Frequently asked questions

Products, Scores, and Methods

1. How do you score ingredients and products in Skin Deep? And why do the profiles look different than before?
2. If a product/ingredient scores low for hazards, does EWG consider it safe? Can you provide a list of products/ingredients that are considered safe?
3. Why are the ingredients on my product's label different from the version of the product you have listed?
4. I can't find my product or brand. Can it be added to Skin Deep?
5. Does EWG endorse products or brands?
6. Why is there a range of scores for some ingredients?

Ingredient Types and Safety

7. Are ingredients in personal care products actually harmful?
8. If I have not noticed having a reaction to a product, should I be concerned about my products, anyway? I hear that the levels of chemicals used in products are too low to matter.
9. I had a reaction to a personal care product. What should I do?
10. Why do you have progesterone listed as a possible carcinogen?
11. An ingredient is listed as possibly containing hazardous contaminants. How do I know these contaminants are actually in my product and if the hazard score applies?
12. My product contains only organic or plant-based ingredients, but still has a high hazard or data gap score in Skin Deep. Aren't organic or plant-based products better?
13. What does EWG think about animal testing?

Sunscreens: How it Works, What it Means

14. Which sunscreens are best and why?
15. Is a good sunscreen all I need to stay safe?
16. Doesn't the government ensure that sunscreen protects us?
17. Which sunscreens are best for children?
18. How much sunscreen is enough, and how often?
19. Will sunscreen protect me from cancer and wrinkling?
20. What does "SPF" really mean?
21. How high of an SPF should I use?
22. What is the difference between sunscreen, sunblock, and suntan lotion?
23. What is PABA and why do so many sunscreens say they are "PABA-free"?
24. My sunscreen says it has nano particles in it, should I be concerned?
25. How do sunscreens work?
26. Has sunscreen usage decreased skin cancer rates over time?
27. What is the matter with sprays and powders?
28. What about sunscreens with bug spray?

Why Should I Care?

29. Why should I be concerned about the safety of personal care products? Doesn't the government regulate them?
30. I'm concerned that products people use every day are not screened for safety. What can I do about it?

Companies, Compact Signers, and Amending Products

31. Can EWG provide suggestions on how to formulate product with safer alternatives for ingredients?
32. I represent a cosmetics company. Skin Deep lists an old formulation for one of our products. How can I update the listing?
33. What does it mean when a company is a Compact for Safe Cosmetics signer?

How to Contact EWG

34. How do I submit comments and questions regarding Skin Deep?

PRODUCTS, SCORES, AND METHODS

1. How do you score ingredients and products in Skin Deep? And why do the profiles look different than before?
   Since Skin Deep launched in 2004, EWG has gathered information on ingredients in thousands of personal care products and has matched these chemicals with hazard data contained in more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.
   
   In May 2007 EWG released a new update to Skin Deep. With this third edition, we gave the design a face-lift, but behind the scenes we also expanded nearly every aspect of the Skin Deep — more products, more companies, more toxicity databases. Our web design team crafted a new navigation scheme designed to help site users find products faster and make the complex information behind the analyses more clear.
   
   You'll see a new dual rating system that includes both a hazard rating and a data gap rating.
   
   
   • The hazard score represents a synthesis of known and suspected hazards from more than 50 definitive databases. The hazard rating of a product can be higher than for its individual ingredients — it adds up the hazards of all ingredients, and is scaled higher if the product has penetration enhancers or other ingredients that increase skin absorption. This score is similar to the rating previously shown in Skin Deep, but now accounts for more safety references and we show it on a 0-10 scale (with no decimals, 10 corresponding to highest concern).
   • The "data gap" rating is a measure of how much is unknown about an ingredient. Not all ingredients have the same amount of safety data. For example, some ingredients may appear to have low hazards, but this may be due to the fact that they have not have been studied or assessed completely. Other ingredients may appear to have low hazards and have been thoroughly studied or assessed. This score helps differentiate between ingredients and products that have been studied to different degrees.
   The hazard score calculation does not account for data gaps. The two scores are separately calculated. So now you can see both what is known about the safety of an ingredient, and how complete the available science is behind that safety score.
   
