EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect a new sunscreen ingredient approved by the FDA, and an increased number of sunscreens tested by the Environmental Working Group.
It’s time to stock up on sunscreen, but few choices on store shelves today are both safe and effective, according to an annual report by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a nonprofit health and environmental advocacy organization.
Now in its 20th year, EWG’s 2026 Guide to Sunscreens analyzed 2,990 products and found only 597 — about 20% — deliver safe and effective protection against the harmful rays of the sun.
The new guide, released May 19, lists the best baby and child sunscreens, including those which are a good “bang for the buck” and the top recreational sunscreens designed for outdoor activities such as sports or spending time at the beach.
In addition, consumers can find top-rated daily use sunscreens, including moisturizers with sun protection factor (SPF) and the best lip balms with SPF in the report.
