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CL Answer

What is the best sunscreen based on safety and efficacy?

We’ve boiled down the latest research about mineral and chemical sunscreens, including product tests, to help you choose the best sunscreen (which will depend on whether you expect to be in or out of the water). We also list popular sunscreens that have, or have not, been found to contain cancer-causing compounds (benzene and benzophenone).

Carcinogens in Sunscreens - Bottle of sunscreen with a question mark

CL Answer

Does the talc added to Centrum Silver and other vitamins pose a risk of cancer?

Find out if talc, an inactive ingredient in many vitamins and supplements, is safe to consume, and learn about asbestos in talc and cancer risk and USP-grade talc vs. food-grade talc and cosmetics-grade talc. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Talc in Vitamins & Cancer Risk -- broken white tablet

Product Review

Vitamin A Supplements Review, Including Beta-Carotene and Cod Liver Oil

Find the Best Vitamin A Supplement. Best Quality Vitamin A Supplements Identified, Including Cod Liver Oil.

Vitamin A Supplements (Including Cod Liver Oil) Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

CL Answer

5 Tips for Finding a Soap or Body Wash That Won't Irritate Skin

Get 5 tips for finding soap or body wash that won't cause skin irritation. See which soaps we rate best, ingredients to avoid, and phrases on labels that can mislead.

Different bars of soap on a marble countertop

Clinical Update

6/13/2023

Cosmetics for Sun Protection?

Foundations and other cosmetics may be labeled with an SPF value, but they are generally not considered to be good alternatives to sunscreen. Find out why, and see product suggestions, in the updated article about safe and effective sunscreens.

Product Review

Inactive Ingredients / Excipients in Supplements

Find Out Why Coloring Agents, Sweeteners, Fillers & Other Inactive Ingredients Are In Your Supplements and If They're Safe.

CL Answer

Which supplements are helpful to have when traveling? Any tips on how to best store supplements on trips?

Find out which vitamins & supplements can be helpful when traveling, including melatonin, ginger, and more, and find out how you can carry them with you.

CL Answer

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances): How can I avoid PFAS in dental floss, food, water, and other products?

Some brands of dental floss, including Oral-B Glide, may contain potentially toxic chemicals known as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances). Get the details, and learn which floss and pick products are our Top Picks.

Toxic PFAS Chemicals in Dental Floss -- Woman Looking at Dental Floss

Recalls & Warnings

May 12, 2020

FTC Halts Deceptive Supplements & Cosmetics "Free Trial" Scheme

On May 8, 2020, the owners of AH Media Group, LLC agreed to halt their allegedly deceptive practice of luring consumers with supposed "free trial" offers for cosmetics and dietary supplements, then enrolling them in subscriptions and billing them without their consent.

Recalls & Warnings

March 02, 2021

FDA Warns Makers of Four Hand Sanitizers, Two With Toxic Ingredient

Between February 18 and 25, 2021, the FDA issued warning letters to four sellers of hand sanitizers because laboratory tests showed that their products do not contain the amount of ethanol as stated on their labels.

CL Answer

Which sunscreens and after-sun products are contaminated with benzene and which are not?

Over 200 sunscreens and after-sun products have been reported to be contaminated with benzene, a carcinogen. See the results, by brand, and find out what to look for, and what to avoid, when choosing a sunscreen or after-sun product.

Benzene in Suncreen -- Spraying Sunscreen Onto Hand on the Beach

Recalls & Warnings

April 25, 2022

Some OTC Skin Lighteners Contain Potentially Harmful Ingredient, Warns FDA

On April 19th, 2022, the FDA issued warnings to 12 companies for selling over-the-counter (OTC) skin-lightening products containing hydroquinone.

Recalls & Warnings

June 05, 2012

Many "Grapefruit Seed Extracts" Adulterated

On June 4, 2012, the American Botanical Council (ABC) announced the publication of a review of scientific literature regarding “grapefruit seed extracts,” raising concerns about apparent adulteration of products in the US and international marketplaces.

Recalls & Warnings

November 20, 2020

FTC Files Complaint Against Two Supplement Companies for Deceptive Marketing

On November 20, 2020, the FTC approved a Part 3 administrative complaint against Health Research Laboratories, LLC, its owner Kramer Duhon, and Whole Body Supplements, LLC for making unverified claims that their products can prevent or treat diseases.

Recalls & Warnings

June 23, 2020

FTC Sends Refund Checks to Consumers of Deceptive "Free Trial" Scheme

On June 22, 2020, the FTC announced it is mailing 187,425 checks totaling more than $8.

Recalls & Warnings

June 02, 2020

FTC Sends Refund Checks for "ReJuvination" Supplement

On June 1, 2020, the FTC announced it is mailing 1,310 checks totaling nearly $149,000 to consumers who purchased ReJuvination, a product deceptively marketed as a cure-all for various age-related conditions, including cell damage, heart attack damage, brain damage, and deafness.

Recalls & Warnings

May 30, 2020

FTC Sends Refund Checks for TrueAloe and AloeCran

On May 26, 2020, the FTC announced it is mailing 22,581 checks totaling more than $470,000 to consumers who purchased deceptively marketed supplements, TrueAloe and AloeCran.

Recalls & Warnings

October 12, 2020

NutraClick to Pay $1.04 Million for Illegally Billing Consumers

On September 22, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that NutraClick LLC agreed to pay $1.04 million to settle FTC charges that the company was deceptively selling and billing consumers for supplements and beauty products.

Recalls & Warnings

January 29, 2004

U.S. Action on Mad Cow -- Supplements Included As Well as Food

On Jan. 26, 2004, the U.

Recalls & Warnings

September 07, 2002

FDA Sends Warning Letters to Seven Online Supplement Sellers For Therapeutic Claims

On August 27, 2002, the FDA posted seven "Cyber" letters recently issued from its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) to internet website operators promoting dietary supplement products that claim to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent a specific disease or class of ...

Recalls & Warnings

March 13, 2020

FDA Finds Problems at 52% of Supplement Manufacturing Sites in U.S. and 42% Abroad

ConsumerLab.com has obtained results of the FDA's inspections in Fiscal Year 2019 (October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019) of 598 dietary supplement manufacturing facilities in the U.S.

Recalls & Warnings

July 21, 2003

FTC Stops False Advertising of Heavily Promoted Supplements for Breast Enhancment, Male Virility, and Snoring

On June 10, 2003, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that infomercial marketers Wellquest International, Inc. and Tony Hoffman Productions, Inc.