"97% of Americans have Oxybenzone — a hormone-disrupting sunscreen chemical — detectable in their bloodstream."

Such are the concerns surrounding toxic sunscreen ingredients — a topic that keeps us at Suntribe on our toes! Navigating the world of sunscreen can be as complex as decoding a secret language. Ever found yourself wondering which sunscreen ingredients to avoid? Luckily, we have crafted a straightforward and practical guide to unravel toxic sunscreen ingredients and help you confidently select a sunscreen that is as safe as it is effective.

Why should I avoid chemical sunscreen ingredients?

The science is increasingly hard to ignore:

⇒ They're widespread and largely unregulated — 63% of ingredients in the most popular sunscreens in Europe are classified as dangerous for human health and/or the environment.

⇒ They interfere with your hormones — Conventional sunscreens contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can throw your hormonal system off balance, and have even been linked to infertility in men.

⇒ They enter your body — Certain chemical UV filters have been shown to cause decreased birth weight and are detectable in the bloodstream and urine — meaning they don't just sit on your skin.

⇒ They pass to your children — Chemical UV filters have been found in breast milk and linked to Hirschsprung's disease, a serious digestive birth defect.

Which toxic sunscreen ingredients should I avoid?

In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration, which governs sunscreen safety, proposed its most recent update to sunscreen regulations. It was found that only two UV filters were classified as safe and effective. This is based on information currently available and revealed Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to be the safest options. Most of the other conventional sunscreen ingredients were proposed as not generally safe and effective, some due to insufficient data and some due to highly concerning study results.

To help you detect harmful ingredients in sunscreen and skin care products, we’ve compiled an overview of toxic sunscreen ingredients here.

The list below is in the order of their toxicity ranking according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The ingredients listed have also been found to exceed the safety thresholds of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For reference, Zinc Oxide reaches an EWG safety rating of 1 (when used in creams) to 3 (when used in spray or powder sunscreens). A safety rating of 1 is the best possible, whereas 10 is the worst possible. Due to their high toxicity, the following high-risk chemical UV filters have already been banned in 8 countries and regions around the globe.

Harmful active sunscreen ingredients to avoid — HIGH-RISK

For reference, Zinc Oxide reaches an EWG safety rating of 1 (when used in creams) to 3 (when used in spray or powder sunscreens). A safety rating of 1 is the best possible, whereas 10 is the worst possible. Due to their high toxicity, the following high-risk chemical UV filters have already been banned in 8 countries and regions around the globe.

Oxybenzone / Benzophenone-3 (BP-3)

• EWG safety rating of 8
• Endocrine disruptor: mimics estrogen, found in the bloodstream, linked to male infertility
• Passes through the skin and placenta — found directly in fetal and umbilical cord blood
• Higher exposure during pregnancy linked to Hirschsprung's Disease, a digestive birth defect in newborns
• Animal studies show underweight fetuses and disrupted hormone development after early pregnancy exposure
• Inhibits the growth of coral larvae and causes coral bleaching

Octinoxate / Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMZ)

• EWG safety rating of 5
• Detected in breast milk, human blood, and urine
• Endocrine disruptor, reproductive and developmental toxicity, organ system toxicity: linked to thyroid dysfunction miscarriage and infertility

Harmful active sunscreen ingredients to avoid — MODERATE RISK

The ingredients below carry a moderate level of concern — they're not the most alarming on our list, but there's enough evidence of hormonal disruption, skin sensitivity, and environmental harm to warrant a closer look at your label.

Homosalate

• EWG safety rating of 2-4
• Potential endocrine disruptor: disrupts reproductive hormones
• Impairs the growth of marine wildlife, e.g., sea orchids and algae
• Made from Salicylic Acid
• Likely to cause birth defects in humans and fish and is not recommended for pregnant women.

Octisalate / Ethylhexyl Salicylate

• EWG safety rating of 1-3
• It can cause skin irritations.
• Made from Salicylic Acid
• Likely to cause birth defects in humans and fish and is not recommended for pregnant women.

Octocrylene / 2-Ethylhexyl Ester

• EWG safety rating of 2-3
• High rate of photo contact allergies: can result in irritations and eczema when the skin comes in contact with both Octocrylene and sunlight
• The first evidence of bioaccumulation, e.g., accumulates in the brain and liver of zebrafish, affecting developmental processes and organ development.

