Heading to the beach or just going for a walk in the sunshine? Think all you need to do is check the SPF on your sunscreen?
The Environmental Working Group has come out with its latest version of its sunscreen offenders list. These are the sunscreens that contain ingredients that can be harmful to your health or don't work as promised.
The non-profit group looked at 500 beach and sports sunscreens and, in the end, recommend only 8 percent. Some offered a "false sense of security" from sunscreens with an SPF of 50 or higher, and others contained oxybenzone, which the group says is linked to cancer and reproductive problems, or vitamin A, which has recently been linked to accelerated development of skin tumors and lesions.
The group said wearing a hat and shirt in the sun should be "your first line of defense," then using one of their recommended sunscreens. None of the top picks were familiar brands, such as Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat and Neutrogena.
The guide is here. You can look at all the products and why they are good or bad, and search for your product. Some top brands were Badger, California Baby and Loving Naturals and Soleo Organics.
There's also a list of tips. The highlights: choose lotions over sprays and powders, choose SPF 30+ over SPF 50+ and pick zinc or titanium dioxide over oxybenzone.
Your brand turn out to be good or bad? Will you switch?
AP photo