7 Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Sunscreen

Here’s what you need to know to select sun protection that’s healthy for you and good for the planet

Michelle Crouch,

Updated June 12, 2025

AARP

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Published May 12, 2022

/ Updated June 12, 2025

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You probably already know that using sunscreen regularly can slash your risk of skin cancer, reduce wrinkles and slow the effects of aging.

But concerns about ingredients in sunscreen can make it difficult to choose a safe product. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit advocacy organization, says four out of five sunscreens on the market — about 80 percent — don’t provide enough sun protection or have chemicals in the ingredients that could be harmful.

Studies also show that some sunscreens may cause damage to oceans and coral reefs. A growing number of popular beach destinations, including Hawaii, Key West and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have banned sunscreens with chemicals that are known to be toxic to marine environments.

While more research is needed to prove whether sunscreen ingredients are harmful, many Americans have questions about sunscreen safety and which sunscreens to buy.

What’s important, experts say, is not to let those concerns stop you from using sunscreen, because leaving your skin unprotected puts you at greater risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the United States, and about 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers have been rising in recent decades. While melanoma accounts for only 1 percent of all skin cancers diagnosed in the U.S., it is the deadliest.

“Any sunscreen is better than none,” says Mona Gohara, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and vice president of the Women’s Dermatologic Society. “We know that the sun can give you cancer. There is thus far no proven data that says sunscreens can give you cancer.”

Is sunscreen bad for you?

In 2019 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided to reevaluate the safety data on sunscreen ingredients. After an extended clinical study, the agency found that some commonly used sunscreen chemicals — avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate — can seep into your bloodstream. The study found that even after a single application, the chemicals remain in your body for an extended period.

But the fact that those chemicals get into your blood doesn’t necessarily mean those ingredients are harmful, says David Fivenson, M.D., an immunologist and dermatologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Some laboratory-based studies indicate that chemicals in sunscreen could interfere with the normal function of the body’s hormonal system, affect infant development or cause other issues, like allergic reactions and skin irritation.

But Fivenson says, “There has never been good, practical evidence of harm in a realistic study of people.”

If there’s one ingredient to avoid, it’s probably oxybenzone, says Tasneem Mohammad, M.D., senior staff physician in the department of dermatology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. “In a lot of areas of the world, like Europe, it’s not really used anymore,” Mohammad says.

Here, she and other dermatologists offer 7 tips for choosing a sunscreen this summer.

1. Consider mineral sunscreen

If you’re concerned about adverse health effects from sunscreen, look for a mineral or “physical” sunscreen, or one that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, dermatologists say.

Mineral sunscreens cause fewer skin reactions compared with those that have chemicals. While chemical sunscreens act like sponges and absorb ultraviolet light, “a physical sunscreen acts like a shield,” Gohara explains. It sits on top of your skin and deflects UVA and UVB rays away from your body.

Zinc and titanium oxide are the only two ingredients in sunscreen that the FDA has “generally recognized as safe and effective.”

The FDA is expected to decide by March 2026 if a third, bemotrizinol will be added to this short list. If approved, it would be the first ingredient added since 1999.

2. Choose a reef-safe sunscreen

Staying Safe With a Sunscreen Allergy

Studies show that very few people will experience skin irritation or have a severe allergic reaction to sunscreen. But it does happen to about 1 percent of adults, usually from chemicals in the sunscreen or an ingredient like a fragrance. Symptoms may include swelling, hives and itching, but they usually clear up on their own. If you’ve experienced skin irritation from sunscreens, use a mineral or fragrance-free sunscreen. You can also wear clothes and hats with SPF protection built in.

Lab research shows some chemical sunscreen ingredients can be toxic to coral and other marine organisms, says Fivenson, a cofounder of an American Academy of Dermatology group that examines environmental issues. The true impact is unclear, however, because the concentrations of chemicals used in some studies were as much as 1,000 times higher than the amount in most real-world environments, he says.

If you’re concerned about the environment or traveling to a place that bans certain chemicals, look for sunscreens labeled “reef-safe” or “reef-friendly.”

Just keep in mind that those terms aren’t regulated by the FDA, Fivenson says. So you should also check the ingredients to ensure the sunscreen doesn’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate — the chemicals most often banned because of their effect on marine ecosystems.

3. Use an SPF of at least 30

SPF, which stands for “sun protection factor,” measures a product’s ability to protect you from the sun’s UVB rays, which cause sunburn.

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to block 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. SPFs over 30 are only slightly more effective, so don’t let sky-high SPFs lull you into thinking you’re totally shielded from sun damage.

4. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen

Sunscreens labeled “broad spectrum” ensure you’re protected against UVB rays and UVA rays, which cause wrinkles and aging. UVA rays also contribute to skin cancer.

(Note: EWG testing found that many broad-spectrum sunscreens don’t protect as well as promised against UVA and UVB rays.)

5. Skip the spray-on sunscreen

Although spray-on sunscreens are easy to use, many dermatologists don’t recommend them. For one thing, there’s risk of lung irritation or damage if you inhale it. Never spray them near your face.

And getting adequate coverage can be tricky. “It’s tough to get even product application, and a lot of sunscreen gets blown away by the wind,” Mohammad says.

If you decide to use a spray sunscreen, apply it outside or in a well-ventilated room, and rub it in by hand to ensure a more even application.

6. Use sunscreen on dark skin tones

Everyone needs to use sunscreen for daily protection, even those with darker skin tones. The problem is some sunscreens — especially mineral-based ones — leave people of color looking ashy.

Top Sunscreen Picks

Still struggling to pick a product? For its 2025 Guide to Sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group rated the safety and efficacy of 2,200 products advertising sun protection and published a list of 498 that meet its standards.

“The sunscreen industry has risen to the occasion and formulated tinted sunscreens that don’t look chalky on darker-skinned individuals,” says Allison T. Vidimos, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic.

Instead of skipping protection altogether, look for formulas that use micronized particles or tints to minimize that chalky look, Vidimos says.

7. Apply sunscreen generously

One study found that people just don’t put on enough sunscreen. In fact, they’re putting on about 20 to 50 percent of what they need to get the SPF on the label.

To get full protection, most adults need about 1 ounce — or enough to fill a shot glass — to fully cover their body.

“For your entire body, use a teaspoon on your face and neck, 2 teaspoons on your trunk, 1 on each arm, and 2 on each leg,” Vidimos says. “That gives you the labeled amount of protection. Most people put on a quarter to a half of what they should put on.”

Reapply every two hours, or after you go swimming or have been sweating, and don’t forget your back, neck, face, ears and the tops of your feet.

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Michelle Crouch is a contributing writer who has covered health and personal finance for some of the nation’s top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Real Simple, Prevention, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

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