Harmful active sunscreen ingredients to avoid — LOW-RISK

These ingredients sit at the lower end of our concern scale — but "low risk" doesn't mean risk-free. The issues here are more indirect: stability problems, ecotoxins, and a tendency to be formulated alongside more problematic filters.

Nano Titanium Dioxide

• EWG rating of 1-8 (the rating is higher for products with risk of inhalation such as sprays)
• Found in many cosmetics including sunscreen
• Based on animal inhalation experiments, classified as a possible risk to humans
• Considered potentially carcinogenic in powdered or spray form — e.g. sunscreen sprays, SPF powders, and eyeshadows

Avobenzone

• EWG safety rating of 1-2
• Not photostable on its own: breaks down in contact with UV light, producing ecotoxins
• Therefore, it is often combined with stabilizers like Octisalate, which is mentioned higher up on this list

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB)

• A chemical UVA filter found in many European sunscreens — banned in the US
• A harmful byproduct of DHHB was found in children's urine samples, likely from sunscreen exposure
• Confirmed to contain a contaminant linked to hormone disruption and reproductive problems
• Belongs to the phthalate family — a group of chemicals widely associated with hormonal interference
• Safe limits exist on paper, but require special manufacturing processes that not all producers follow
• Breaks down into potentially harmful compounds when it enters chlorinated water, such as swimming pools

Harmful inactive sunscreen ingredients to avoid

Besides harmful active sunscreen ingredients, some inactive ingredients are not yet restricted, even though they bear significant risks to public health. Here, you can find a list of inactive sunscreen ingredients, and you should make sure that they don't appear on the list of components of the products you use!

Parabens

• Found in the majority of conventional cosmetics, primarily used to extend shelf life by preventing bacterial growth
• Linked to breast cancer risk — research suggests they may interfere with the mechanisms of breast cells
• Some parabens have already been banned in certain countries (see ingredient bans section below)
• Others — including ethylparaben, methylparaben, and any ingredient ending in -paraben — remain approved for use in cosmetics

Retinyl Palmitate

• EWG safety rating of 1-9
• A form of vitamin A that may result in skin damage and cancer
• Evidence suggests it may accelerate the growth of cancer cells when used on skin under sunlight
• A Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety study found excessive vitamin A can cause liver damage, hair loss, and osteoporosis

Methylisothiazolinone (MI)

• EWG rating of 7
• Widely-used preservative
• Studies suggest it may be neurotoxic and cause allergic reactions
• Commonly used in sunscreen, meaning users are likely exposed to significant concentrations

Thankfully, many countries have taken action and banned several of these toxic sunscreen ingredients by now. Hawaii and Palau have banned the harmful UV filters Oxybenzone and Octinoxate to save coral reefs. Various national parks in Mexico have also banned high-risk active ingredients to preserve their environment. So far, eight destinations worldwide have banned toxic sunscreen ingredients.

The solution: choose a mineral sunscreen instead

Generally speaking, mineral sunscreens are much healthier and bear no risk to human health or the planet's well-being when formulated with the right ingredients. They also offer additional benefits, such as protecting you from the moment of application.

What is the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens?

Mineral and chemical sunscreens work in very different ways. Chemical sunscreens reply on UV-filters such as Oxybenzone or Avbenzone and penetrate your skin and bloodstream. Many people are unaware that chemical sunscreens need to be applied before being exposed to the sun. They take 20-30 minutes to work since they have to penetrate your skin. Chemical sunscreens need to change the characteristics of your cells from within to protect you from the sun.

Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, act as a shield on top of your skin and reflect sun rays. They protect you from the first moment of application, which is worth a lot when, for example, you're at the beach with your kids, who are eager to run into the water! Plus, mineral sunscreens tend to be much less skin-irritating as they usually contain more natural ingredients. This makes them suitable for sensitive skin, allergies and babies.

Why should I use a mineral sunscreen?

⇒ They work differently — and more completely — Mineral sunscreens physically reflect UV rays rather than absorbing them, giving you broader, more reliable protection across both UVB and UVA spectrums.

