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# EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Guide
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/ewg_s_2011_sunscreen_guide_0524110518/
- Published: 2011-05-24T18:16:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T13:16:21.000Z
- Description: The Environmental Working Group recommends only one in five of the 600-plus beach and sport sunscreens it analysed for its 2011 guide. Nearly one in three carry vitamin A ingredients that recent government studies link to faster growth of skin tumors, and high SPFs may leave UVA damage unchecked.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Lifestyle, Health News, #vivvo-import

Dear Readers,

Is your sunscreen actually protecting your family as advertised? Or are some of the claims just marketing hype?

**Of the more than 600 beach and sports sunscreens analyzed by Environmental Working Group for our 2011 Sunscreen Guide, we can only recommend one in five.** The sunscreen industry continues to load store shelves with bottles listing misleading, sky-high SPF ratings that may protect against UVB rays that cause sunburn but leave skin at risk for UVA damage. And nearly one in three products in the guide are still laced with vitamin A ingredients that accelerate the growth of skin tumors and lesions according to recent government studies.

[**Sort through the sunscreen noise -- click here for EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Guide.**](http://action.ewg.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=G1X6XuCWv389fURdG2%2FT%2BEyeGPdtjAK%2F&ref=foodconsumer.org)

You'll find:

- [**Our top rated sunscreens**](http://action.ewg.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=EM5TT9hfZlFyt74CCqHA7YjHdOUEqZaH&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [**EWG's Sun Safety Tips**](http://action.ewg.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=1bs64qACCij69e1FAusiQEyeGPdtjAK%2F&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [**Our updated "Hall of Shame," which highlights what's wrong with the sunscreen industry**](http://action.ewg.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Kdtoziy08N5A4LBQ%2BwpoJUyeGPdtjAK%2F&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [**How your sunscreen ranks when you search our database**](http://action.ewg.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=eE%2FhNvGjKedU8Fe7foaPJEyeGPdtjAK%2F&ref=foodconsumer.org) (Hint: Leading brands like Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat didn't make the cut.)

**Has EWG helped you pick a safer sunscreen?**  
EWG's researchers rated more than 1,700 sunscreens, lip balms, and SPF moisturizers and makeup for the 2011 Sunscreen Guide because we want you to have the information you need to make smart choices. But work like this is costly and we need your help to keep it up. **Donate just $5 -- less than a bottle of sunscreen -- to EWG today and we'll send you a free *Quick Tips for Safer Cosmetics* shopping guide to say thank you.** [**Click here to donate.**](http://action.ewg.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=5vWFLxNqUgZgXnoI8bYU0EyeGPdtjAK%2F&ref=foodconsumer.org)

We hope our research helps your family enjoy the sun safely this summer.

Sincerely,  
  
Ken Cook  
President, Environmental Working Group