Which of these sunscreens is better for you? These are a few products I've purchased recently and only one of them gets a top score for safety.
Why am I even buying sunscreen moisturizers in November? The sun is still shining and you still need to protect yourself against skin cancer, wrinkles, and age spots! I like sunscreen moisturizers, which I use under my makeup and on my hands.
But as I’ve learned recently, you can’t shop by SPF number alone. Three of the four products shown above have SPF 50, but according to the Environmental Working Group only one of them gets the organization’s top score for safety based on ingredients. According to the EWG's Skin Deep Database, which ranks cosmetics and skin-care products, the best one in the grouping above is the Redness Relieving Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer on the far left. (It's also my new favorite! The product is a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen.)
Advice from EWG: Always screen ingredient lists for these chemicals: Oxybenzone and Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate). If they’re on the label, skip it. Instead, opt for products with zinc oxide, avobenzone, and/or mexoryl SX. Or use the EWG's Healthy Living app or Skin Deep website to check safety scores and help you make the smartest choices.
For more info about how to shop for sunscreens, check out this article: https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/8-little-known-facts-about-sunscreens/#.Wgoon7aZPJw