Summertime is my favorite time. Fun in the sun while enjoying beaches, hiking, picnics, and other sun-related activities; yes, please! However, during the summertime, many toxins lurk around us: bug repellants, sunless tanners, sunscreen, and after-sun products, to name a few.

Of course, the mainstream has recommended sunscreen and avoiding mid-day sun to reduce the risk of sunburns for years, but this is terrible advice. The UVA rays that can cause skin cancer and deep-level skin damage are always strong. The UVB rays that can cause sunburn also produce vitamin D in the skin and are strongest around mid-day. Why would you expose your skin to rays that can’t produce much vitamin D yet can cause long-term damage? That makes no sense.

To be clear, vitamin D exposure is why it’s important to get 10-30 minutes of mid-day sunlight daily as many days per year as possible (until the skin turns pink). Remember, wearing sunscreen while you do this will block almost all UVB rays and the vitamin D may not get absorbed. Of course, if you’re in the sun longer, sunscreen may be needed, so being aware of its ingredients is important to avoid toxic ingredients soaking into your skin.

Concerning Ingredients in Mainstream Sunscreen

While swimmers and snorkelers standing on or touching the fragile ecosystems present their own threat, an even more pressing danger has emerged: toxic chemicals from mainstream sunscreens. Ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone that block SPF have been tied to bleaching and damaging DNA, deforming or even killing coral species, and interfering with the reproduction of fish and turtles while harming the entire ocean (1).

Avobenzone

Avobenzone is an oil-soluble, light-sensitive ingredient derived from dibenzoylmethane (2). Oceanographers have found this petrochemical to damage marine and reef environments, increasing the rate of coral bleaching (3). According to Dibenzoylmethane Safety Data Sheet, following skin contact with this chemical, you should “wash off immediately with soap and plenty of water while removing all contaminated clothes and shoes. Get medical attention (4).” Aside from that, Avobenzone degrades in sun exposure, releasing harmful free radicals into the body (5). Avobenzone can disrupt the endocrine system and can be found in the blood weeks after use (6).

Octinoxate

Octinoxate or Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is often marketed as “natural” despite being a mix of sulfuric acid and methanol, a petroleum by-product (7). This chemical is dangerous to beaches, aquatic life, and coral reefs. This ingredient can also be found in some drinking water supplies (8). This ingredient is absorbed into the body quickly and has been detected in human urine, blood, and breast milk even after use (9). Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor, mimicking estrogen, and can disrupt thyroid function (10).

Octocrylene

Although claimed to be a “pure” ingredient, Octocrylene is often contaminated with benzophenone, a mutagen, carcinogen, and endocrine disruptor (11). Benzophenone is a class of benzophenones, formaldehyde in which both hydrogens are replaced by phenyl groups (12). short-term exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to coughing, headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye, nose, and throat irritation, while long-term exposure to formaldehyde may cause certain types of cancer (13). Additionally, Benzophenone accumulates over time from the degradation of octocrylene in mainstream sunscreen products. A study examined six different study sites in Brazil for the presence of octocrylene in the livers of Franciscana dolphins who were either stranded or accidentally caught in fishing nets along the Brazilian coast between 1994 and 2009. The study found high concentrations of octocrylene in 21 out of the 56 dolphin livers analyzed (14).

Oxybenzone

Oxybenzone, known as benzophenone-3 amongst other names, is a chemical compound that blocks UV rays (15). This chemical releases toxins in the corals’ water, stressing their symbiotic partners. Stress awakens dormant viral infections in algae, causing the coral to expel the algae, which may lead to death (16). Oxybenzone also affects humans and is considered a hazardous eye irritant and allergen (17). Additionally, this ingredient can interfere with hormones and has been found in human breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine, and blood. Finally, children may be more vulnerable to the health hazards associated with oxybenzone (18).

These ingredients have been banned in many locations, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Key West, Florida, Bonaire, Palau, and multiple Mexican vacation spots (19). They’re so problematic that the Center for Biological Diversity has petitioned the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to ban these coral-killing sunscreen ingredients nationally (20).

Aside from the many dangers of the sunblocking ingredients in sunscreen, the additives and fillers can cause additional toxicity to the body, such as:

Aluminum

Aluminum, such as alumina, aluminum stearate, and similar ingredients, are heavy metals (21). As discussed in my post, Should You Worry About Heavy Metals, the bioaccumulation of heavy metals may lead to heavy metal poisoning or toxicity (22). Additionally, if you read my post, The Truth About Mainstream Deodorant, you know research suggests that deodorants containing aluminum, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and affect the hormone estrogen (23); the same could be said about aluminum-containing sunscreens.