   Product rankings may have shifted with these updates. As always, scores are subject to change pending new science that we are able to integrate into Skin Deep.
   
   For more details on the scoring and construction of Skin Deep, please see the Methodology section.

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2. If a product/ingredient scores low for hazards, does EWG consider it safe? Can you provide a list of products/ingredients that are considered safe?
   No, we don't necessarily consider low-hazard ingredients safe. Scores in Skin Deep are based on safety information in publicly available toxicity databases, but since safety studies aren't required by law, for many ingredients we find no publicly available information at all. One major finding of our research is that further study is needed on ingredients safety (nearly 90% of ingredients have not been assessed for safety even by the industry's own safety panel). Skin Deep is packed with information on known and suspected hazards, but we aren't able to give people complete certainty that low-hazard products are safe. We hope that the body of knowledge about ingredients used in personal care products grows, and Skin Deep's data will grow with it.

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3. Why are the ingredients on my product's label different from the version of the product you have listed?
   Companies continuously change formulations of the products they sell on the market. We try to keep Skin Deep as up-to-date as possible by performing major updates each year. The product data listed in the database is as current as the source used in the last update.

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4. I can't find my product or brand. Can it be added to Skin Deep?
   We could not include in Skin Deep all products on the market. However, we collect information on as broad an array of products as possible, and we expand Skin Deep each year to include thousands more products and new formulations of products we included previously. The methodology section of our report outlines the sources of our product information.
   
   If you have the product's packing information handy, you can enter its ingredient list and formulation name and Skin Deep will generate a provisional product report. (The report will not be added into our live database, however.)
   
   If you would like a product or company to be added into our live database, please encourage that company to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a partnership with companies organized by a coalition of public health and environmental organizations. The Compact requires that the company list their products in Skin Deep.
   
   Also, please consider supporting EWG by making an online donation. Your donation helps keep this nonprofit site online and expanding.

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5. Does EWG endorse products or brands?
   No. Skin Deep was designed for educational purposes only. EWG does not sell or endorse any brands or products. Product ratings are brand-blind, based on a hazard classification scoring system that applies product by product, and are subject to change as scientific data develops and becomes public.

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6. Why is there a range of scores for some ingredients?
   Many ingredients are more toxic under some conditions than others. Silica (sand), a common cosmetic ingredient, is a good example. When small sand grains are inhaled, they can cause cancer and scarring of the lung tissue. These hazards don't exist when sand is applied to the skin, or even eaten. The hazards of ingredients also depend on the types of products in which they are used. For instance, many ingredient safety guidelines and regulations pertain only to certain types of products (for example, colorants that FDA has not approved for use around the eyes). On a product page in Skin Deep, we present ingredient hazard scores applicable to conditions for each particular product, while on an ingredient information page we present the ingredient's full range of scores across all types of products in which it is found.

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INGREDIENT TYPES AND SAFETY

7. Are ingredients in personal care products actually harmful?
   While some companies make products that are safe to eat, other companies choose to use known human carcinogens or developmental toxins. Nearly all these chemicals can penetrate the skin, and some we ingest directly from our lips or hands. More than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer. When risky and unstudied chemicals are used in cosmetics, the stakes can be high — unlike trace contaminants in food or tap water, chemicals in cosmetics are base ingredients.

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8. If I have not noticed having a reaction to a product, should I be concerned about my products, anyway? I hear that the levels of chemicals used in products are too low to matter.
   Research shows there may be long term, gradual effects linked to chemical ingredients used in cosmetics. The components of a product are not trace contaminants like those found at part-per-million or even part-per-billion levels in food and water. These are the base ingredients of the product, just as flour is an ingredient in bread. We are finding that many chemicals associated with health hazards are stored and accumulate in the body, many passing onto unborn children. Read our report on the chemicals found in newborns to learn more.
   
