Is Your Sunscreen Safe?

With Memorial Day just around the corner, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released its 2010 sunscreen report.

EWG's mission is "to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment." EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles. Its stated organizational goals are:

1. To protect the most vulnerable segments of the human population—children, babies, and infants in the womb—from health problems attributed to a wide array of toxic contaminants.

2. To replace federal policies, including government subsidies that damage the environment and natural resources, with policies that invest in conservation and sustainable development.

The two hot items for this year's report are products containing oxybenzone (a sun-block chemical that some studies have shown is absorbed into the bloodstream and acts as a hormone interrupter) and Vitamin A, and products that claim to have a higher SPF than they really do.

The EWG's report has a searchable database for you to check up on your sunscreen's performance. You can also search for sunscreens that are free of oxybenzone, vitamin A, or other undesirable contents, and don't forget to check out the sun safety tips!