The group calls these ingredients "the right choice for children, people with sensitive skin and others who want the best UVA protection without potentially hormone-disrupting chemicals like oxybenzone or vitamin A, which may be carcinogenic on sun-exposed skin." None are sprayed or powdered, so they don’t pose inhalation dangers.
3. Beware the ultra-high SPF number. Out of the over 600 sun screens tested, 60% of those with a higher-than 30 SPF number failed to meet the minimum level of protection for any rating in other countries. When you combine their failures with the false sense of security given by an SPF 100, the products are downright dangerous.
4. AVOID products containing retinyl palmitate. This form of vitamin A is known by the FDA to be a photo-carcinogen, meaning it may actually increase the risk of skin cancer when applied to sun-exposed skin!
For the list of best sun screens for harmful UV protection without dangerous chemicals, check out the entire list here.
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