Caprylyl Glycol

Caprylyl glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, such as coconut and palm oils (24). It is a humectant that pulls water into the skin and helps to hold moisture. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, and for most, it isn’t. However, caprylyl glycol can irritate some skin types, particularly those already sensitized or irritated (25). It’s also important to note that coconut and palm oil are highly comedogenic, which can clog pores and worsen acne symptoms (26,27).

Dimethicone

Dimethicone is an ingredient ending in “cone,” meaning it’s a silicone-based ingredient. Silicone-based products will form a barrier on top of your skin that can trap dirt, sweat, bacteria, sebum, dead skin cells, and other debris – it can dehydrate your skin and interfere with cell renewal, amongst other things (28). This ingredient is also toxic or harmful to the non-reproductive organ system and is a suspected environmental toxin (29).

Fragrance

Fragrance is a blanket term for the 3,100 stock chemical ingredients the fragrance industry uses (30). About 95 percent of fragrances are derived from petrochemicals like benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, and many other known toxins that can cause cancer, congenital disabilities, nervous system disorders, and allergies (31). Check out my post, The Truth About Fragrance, to learn more.

Petroleum

Petroleumclogs pores and often causes acne breakouts and rashes. It has also been linked to estrogen dominance, a common condition in which sufferers have a high ratio of estrogen with little to no progesterone to balance its effects in the body (32). Petroleum has been linked to estrogen dominance, a common condition in which sufferers have a high ratio of estrogen with little to no progesterone to balance its effects in the body (33). Additionally, petroleum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also associated with cancer (34). Nonetheless, the European Union classifies it as a carcinogen and restricts its use in cosmetics (5).

Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol is an aromatic ether that is phenol substituted on oxygen by a 2-hydroxyethyl group and is typically used as a preservative or stabilizer (36). Exposure to phenoxyethanol has been linked to things as minor as eczema to severe, life-threatening allergic reactions (37,38). Oral exposure in infants can impair nervous system function (39). Additionally, in 2008, the FDA recalled it as unsafe for breastfeeding infants due to concerns about how it affects their central nervous system (40). Even the mainstream recognizes these concerns. One mainstream source states phenoxyethanol is unsafe for infants (41). Another mainstream source says to avoid phenoxyethanol if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering using it on a child under 3 years old (42).

Polyethylene Glycol

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a biocompatible, synthetic, hydrophilic polyether compound used as a binding and dispersing agent; it can improve the separation of particles while preventing clumping (43). Polyethylene Glycol is an active ingredient in laxatives like MiraLAX, with a long list of side effects like severe or bloody diarrhea, rectal bleeding, blood in your stool, painful or worsening stomach pains, and more (44). Side effects aside, according to MADE SAFE, the process of ethoxylation can cause ethylene oxide contamination, which can cause cancer (45).

Talc

Talc, in its natural form, often contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled (46). Did you know in 1976, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA), now known as the Personal Care Products Council, which is the trade association representing the cosmetic and personal care products industry, issued voluntary guidelines stating that all talc used in cosmetic products in the United States should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos according to their standards? This doesn’t mean that asbestos-free talc is safe, though! Studies that exposed lab animals (rats, mice, and hamsters) to asbestos-free talc in various ways have had mixed results, with some showing tumor formation and others not finding any (47).

Natural Sunscreen Recommendations

Remember, sun exposure isn’t always bad. In fact, it is particularly helpful in treating vitamin D deficiency, seasonal affective disorders, psoriasis, sarcoidosis, mycosis fungoides, and numerous other cutaneous conditions (48). So go outside and get your sun, but if you need sunscreen alternatives for longer exposure periods, my natural brand recommendations include:

• Badger’s Natural Mineral Sunscreen sets the standard for simple, safe sunscreens that protect you and your family. With nourishing and protecting properties and organic ingredients, this brand’s mineral sunscreens are ideal for long days in the sun. With a wide variety of options for babies, kids, and adults, this reef and human-friendly option will surely have something for everyone.
• Two Peas Organics’ All-Natural, Organic Mineral Sunscreen uses highly effective plant-derived and certified organic ingredients to provide superior biodegradable sun protection and coral reef safe. This sunscreen provides reliable SPF 30 broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It is gentle enough for a baby’s sensitive skin yet strong enough to cover kids and adults.

Product Disclaimer

Product recommendations are affiliate links. I do not own or make these products. Recommendations are selected according to ingredients at the time article was written and can change at any time. I encourage you to double-check ingredients and research each company to ensure they’re suitable for your journey.

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