   EWG is advocating for more protective health standards. Skin Deep has begun to connect the dots, but we really need research on the safety of personal care product ingredients to be required before the bottles ever hit store shelves — and ultimately full toxicity screening of all chemicals we are exposed to before they enter the market.

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9. I had a reaction to a personal care product. What should I do?
   EWG recommends that you contact your doctor, file a complaint with the company that makes the product, and notify the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS) by phone at 301-436-2405 or by email at CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov.

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10. Why do you have progesterone listed as a possible carcinogen?
    Progesterone is "reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans" as judged by the federal government's National Toxicology Program (NTP). Within Skin Deep determinations on ingredient hazards were based not on our judgment, but on evaluations by government, industry, and academic experts. For progesterone, we find no independent, definitive assessments that conflict with NTP's cancer rating of the chemical. Some doctors continue to recommend progesterone cream to patients.
    
    Although progesterone in personal care products is chemically identical to that produced in the body (Progesterone, CAS Registry No. 57-83-0), it is the disruption of the body's natural delicate hormonal balance by adding extra progesterone that can lead to health concerns. Please see the National Toxicology Program's 10th Report on Carcinogens (2002) for more information.

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11. An ingredient is listed as possibly containing hazardous contaminants. How do I know these contaminants are actually in my product and if the hazard score applies?
    Companies are not required to test ingredients for purity (contamination), even though many common cosmetics ingredients can contain hazardous contaminants, typically unintentional byproducts of manufacturing processes. We encourage companies to have their products tested by an independent, certified lab for the presence of the contaminants that are commonly associated with the ingredients they use, and to submit this data to EWG. We will review the data and reflect it on the site as appropriate. We always welcome the submission of ingredient safety data, including independent laboratory testing or studies from government or scientifically peer-reviewed sources.

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12. My product contains only organic or plant-based ingredients, but still has a high hazard or data gap score in Skin Deep. Aren't organic or plant-based products better?
    EWG supports organic farming, pesticide use reduction, and other practices that reduce risks to health and the environment. But even plant-based ingredients can be biologically active (look at poison ivy and the many plant-derived pharmaceuticals on the market for examples), and should be required to meet the same safety standards in cosmetics as ingredients derived from petroleum, mines, or animal products.
    
    It is often difficult for us to identify which ingredients in products are truly organic, since "organic" is a generally marketing term used by many in the cosmetic industry to imply that the product is natural. However, we did note distinctions where possible — you can search for products that are labeled as containing organically grown ingredients from our "Advanced Search".

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13. What does EWG think about animal testing?
    Ideally, a consumer could find safer products that were not tested on animals. Unfortunately, research shows that many products use ingredients that are linked to cancer, birth defects, and other disorders and health hazards, posing risk for people, pets, and in wildlife . Our research also reveals that over 99 percent of products contain ingredients that have not been assessed for safety by the government, the cosmetic industry's safety panel, or any other publicly accountable institution. It is an important question — how do we protect human, environmental, and animal health, while reducing unnecessary testing?
    
    EWG supports uses of non-animal testing methods where available and effective. We also support initiatives to fund research on alternative, non-animal health and safety testing. Unfortunately, for now there are safety studies crucial to measuring the safety of chemicals that harm the environment, wildlife, pets and public health, for which there are no reliable alternative study methods. Until scientists develop alternatives, EWG supports reduction of the overall numbers and impact of unnecessary or duplicate animal testing across the industry by advocating greater transparency and sharing of science already conducted for regulatory or other purposes by private sources. We believe it is possible to achieve dramatic reductions in the number of animals tested, while improving protection of the health and safety of people and other animals, through more efficient and humane testing protocols, reduction or elimination of unnecessary, duplicative or archaic tests, and by developing policies to improve sharing of animal test data across companies within the chemical and personal care product industries.
    
