EWG's 2025 Sunscreen Guide: 4 in 5 Products Still Fall Short
Before you grab a bottle this summer, see what an independent review of 2,200+ sunscreens actually found - and why so many score poorly on UVA.
EWG's 19th annual Guide to Sunscreens, released in May 2025, reviewed 2,204 SPF products and found only 498 - under one-quarter - met its safety-and-efficacy standards, with EWG saying about 80% offer inadequate protection or contain potentially harmful ingredients.
EWG argues that a strong SPF figure can mask weak UVA performance, the part of the spectrum that drives aging and contributes to skin cancer. The group urges shoppers to look beyond the SPF number toward broad-spectrum coverage and ingredient transparency.
Questions we get a lot
How many sunscreens passed EWG's 2025 review?
EWG's 19th annual guide reviewed 2,204 SPF products and found only 498 met its safety and efficacy standards. That's under one-quarter, meaning roughly four in five fell short on protection or ingredients. EWG concluded about 80% offered inadequate protection or contained ingredients it flags as concerning.
Does a 'fail' from EWG mean a sunscreen is unsafe?
Not necessarily - EWG applies its own strict criteria that combine ingredient concerns with how well a product protects, so many FDA-compliant sunscreens still land outside its top tier. A lower EWG rating is one data point, not a safety recall. Use it alongside broad-spectrum labeling and your own skin's needs.
Why do so many sunscreens score poorly?
EWG says a common problem is weak UVA protection hidden behind a high SPF number, since SPF mainly reflects UVB defense. Other products lose points for ingredients EWG flags or for lack of transparency. The takeaway is to prioritize broad-spectrum coverage rather than chasing the biggest SPF.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'EWG says 80% of sunscreens fail - is my drugstore SPF 50 actually one of the bad ones?'