Think Your Sunscreen Is Safe? Think Again: 80% of SPF Products Fail Safety Standards, EWG Finds

By: Russ Spencer

As Americans gear up for another summer of sunshine and beach outings, a new report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is sending a sobering message: most sunscreens may not be as safe — or as effective — as consumers believe.

According to a recently published report in The New York Post, the EWG’s comprehensive 2025 sunscreen guide evaluated more than 2,000 SPF products sold across the United States. Shockingly, nearly 80% of them failed to meet the group’s safety, health, and efficacy standards. The report raises significant concerns about the ingredients hiding in many sunscreen bottles and how those components might be harming consumers — not just protecting them.

“Wearing any sunscreen is much more important and offers better sun protection for your skin than not applying anything,” Dr. David Andrews, acting chief science officer at EWG, told The New York Post. “But not all sunscreens are created equal.”

As more families prepare to spend long days under the sun, the findings are a call to action: It’s time to screen your sunscreen.

Spray sunscreens have gained popularity for their ease of application, but the EWG warns that they come with hidden health risks. According to their findings, aerosol sprays still make up 26% of the U.S. sunscreen market, despite growing concerns about inhalation hazards.

While ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in mineral-based sprays are effective at blocking ultraviolet rays and are generally considered safe for topical use, inhaling their tiny particles can be harmful. These microscopic substances can bypass the lungs’ natural defenses and potentially enter the bloodstream.

Even more alarming is the presence of benzene, a known human carcinogen, found in some aerosol products. Past investigations have led to recalls of popular sunscreen brands containing benzene, which has been linked to dizziness, bone marrow damage, anemia, and leukemia from long-term exposure.

Fragrances are another area of concern. The EWG found that 36% of sunscreens analyzed contain undisclosed fragrance blends, making it impossible for consumers to know exactly what chemicals they’re applying to their skin.

These hidden ingredients can include allergens, hormone disruptors, or carcinogens — without any transparency on the label.

“Consumers are left in the dark,” the report noted, as quoted by The New York Post. “Fragrance formulations are considered trade secrets, so companies aren’t required to list the specific chemicals used.”

This lack of clarity poses serious risks, especially for people with skin sensitivities or allergies.

More isn’t always better when it comes to SPF numbers. According to the EWG, 23% of consumers seek out the highest SPF they can find, assuming it provides superior protection. But that confidence may be misplaced.

Many manufacturers inflate SPF ratings using inactive ingredients like butyloctyl salicylate (BOS) — a chemical that may not improve UV protection but gives the illusion of higher SPF. BOS, a cousin of salicylic acid, has been associated with skin irritation, redness, and even reproductive toxicity.

“These chemical boosters may increase the SPF value listed on the bottle but do little to protect against UVA and UVB radiation,” EWG warns.

The FDA recommends SPF 15 as a minimum, but the EWG emphasizes that sun protection should come from broad-spectrum formulas — not artificially boosted numbers.

There is a silver lining. Once ubiquitous in sunscreen formulas, the controversial chemical oxybenzone has seen a significant drop in usage. According to the report in The New York Post, oxybenzone was present in 70% of non-mineral sunscreens in 2016 — but by 2025, that number has plummeted to just 9%.

Why the shift? Studies have found oxybenzone in urine, blood plasma, and even breast milk, indicating that it is absorbed through the skin and remains in the body. Animal studies have linked oxybenzone to endocrine disruption, raising concerns about its long-term effects on fertility, hormone regulation, and child development.

In addition to its potential internal effects, oxybenzone is a well-documented skin allergen, known to cause rashes, redness, itching, and in severe cases, allergic contact dermatitis.

Another controversial ingredient, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), has quietly faded from sunscreen labels in recent years. Back in 2010, nearly 41% of products contained the compound. Today, it’s found in just 2%, the EWG reports.

Though vitamin A is praised in anti-aging creams, its instability under sunlight may actually accelerate skin damage, rather than preventing it — a counterproductive result for a product meant to shield against photoaging and cancer.

The good news is that safe, effective options do exist. The EWG Verified Program identifies products that meet higher standards than those set by the FDA or European regulators.

The New York Post report indicated that to earn the EWG Verified seal, sunscreens must provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, disclose every ingredient in full and be free of harmful substances such as toxic chemicals, contaminants, and known allergens

As of 2025, over 60 sunscreens, along with more than 60 SPF-rated moisturizers and lip balms, have earned this coveted seal. These products provide a trusted option for health-conscious consumers who don’t want to gamble with their skin — or their health.

Sunscreen remains a critical part of skin cancer prevention. But with so many questionable ingredients still on the market, vigilance is more important than ever, as was explained in The New York Post report.

Read labels. Choose mineral-based formulas with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in non-aerosol formats. Look for fragrance-free options and seek products bearing the EWG Verified logo.

Because while skipping sunscreen is never a smart move, trusting the wrong one could do more harm than good.

For a full list of EWG Verified products and to access their 2025 guide, visit EWG.org or follow ongoing coverage at The New York Post.