    Consumers concerned about animal welfare should be able to access information on how public health safety data and animal testing positions overlay in the cosmetics industry. We incorporated companies' animal testing pledge information from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and we update our database according to PETA's lists annually. We have also incorporated PETA's data on animal-derived ingredients into Skin Deep. You may search for products and brands based on these criteria using Skin Deep's advanced search feature.
    
    

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SUNSCREENS: HOW IT WORKS, WHAT IT MEANS

14. Which sunscreens are best and why?
    The ideal sunscreen would be highly effective at blocking both UVA and UVB rays, contain active ingredients that do not break down in the sun (so that the product remains effective), and contain active and inactive ingredients that are proven to be safe for both adults and children. Unfortunately, there is no sunscreen that meets all of these criteria, and no simple way for consumers to know how well a given product stacks up on any of these fronts — which is why EWG created this guide to safer and more effective sunscreens. To see how we conducted our analysis and ranked products,read our methodology.
    When picking a sunscreen look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, avoid oxybenzone and sunscreens with fragrance. Choose a product with an SPF of 30 or higher, avoid sprays and powders and bug repellants.

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15. Is a good sunscreen all I need to stay safe?
    No. Sunscreen can only provide partial protection against harmful effects of the sun. Limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing are even more important when it comes to protecting against skin cancer and premature skin aging. Be extra careful about sun exposure during 10 am and 4 pm since the sun's rays are the most intense during this time of the day. When using sunscreen, make sure you apply it generously 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it often — at least every 2 hours. Even the best sunscreen won't work if you don't use it correctly. (ACS 2007; BCC 2003)

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16. Doesn't the government ensure that sunscreen protects us?
    No. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has two systems that theoretically regulate sunscreen safety and effectiveness, one has never been implemented and the other is optional and rarely used. The upshot is that there are no mandatory requirements about what sunscreen manufacturers can (and can't) put into their products, and what kind of claims they can print on the label. The Connecticut Attorney General has called the current situation a "marketing Wild West" in which "sunscreen makers can make claims that are unproven and untrue." Learn more about how FDA has failed to establish regulations for sunscreens or see the top ten false and misleading claims to be wary of when buying sunscreen. (Blumenthal 2006)

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17. Which sunscreens are best for children?
    Since kids are more vulnerable to damage caused by the sun and to harmful effects of chemical exposure, you want to make sure you choose a sunscreen that is rated highly in terms of both effectiveness (against both UVA and UVB radiation) and safety. Use EWG's guide to help you find one. If your child is going to be swimming or playing in the water look for a sunscreen that says it is water resistant. Avoid sprays, powders and products with bug repellant.
    Make sure to apply sunscreen generously before going out and reapply often. (Don't believe claims that a product will remain effective for a certain period of time, as these are not always reliable.) Infants under 6 months need special protection at this age, a fair-skinned baby does not have melanin proteins for sun protection and needs to be kept out of the sun. The AAP recommends that you avoid using sunscreen on children younger than 6 months unless protective shade and clothing are not available. In this case you can apply a minimal amount to exposed skin (AAP 2008). Remember that sunscreen is just one part of a sun-healthy lifestyle. Limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing are even more important than wearing sunscreen. Read more sun safety tips for kids.

