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HAZARD SCORE RANGE
Scoring legend
HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®

HOME / daily use SPF / moisturizer with SPF


Score

Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen, SPF 50

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CATEGORY

daily use SPF

BRAND

Paula's Choice

DATA LAST UPDATED

June 25, 2024

Health Concerns

  • MODERATE
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • HIGH
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Efficacy Concerns

  • Caution We have flagged this product with 4 concerns
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    Find better scoring products

    Contains oxybenzone, a hormone disrupting chemical. Read more

    Contains retinyl palmitate, which may damage sun-exposed skin. Read more

    Sunscreens can break down while still in the bottle. To be safe dispose of products when the mixture clumps or separates.

    This product contains chemical active ingredient(s) that the FDA does not have enough health safety data to classify as safe and effective: AVOBENZONE , HOMOSALATE, OCTISALATE, OCTOCRYLENE, OXYBENZONE. This product should not be used on kids younger than 3 years old.
  • moderate
    UVA/UVB Balance

Ingredient Scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

HOMOSALATE active ingredient 10%
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID and TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANOL)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
OXYBENZONE active ingredient 6%
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Cancer (low), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
OCTISALATE active ingredient 5%
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
AVOBENZONE active ingredient 3%
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Cancer (low), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (BENZOIC ACID, 4-T-BUTYLBENZOIC ACID, BENZALDEHYDE, P-ANISIC ACID, ACETOPHENONE, and DIBENZOYLMETHANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
OCTOCRYLENE active ingredient 2%
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (BENZOPHENONE), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
PEG-8
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
POLYETHYLENE
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SILICA, AMORPHOUS
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Cancer (moderate), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Use restrictions (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
DIMETHICONE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE and CYCLOTETRASILOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
PICEA EXCELSA (NORWAY SPRUCE) EXTRACT
Data Availability: None
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE
Data Availability: None
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A PALMITATE)
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Cancer (moderate), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (high), Use restrictions (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
TOCOPHEROL
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Cancer (low), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Endocrine disruption (low), Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Cancer (low), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Zinc Oxide(Sunscreen Grade)
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Cancer (low), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Ecotoxicology (low), Occupational hazards (moderate), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
BENTONITE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUISTEARATE
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, and BENZENE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SODIUM POLYACRYLATE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Multiple, additive exposure sources (low), Contamination concerns (ACRYLIC ACID)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
KAOLIN
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
DISODIUM EDTA
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Enhanced skin absorption, Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Use restrictions (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
PHENOXYETHANOL
Data Availability: Good
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), Occupational hazards (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
CHLORPHENESIN
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from label

Active Ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Oxybenzone 6%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Octocrylene 2%, Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Polyethylene, Silica, Dimethicone, Picea Excelsa Wood Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bentonite, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Kaolin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Leaping Bunny

Products bearing the Leaping Bunny mark are certified cruelty-free under the Humane Household Products Standard, managed in the U.S. and Canada by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a coalition of eight national animal protection groups. Participating companies must open their processes to independent audits throughout the supply chain.

LEARN MORE ON LEAPINGBUNNY.ORG

PETA Cruelty-free Companies

Companies that join the "Caring Consumer" program of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, attest that "neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products, and that they pledge not to do so in the future."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG


Understanding scores

Not all sunscreen products are the same when it comes to sun protection and ingredient health hazards. The scoring system for EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens is designed to help the public find products that are safer, avoid ingredients of concern, and are more effective in reducing potential health harms from ultraviolet A and B exposure.

Every product in the guide gets a hazard and efficacy rating. The top scoring products have both a low hazard rating and an excellent UVA/UVB balance rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. Beyond this 1 to 10 ranking, the EWG VERIFIED® mark on a sunscreen means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Scoring legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

EWG Verified Process

EWG Verified logo
EWG VERIFIED

Beyond the hazard score, the EWG VERIFIED® mark on a sunscreen indicates that a sunscreen company’s ingredient disclosures show the product has met our full criteria to ensure it adheres to our strictest standards for efficacy, ingredient safety and transparency.

A SUNSCREEN CAN BECOME EWG VERIFIED IF IT:
  • Meets EWG's criteria for overall product hazard score
  • Is formulated to provide balanced UVA/ UVB protection
  • Does not contain any ingredients on EWG's "Unacceptable" list
  • Discloses all ingredients, including those in fragrance.

You can review EWG’s full criteria for the EWG VERIFIED mark here.


TIPS

Sunscreen alone
is not enough

VIEW THE LIST

Wear clothes

Shirts, hats, shorts and pants shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays, reducing burn risk.

Plan around the sun

Go outdoors in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky.

Find shade - or make it

Picnic under a tree or take a canopy to the beach. Keep infants in the shade, reducing the risk of multiple burns by 30%.


Don’t get burned

Red, sore, blistered skin means you’ve gotten far too much sun.

Sunglasses are essential

Not just a fashion accessory, sunglasses protect your eyes from UV radiation.

Check UV index

The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent sun overexposure.







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