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There are a lot of studies out there that also tell you that the chemicals commonly found in sunscreens are bad for you too. Do some more research before just buying any brand of sunscreen.
Go here and make your own decisions:
http://www.ewg.org/whichsunscreensarebest/2009report .
Be careful what you read on the internet. A lot of "studies" can be more marketing than actual research.
Sunscreens are regulated as "over the counter", OTC, drugs and must conform to a monograph (legal definition) as required by the FDA. All active ingredients in the sunscreens are covered by the monograph. Significant research and testing must go into the actives before they are ever approved.
The inactive ingredients, solvents like water and ethanol, emollients like silicones and vitamins are industry regulated. Sometimes ingredients come under scrutiny and are removed by most reputable companies. Most ingredients have been heavily tested over time. This is a heavily regulated product, much like all OTC drugs.
The bigger concern for me is where is the product made. Sunscreen is a seasonal product. Most of the major brands are either made at a company factory or a reputable contract manufacturer. The smaller brands may be made at a "cheaper" contract manufacturer. This is where I would be more concerned. The smaller outfits may cut corners and have less than adequate controls. If the back label says, "Distributed by", then it is made at a contract manufacturer and not at a company factory.
Major companies spend millions each year on research, consumer testing, quality control, quality auditing and training of their people. Smaller companies may not have the resources and must trust the contractor to do that. Smaller companies may even be using a contractors cheap formula, which is common. Big companies can have issues too, but they are usually more of an FDA focus and get visited a lot.
I have significant expertise in the area, 25+ years and have a MS in Chemical Engineering. I have worked with and visited many contract manufacturers. Some are excellent. Some you would say, OMG.
I won't let anyone I know eat novelty bubble gum that comes in a tube, you know like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, etc. I saw it being made years ago. It is not regulated or controlled by any over site agency. No holds barred. You get my meaning. Yuck.
Bottom line is to be an informed consumer. Don't necessarily take internet research data at face value either. Read the label. Label ingredients are listed in order of their weight percent in the product, high to low. Most ingredients are there to either help the active transport to the skin or just make the product be more stable. For example:
water - solvent and could be as much at 80% of the product.
ethanol - solvent that evaporates faster.
sorbitol - humectant (helps keep moisture on the skin like glycerin)
glycerin - bit more pricey than sorbitol, but excellent humectant.
starch - thickener and helps product stick to skin
triethanolamine and stearic acid - make soap and help the product wash off later when you want it too.
XX isostearate or distearate etc - thickeners, the XX can be a few different things but it is the same purpose.
benzyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol, thickening agents (not at all like ethanol, these are fatty alcohols and are like waxes). These help make the product feel nice when applied.
dimethicone or anything with silane in the name - silicone polymer that makes your skin feel smooth
vitamin E - tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate - it is in there at too low a level to really help your skin much and is there more to stabilize the product. It is an anti-oxidant.
Fragrance - you smell nice
methyl and propylparaben - preservatives. Usually the cream applied sunscreen need this because the pH is less than 8.
EDTA - chelating agent. Helps keep product stabile by capturing free ions like iron.
Carbomer - thickening agent Carbopol.
Stuff listed below fragrance is probably in there at less that 1%. A lot of it is there for "label" claims too like aloe vera. Aloe vera by itself is a good skin benefit product. But at levels in most products, it is just there to be on the label so you can say, "with Aloe".
There can be other things with long chemical names, but most are either emollients for skin feel, structural aids to keep the product stable, humectants to make skin feel moist or preservatives. If it is listed after the fragrance or dye, it is in at a very low level.
Hope this helps. BTW the company I work for does not make sunscreen. I have no vested interest in any particular brand, but just wanted to give you a bit of info. Most companies also have a phone number to call if you have questions. Give them a call. They are paying people for just that reason. If you have a complaint, they need to know to help make the product better. you will usually get coupons or freebees too.
Thanks for reading.