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18. How much sunscreen is enough, and how often?
    Follow the advice of the American Cancer Society and put on sunscreen early, regularly, and generously. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside, and at least every 2 hours thereafter. Make sure to reapply after being in the water, sweating a lot, or towel drying since all of these activities can remove sunscreen from your skin. (One study indicates it's best to reapply your sunscreen after 15-30 minutes in the sun, so consider doing this as well.) Don't skimp when putting on sunscreen: Studies have shown that consumers typically apply only a quarter to two-thirds of the amount of sunscreen required to achieve the product's SPF rating. The FDA recommends applying one ounce (about a palmful) evenly to all exposed skin. (ACS 2007; BCC 2003; Diffey 2001)

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19. Will sunscreen protect me from cancer and wrinkling?
    There are two main types of UV radiation that are known to contribute to skin cancer, wrinkling, and skin aging: UVA and UVB. To get the most protection, you need to use a product that filters out a significant proportion of both types of rays. All sunscreens protect against UVB rays, but only some sunscreens protect against UVA. These latter products are usually labeled as UVA/UVB or "broad spectrum" sunscreens. You can tell how effective a particular sunscreen is at protecting skin from UVB by looking at the SPF number — the higher the number, the better the protection. But SPF values tell you nothing about how much UVA protection you are getting. In fact, The FDA has no regulations about what degree of UVA protection a sunscreen must provide to be able to make such claims, so you won't know how much protection you are actually getting by reading the bottle. This is one of the primary reasons that EWG created its sunscreen guide — to give consumers much needed information about how effective their sunscreen is at blocking both types of harmful radiation.

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20. What does "SPF" really mean?
    SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measurement of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the kind of radiation that causes sunburn. If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, for example, wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen would theoretically allow you to stay in the sun for 150 minutes (10 x 15) without burning. This is a rough estimate, however, and your own skin, the type of activity you do in the sun (i.e. one involving water or sweat), and the intensity of sunlight may give you more or less safety. Note that SPF ratings can be confusing or misleading at times. For example, the rating tells you about UVB protection, but nothing about protection from also harmful UVA rays. The SPF scale is also not linear: SPF 50 does not prevent burns 2/3 times longer than a SPF 30, and in fact blocks only about 1.3% more UVB radiation than SPF 30. In addition, The Food and Drug Administration has expressed concerns that current testing methods may not be able to accurately and reproducibly determine SPF values for high SPF products (FDA 1999).

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21. How high of an SPF should I use?
    The American Cancer Society recommends that people use a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15. Higher SPFs will give you more protection, but consumers should recognize that once you reach SPF 30, there isn't a huge difference between products with higher SPF values. A SPF 50 product, for example, only blocks about 1.3% more UVB radiation than a SPF 30 product. More important than seeking out ultra-high SPF products is that you apply your sunscreen generously — most people put on only a quarter to two-thirds enough sunscreen to actually reach the product's SPF rating. (ACS 2007, BCC 2003)

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22. What is the difference between sunscreen, sunblock, and suntan lotion?
    Products marketed as "sunscreen" and "sunblock" contain ingredients that provide at least some degree of protection from sunburn and other damaging effects of the sun's UV rays. Products marketed as "suntan" or "tanning" lotion, on the other hand, do not contain such ingredients and do not provide any such protection and are intended to be used while acquiring a tan. The FDA has indicated that it intends to ban the term "sunblock" from being used in marketing claims — when the agency eventually finalizes its sunscreen regulations — because it falsely implies that the product is blocking all light from the sun when no product can do this. Similarly, the agency has also indicated that it will require the following warning to be printed on all "suntan" products: "This product does not contain a sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn. Repeated exposure of unprotected skin while tanning may increase the risk of skin aging, skin cancer, and other harmful effects to the skin even if you do not burn."

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23. What is PABA and why do so many sunscreens say they are "PABA-free"?
    PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) was once a very popular sunscreen ingredient that fell out of favor with manufacturers because of problems with allergic dermatitis and photosensitivity and because it tended to stain clothes yellow. The exceptionally common "PABA-free" marketing claim is almost meaningless since virtually zero sunscreens still contain PABA. A derivative of PABA called Padimate O is still used, however, and may be found in sunscreens labeled as PABA-free. Padimate O appears to be safer than PABA, but still shares some of the same health concerns as its parent chemical.

