Do some sunscreen ingredients and products really work better than others?
“A definite yes,” says Rebecca Sutton, PhD, a staff scientist for the EWG and an author of the report. Two ingredients favored by EWG scientists are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, for two reasons, Sutton says. “They protect us over this broad range of ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB.” And these ingredients don’t tend to break down as easily as other sunscreen ingredients, according to the EWG. UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer; UVA rays cause aging and likely skin cancer. Because both cause damage to the skin, Sutton says, it’s important to pick a sunscreen with broad spectrum protection that shields out both types of rays. Many active ingredients in sunscreens break down in the sun, wiping out protection, according to the report. And some sunscreens only provide protection against ultraviolet B. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are classified by experts as physical blockers, which work by reflecting rays away from the skin. Other sunscreen ingredients, such as oxybenzone, are chemic
