Most sunscreen products fall short of their protection claims, according to new guidelines, and the majority of sunscreens currently sold in the United States are too weak to qualify for sale on the European market.
In its
20th annual guide to sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) said it tested 51 U.S. sunscreens and found they provided an average of only 59 percent of their labeled UVB protection.
UVB radiation causes sunburns and exposure to UVA radiation fuels premature aging, severe tissue damage, and skin cancer, according to the guide.
"Sunscreen is one of the simplest ways to protect your skin from its most harmful effects: sunburn, premature aging and the risk of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S.," the authors state.
The CDC estimates that 6.1 million adults are treated for skin cancer every year in the United States. While the European Commission recommends that a sunscreen’s measured UVA protection be at least 33 percent of its advertised Sun Protection Factor (SPF), the EWG found that products averaged just 24 percent of the UVA protection suggested on their labels.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new active ingredient called bemotrizinol as being safe and effective.
"Bemotrizinol provides strong broad-spectrum protection against both types of UVA and UVB radiation, shows very low skin absorption and rarely irritates the skin," the EWG said. "If the FDA finalizes its proposal, sunscreen formulators will have a non-mineral option that can provide a level of ultraviolet A, or UVA, defense most American products currently lack."
Once approved, the products containing bemotrizinol could land on American store shelves as early as late 2026.
Until then and based on the findings, the EWG recommends that consumers explore mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide due to zinc oxide providing both UVA and UVB protection.
The study blames in vivo testing where scientists use redness on human skin as a measure.
"This subjective method is wildly inconsistent; the same formula can deliver a test result of SPF 51 at one lab and SPF 28 at another," the guide states. "The industry is also plagued by target number pressure with labs risking a loss of business if they fail to validate a brand’s desired SPF."
The EWG issued a
statement for the record to the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce a year ago in July 2025 and urges the FDA to employ objective laboratory testing instead.
"While Europe adopted these more accurate protocols in 2024, U.S. regulations still fail to treat UVA protection as a priority," the report said.
The EWG further recommends that consumers prioritize lotions or sticks rather than aerosol sprays.
They provide reliable protection and eliminate the risks of inhalation and uneven coverage,” the EWG states in its guide.