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24. My sunscreen says it has nano particles in it, should I be concerned?
    Environmental Working Group is among the many advocacy groups who have raised concerns about whether the rapidly expanding use of nanotechnology poses risks to human health or the environment. Many zinc and titanium sunscreens contain nanosize particles, even when they are not on the label.
    Although we expected to reach a different conclusion at the outset of our sunscreen investigation, when we balanced all factors important in sunscreen safety, we found many zinc and titanium-based sunscreens that our analysis shows are among the safest and most effective sunscreens on the market. Our product ratings reflect our concern about the very real dangers of cancer and other health hazards from sun exposure, balanced against concerns about the potential health hazards of sunscreen ingredients. Read our full assessment of zinc and titanium sunscreens here.
    Our study shows that consumers who use sunscreens without zinc and titanium are likely exposed to more UV radiation and greater numbers of hazardous ingredients than consumers relying on zinc and titanium products for sun protection. We found that consumers using sunscreens without zinc and titanium would be exposed to an average of 20% more UVA radiation — with increased risks for UVA-induced skin damage, premature aging, wrinkling, and UV-induced immune system damage — than consumers using zinc- and titanium-based products. They contain four times as many high hazard ingredients known or strongly suspected to cause cancer or birth defects, to disrupt human reproduction or damage the growing brain of a child. They also contain more toxins on average in every major category of health harm considered: cancer (10% more), birth defects and reproductive harm (40% more), neurotoxins (20% more), endocrine system disruptors (70% more), and chemicals that can damage the immune system (70% more).
    Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are stable compounds that provide broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, while the available studies consistently show very little or zero penetration of intact skin by these compounds, indicating that real world exposure to potential nano sized particles in these products is likely very low (Brm 2006). The sun protection benefits, in contrast, are very high.
    EWG's rating of zinc and titanium-based products as among the safest and most effective sunscreens available in the U.S. today should not be interpreted as an endorsement of nano-materials in general. We remain deeply concerned about the overall safety and oversight of nanotechnology as well as impacts to workers and the environment.
    
    Benefits:
    • UV exposure is damaging to health, and Zinc and Titanium offer broad spectrum UV protection.
    • Zinc and titanium are 2 of only 4 UVA blockers used in the US. Alternatives including Tinosorb S and Tinosorb M are available in Europe but not approved by FDA for use in the U.S. As it stands, the only other U.S.-approved sunscreen with UVA-I protection are avobenzone and Mexoryl SX, both of which are unstable in most sunscreen formulations (i.e., they break down in the sun).
    • In 15 peer-reviewed studies, nanosize zinc and titanium were shown not to penetrate through unbroken skin at concentrations exceeding 1.5%. A recent review for the EU decision-making body found that, "There is currently little evidence from skin penetration studies that dermal applications of metal oxide nanoparticles used in sunscreens lead to systemic exposure" (Borm 2006).
    • Zinc oxide poses a low level of concern based on currently available science: it is well studied and is a necessary nutrient to humans.
    
    Concerns of zinc and titanium in sunscreens:
    • No studies have tested nanosize zinc and titanium penetration through fragile or damaged skin. Conventional zinc is widely used on damaged skin including diaper ointment and burn treatment. However, other nano-scale particles have been shown to penetrate the skin, especially when it is repeatedly flexed.
    • U.S. regulatory framework has lagged far behind industry in addressing the impacts of nanotechnology. Due to inadequate labeling requirements, consumers have no options for avoiding products containing nanoparticles.
    • Nanoparticle production poses serious concerns for workers, especially particle inhalation, which available science indicates is likely the greatest human hazard for nanoparticle exposures. Occupational production is virtually unregulated in the U.S.
    • Nanoparticles, including zinc and titanium, are potentially toxic to the environment. Like all sunscreen ingredients their use in sunscreens results in releases of the chemicals through production, users' contact with water, and as waste.
    • Read our detailed summary of nanotechnology risks and benefits.
    
