The Red, White, and Green

Photo via Flickr: Di_the_huntress

Regular sun exposure is crucial to good health: Without it, you can become woefully deficient in vitamin D, setting yourself up for increased cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and impaired immune functioning. In the summer months, however, spending weekends at the beach and outdoor picnics can lead to too much of a good thing. In addition to a wide-brimmed hat and a spot under a shady tree (or umbrella), the best way to protect yourself is sunscreen. 

But how do you know your sunscreen is actually working? And what’s more, how do you know the chemicals it contains are safe for your skin?

Luckily, the Environmental Working Group recently released its 2009 Sunscreen Guide. Astonishingly, of the 1,572 products it surveyed, less than 100 were found that offer adequate protection from the sun with ingredients that pose minimal health risks to users; even major brands like Neutrogena, Coppertone, and Banana Boat came up short in the investigation.

The guide ranks sunscreens as well as moisturizers and lip balms with SPF. Make sure you check it out (or use the tool below) before you head out for your fun in the sun this weekend!

–Jennifer Grayson

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