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Just In Time for the 4th of July: EWG Adds New Products to Sunscreen Guide

WASHINGTON

Since releasing the 2011 Sunscreen Guide in May, Environmental Working Group has received dozens of requests from companies and supporters alike asking to add more of their favorite products to the database rating more than 1700 sun protection products.

So, following those requests and just in time for the July 4 weekend, EWG researchers have analyzed 57 new products including - 45 beach and sport sunscreens, eight moisturizers with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) ratings, three SPF-rated lip balms and one low-SPF product. These include common brands like Aveeno, The Body Shop and Hawaiian Tropic. Click here to see the updated list of sunscreen products.

Of the new products 23 are added to EWG's recommended list because they offer broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays and don't contain harmful ingredients that can penetrate the skin, such as oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, a derivative of vitamin A. The remaining 34 are flagged for safety or efficacy concern.

Earlier this month, after nearly 33 years of deliberation, the federal Food and Drug Administration issued new sunscreen labeling rules. Unfortunately, the federal agency has established the weakest standards for UVA protection in the world, and did not address the use of hazardous ingredients.

"Because the FDA has failed to offer good guidance to consumers on sunscreen safety, EWG has stepped in once again," said EWG senior scientist Sonya Lunder. "Search our guide of more than 1,700 products and see how your favorite fares. Using safe and effective sunscreen is paramount when heading outdoors, especially during the summer months."

Want to know the latest scientific conclusions about the forms of vitamin A often found in sunscreens and other cosmetics? EWG scientists Sonya Lunder and Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., explain them in a new article on EWG's website: What Scientists Say About Vitamin A in Sunscreen.

With skin cancer affecting millions of Americans every year, consumers should consider sunscreens as only a part of their overall sun protection routine. Check out EWG's sun safety tips for sound advice.

The Environmental Working Group is a community 30 million strong, working to protect our environmental health by changing industry standards.

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