    What to do:
    • FDA needs to evaluate nanoparticles as distinct from larger particles in products.
    • Manufacturers using materials with all or a fraction of the ingredient in the nano-scale range must clearly label their products with this information, to allow consumers the option of avoiding them.
    • FDA must evaluate and approve new sunscreen chemicals that can protect from UVA and might offer fewer risks to workers and the environment.
    • The safety of nano-scale zinc and titanium in sunscreen must be fully assessed.

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25. How do sunscreens work?
    The active ingredients within sunscreens absorb, reflect, or scatter ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and thereby alter how the body responds to this radiation. Sunscreens typically contain a combination of different chemicals that are known to be effective for certain wavelengths of UV light. Some chemicals work better than others, however, as do some combinations of chemicals. For years, manufacturers created sunscreens that were only effective at screening out UVB radiation, since this is the type of radiation that was known to cause sunburn and lead to skin cancer. More recently, manufacturers have worked to create sunscreens that will protect the skin from both UVA and UVB radiation, since scientists realized that UVA radiation is also harmful. All sunscreens provide UVB protection, but only some protect against UVA rays (FDA 1999).

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26. Has sunscreen usage decreased skin cancer rates over time?
    The National Cancer Institute says that there is currently inadequate scientific evidence to answer this question. However, consumers might be interested to know that two controlled studies comparing sunscreen users with others found that sunscreen reduced the risk of one common form of skin cancer (squamous-cell carcinoma) but not another common form (basal-cell carcinoma). This work provides further support for the generally accepted recommendation for people to use sunscreen but not rely on it exclusively to prevent sun-related harm to the skin (NCI 2007; van der Pols 2006; Green 1999).

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27. What is the matter with sprays and powders?
    EWG does not recommend powder and spray sunscreens due to concerns about inhalation. We are especially concerned about inhalation of nano- or mico-sized zinc and titanium in powdered sunscreens. Inhalation is a much more direct route of exposure to these compounds than dermal penetration, which appears to be low in healthy skin. If you want the benefits of a mineral sunscreen choose a zinc- or titanium-containing lotion instead of powder. When using a pump or spray sunscreen lower your inhalation risk by applying the product on your hands and then wiping it on your face.

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28. What about sunscreens with bug spray?
    We would advise you to skip regular use of products that combine bug spray with sunscreen. For starters bugs may not be a problem during the hours that UV exposure peaks. Sunscreen may need to be reapplied more frequently than bug spray, or vice versa. You should avoid using pesticides on your face too. Most worrisome are the fact that sunscreens often contain penetration enhancers. Studies indicating that concurrent use of sunscreens and pesticides leads to increased skin adsorption of the pesticide (Brand 2003; Kasichayanula 2005; Pont 2003; Pont 2004; Wang 2006; Wang 2007).

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WHY SHOULD I CARE?

29. Why should I be concerned about the safety of personal care products? Doesn't the government regulate them?
    The unfortunate reality is that the government does not currently require health studies or pre-market testing for these products before they are sold. According to the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors,

    "FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before manufacturing,"

    and

    "...a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA." (FDA 1995)

    The Cosmetics Ingredients Review (CIR), the industry's self-policing safety panel, falls far short of compensating for the lack of FDA oversight. An EWG analysis found that in its 30-year history, the CIR has reviewed the safety of just 13% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products. FDA does no systematic reviews of safety. That means that nearly 90% of ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by any publicly accountable institution. And as people apply an average of 126 unique ingredients on their skin daily, these chemicals are raising concerns, for their potential impacts to human health and to the environment

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30. I'm concerned that products people use every day are not screened for safety. What can I do about it?
    