⇒ Fewer ingredients, less to worry about — Mineral formulas tend to be simpler and cleaner, which means fewer potential irritants, allergens, and unknowns sitting on your skin all day.

⇒ Better for the ocean, not just you — When formulated with Non-Nano Zinc Oxide or Non-Nano Titanium Dioxide, mineral sunscreens won't dissolve into the water and damage coral reefs — making them the most environmentally responsible choice currently available.

⇒ The "ghost face" era is over — Modern mineral sunscreens blend seamlessly into all skin tones, with many formulas going on completely transparent. No white cast, no compromise.

How do I choose a safe sunscreen?

Now that you know what to avoid, here's what to look for. These three tips will help you cut through the noise and pick a safe sunscreen.

Tip 1: Check the safety rating of your sunscreen

Some platforms will make the search for safe sunscreen much easier. You can, e.g., use EWG’s ranking as a guideline. Simply type in the name of the brand or product you are looking for, and you’ll find detailed information about which safety rating the product has and each sunscreen ingredient.

Tip 2: Make sure to check all the ingredients, not only the UV filter

Apart from the active ingredients (UV filters), you should also be cautious of other ingredients. We recommend you look for a clean label, which means it is easy to recognize and has no synthetic ingredients! Of course, it can still be safe even if you don’t recognize an ingredient. Names of ingredients can be confusing, especially when they are listed with their INCI name (the official international nomenclature used to uniquely identify ingredients in cosmetics). Several apps provide a fast and easy way to identify clean and safe ingredients: INCI Beauty, Think Dirty & CodeCheck.

Tip 3: Understand the sunscreen label

Sunscreen labels can be confusing something, so it’s great to know which boxes your sunscreen should tick:

⇒ Broad Spectrum Protection

Broad Spectrum Protection means that sunscreen protects from UVA and UVB rays. This is very important since UVA and UVB rays harm your skin, and the Sun Protection Factor only indicates UVB protection. UVA rays enter your skin on an even deeper level than UVB rays and have been found to have the potential to cause long-lasting skin damage, such as premature aging and skin cancer.

⇒ SPF

Every sunscreen you use should, of course, provide SPF! According to the FDA, you should choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 for proper protection. If you want to know more about how SPF works, check out our article about SPF, UVA & UVB on our website. 

Good to know: The difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is only 1 percentage point! Learn more about SPF 30 & SPF 50

⇒ Water Resistance

Make sure to choose a sunscreen with sufficient water resistance! This is important when you plan to go for a swim and helps you ensure that the sunscreen keeps protecting you when you’re sweating! The water resistance label tells you how long a sunscreen protects you when in contact with water or sweat. It can either be 40 (“water resistant”) or 80 minutes (“very water resistant”). So, depending on what your needs are, make sure to choose a sunscreen that fits.

What about Tallow Sunscreen?

In recent years, tallow-based sunscreens have gained attention among fans of natural skincare and "clean beauty" products. These formulations use rendered beef tallow - often from grass-fed cattle - and sometimes combine it with mineral filters like Non-Nano Zinc Oxide. Advocates claim tallow's lipid-rich composition closely mimics the skin's natural barrier, providing hydration, comfort and support for sensitive or dry skin. For those seeking a more natural sunscreen option, this appeal is understandable.

However, it's crucial that we separate hype from proven sun protection. Tallow alone does not provide reliable UVA and UVB protection, meaning that relying solely on it can leave skin vulnerable to sunburn, photoaging, and long-term UV damage. Some modern formulations mix tallow with verified mineral filters, which may offer credible broad-spectrum coverage. Even then, effectiveness depends on the proper formulation, sufficient active ingredient concentration, and correct application - including generous use and regular application. For consumers considering tallow-based sunscreens, the safest approach is to treat them as a supplement to conventional broad-spectrum protection, rather than a replacement. Combining these products with well-tested SPF creams, protective clothing, shade and responsible sun habits ensures both skin safety and comfort.

We hope this makes it easier for you to find a worry-free sunscreen for you and the planet. By taking these tips as a guideline and being aware of potentially toxic ingredients, you can choose a safe sunscreen for you and nature!

Should you come across any more specific questions on the topic, you’re always welcome to reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to give you a hand in finding the perfect sunscreen for you.