(CNN) -- Twenty-five percent of 800 tested sunscreens are
effective at protecting your skin without the use of potentially
harmful ingredients, according to the 2012 Sunscreen Guide
released Wednesday by the Environmental Working Group. "The
results are slightly better than previous years, but it
continues to surprise us that we can recommend such few
products," said Nneka Leiba, an Environmental Working Group
senior analyst. To make the watchdog group's safe list,
sunscreens must be free of oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate (a type
of vitamin A), not have SPF above 50 and protect against UVA and
UVB sunrays. The Environmental Working Group says 56% of beach
and sport sunscreens contain the chemical oxybenzone. The
primary function of oxybenzone is to absorb ultraviolet light,
but some research shows oxybenzone can be absorbed through the
skin. The Environmental Working Group and other toxicology
experts believe that oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption
and potentially to cell damage that may lead to skin c