    • Use Skin Deep to check the products you use. We provide Safer Shopping tips as well as a list of ingredients and products we recommend you avoid.
    • Support the EWG Action Fund Your support matters. EWG and the EWG Action Fund are small non-profits committed to expanding the Skin Deep site, helping companies make their products safe, and advocating for policies that protect our health. And we need your financial support to make it all happen. Make a donation online or send a contribution to: EWG Action Fund, 1436 U Street NW #101, Washington, DC 20009. Questions? Call 202-667-6982.
    • Sign up for the EWG email list. Subscribe to our email list to get the latest shopping tips, policy news and "Ask EWG" advice.
    • Join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Skin Deep helps fuel the nationwide Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of public health, educational, religious, labor, women's, environmental and consumer groups working to protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the health and beauty industry to phase out the use of dangerous chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives. Through the Campaign, over 500 companies have joined the effort by signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Environmental Working Group is a founding partner organization of the Campaign.

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COMPANIES, COMPACT SIGNERS, AND AMENDING PRODUCTS

31. Can EWG provide suggestions on how to formulate product with safer alternatives for ingredients?
    One of the goals of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of public health and environmental organizations and partnership with over 500 companies, is to develop a body of knowledge that can help companies create substitution plans for hazardous ingredients. Currently, there is very limited public information available on alternatives. Skin Deep is intended to be a growing database of information for formulators, but, in general, EWG cannot provide individual advice or product formulation consulation for companies.

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32. I represent a cosmetics company. Skin Deep lists an old formulation for one of our products. How can I update the listing?
    We try to update Skin Deep each year using information listed on major online retailer sources, so we encourage you to contact and update your information with the sources that market your products. (To see which online source provided the information for a product, click the "Where to Buy" link for that product.) Also, companies that join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics partnership receive access to features in Skin Deep that would allow you to update your product formulations within our database, so we encourage you to contact the Campaign as well, and to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Please note we do not remove older formulations from Skin Deep unless the formulation was formally recalled or never sold on the market as listed. If this is the case for your product, please contact us with details using our response form.

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33. What does it mean when a company is a Compact for Safe Cosmetics signer?
    The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics — of which EWG is a founding member — is a coalition of public health, educational, religious, labor, womens, environmental, and consumer groups working on the ground in communities, in the halls of lawmakers, and directly with cosmetic manufacturers to encourage reformulations and safer ingredients. Over 500 companies have voluntarily signed a pledge called the campaign's "Compact for Safe Cosmetics," a pledge to formulate products that do not use ingredients that are known or suspected to cause certain health harms within three years of signing. Read the Compact document or see a complete list of the signers. If you're a cosmetics company, find out how to get involved.

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HOW TO CONTACT EWG

34. How do I submit comments and questions regarding Skin Deep?
    If you're a consumer and have a question, click here to contact us. If you're a reporter or author interested in writing about Skin Deep or EWG, please visit our press page.

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REFERENCES

American Cancer Society (ACS). 2007. Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_Skin_Cancer_Detection_What_You_Can_Do.asp?sitearea=PED#protect

Blumenthal R. 2006. Attorney General Says Sunscreen Labeling Rules Fail To Prevent False Claims. Connecticut Attorney General's Office. Press Release. July 7, 2006.

British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. 2003. Radiation Issue Notes (RIN) #15 Sunscreens and their correct application. Available at: http://www.bccdc.org/downloads/pdf/rps/reports/RIN15.pdf

Diffey BL. 2001. When should sunscreen be reapplied? Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 45(6): 882-885.

FDA. 1999. Final Rule for Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use. Federal Register: U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 27666.

Green A, Williams G, Neale R, Hart V, Leslie D, Parsons P, et al. 1999. Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 354(9180): 723-729.

National Cancer Institute (NCI). 2007. Skin Cancer (PDQ): Prevention. Health Professional Version. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/skin/healthprofessional/allpages/print#Reference1.1

van der Pols JC, Williams GM, Pandeya N, Logan V, Green AC. 2006. Prolonged prevention of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin by regular sunscreen use. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15(12): 2546-2548.