If you’re concerned about protecting your family’s skin against sun damage, premature aging, and skin cancer, please check out the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Guide. EWG identifies the best and worst sunscreen formulations, including those found in makeup and lip balm. You can search directly for your brand to check out its safety profile. They clarify common sunscreen additives to positively avoid, such as oxybenzone—a synthetic estrogen which easily penetrates the skin and functions as a hormone-disrupter, yet is found in over 50% of the 800+ sunscreens currently on the market. There is information about getting enough Vitamin D via sunlight (very important for bone health, among many other things), and about safe and effective sunscreen ingredients such as zinc, titanium, avobenzone and Mexoryl SX, all of which form a physical barrier on the skin for the greatest sun protection. The site even contains a phone app so you can check different brands while on the go. If you’re going to take the time to slather up the kids every day this summer, it is very important to make sure you’re doing more good than harm; the EWG offers the tools we need to get it right.
