Is your SPF Safe?

Check out Safe Sun - Part 3 to learn the important differences between the active ingredients in your SPF.

Head over to my IG and save this post for later when you are SPF shopping or for that convo with your girlfriend when it comes up.

This is not an exclusive list of ingredients I avoid but they are ones I find really often when scanning SPF labels!

I know it isn’t realistic to be able to change every single thing we are using to a safe option, but clean SPF is one of those things I really, REALLY encourage you to find a safe option for.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this or any SPF questions you have in the IG post!

Active Ingredients to Avoid

Oxybenzone
Homosalate
Octocrylene
Octinoxate
Benzophenone
PABA

The active ingredients are the first thing I want you to look at because of how well they migrate into your bloodstream. They are found in basically any human secretion (breast milk, urine, blood) and directly correlated to breast and blood cancers, DNA damage, skin cancer, infertility, thyroid function and hormonal disruption.

Homosalate in particular was connected to 3.5 times breast cancer cell growth and multiplication

Inactive Ingredients to Avoid

“Fragrance”
BHA/BHT
PEG’s
Tocopheryl Acetate
Phenoxyethanol
EDTA
Polyquaternium
Petroleum
Anything ending in - Paraben and ‘eareth’

The active ingredients are my first concern, but unfortunately, many companies often hide dangerous ingredients in the inactive ingredients. This is not an extensive list, but are ingredients I find most often in sun protection. These ingredients come with risks of skin irritation, cancers, negative infant nervous system impacts, organ and developmental toxicity, premature puberty, infertility and so much more.

Fragrance

Most people read “fragrance” on a label and assume it’s one ingredient, but the fact is, this one listed ingredient, can legally hide up to almost 4000 different chemicals under the “fragrance” label.

If a company was being transparent about their practices, they would label or disclose all chemicals that create the smell for that product. When a company chooses to put “fragrance” on their label instead of listing the ingredients showing WHY it smells the way it smells, it’s a big NO for me.

What we know of chemicals allowed under the “fragrance” secret label, is that they It can contain phthalates (one of the top ingredients to avoid to REVERSE breast cancer markers), known carcinogens (cancer causers), endocrine (hormone) disruptors, developmental and reproductive harm and infertility.

PEG’s and anything ending in ‘eareth’

Ethoxylated ingredients will most often look on labels like this:

PEG followed by a number. Example: PEG-10
PPG followed by a number. Example: PPG - 3
Anything ending in ‘eareth’. Example: steareth, ceteareth
Polysorbate

these are considered ethoxylated ingredients. They are not only penetration enhancers (so other ingredients in product have better ability to absorb deeper), but also have high risk of manufacturing contaminants, 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide. Both of these are carcinogenic, connected to reproductive and developmental detriments, hormonal disruption and DNA damage.

Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that’s often found in “cleaner” brands. Although there isn’t the same amount of data as other preservatives showing harm, there also isn’t data showing safety.

This ingredient is a big red flag to me - it shows me that company is looking for a cheap option that isn’t “as bad”, even though there are multiple other preservatives with much good safety data.

Exposures to phenoxyethanol are linked to reactions ranging from eczema and hives to severe, life-threatening allergic reactions. Infant oral exposure can acutely affect nervous system function.

In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to purchase Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream. Phenoxyethanol, found in the cream, was depressing the central nervous system and causing vomiting and diarrhea in breast feeding infants.

Polyquaternium

This can look like on the label:

Benzalkonium chloride
Benzethonium chloride
Quaternium-15
Centrimonium bromide
Polyquaternium – followed by a number (i.e. polyquaternium-7).

This ingredient is a formaldehyde releaser and likely contaminates include carcinogenic properties and have adverse reproductive, immune system and developmental effects.

Tocopheryl Acetate

This is an ingredient often contaminated by Hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone is an impurity of synthetic tocopheryl acetate or tocopherol (vitamin E). While it has been classified as a carcinogen, in vitro and in vivo studies show that it exhibits some mutagenic properties.

EDTA

Although there isn’t a lot of data showing this ingredient itself is harmful in the amounts used in personal care products, it is a penetration enhancer…meaning any other unsafe ingredients on the label have more potent potential.

There are multiple studies showing at high doses, it contributes to genetic instability and adverse developmental and reproductive effects in animals.

BHA/BHT

BHA and BHT are both butylated compounds used as preservative systems in food and personal care products. These chemicals are linked to several health concerns including endocrine (hormone) disruption and organ-system toxicity.

Petroleum

Although when fully refined, petroleum doesn’t have any known health effect, petroleum and petroleum derived products have no US refinement requirements exist. Is the EU, all petroleum products must be refined of toxic hydrocarbons. We don’t have that system here.

The primary concern with petrolatum is the potential contamination with PAHs.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) considers PAHs as a class to contain reasonably anticipated carcinogens; the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists 14 PAHs as probable or possible carcinogens and one PAH as a known carcinogen.

A study on Long Island, NY, found that those women with high levels of PAH had a 50 percent greater risk of breast cancer.

Parabens

Ethylparaben
Butylparaben
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Isobutylparaben
Isopropylparaben
Other ingredients ending in –paraben

Parabens are used in between 75-90% of personal care products. They are well-established endocrine (hormone) disruptors and have been found in almost 100% of all humans tested.

Paraben exposure is linked to breast cancer proliferation, blocking of the efficacy of breast cancer drug tamoxifen, allergies, asthma, thyroid issues, infertility, testicular dysgenesis, metabolic disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and so much more.

A 2024 study actually concluded, avoiding parabens could be a “plausible breast cancer prevention strategy.”

What SPF should I use??

My absolute favorite SPF for body and face is Crunchi’s - for ease of use and performance. It has zero white cast and absorbs like regular lotion and water resistant for 80 minutes!

Head over to my Approved Page for more clean options!

Sources

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/fragrance/

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/ethoxylated-ingredients/

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/phenoxyethanol/

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/butylated-compounds/

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/parabens/

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/quaternium-15/

https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/benzene-known-carcinogen-in-spray-sunscreens-deodorants-a1136768493/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36746253/

https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/petrolatum/

https://www.isitbadforyou.com/questions/is-tetrasodium-edta-bad-for-you

The information offered by me is for general educational and informational purposes only. None of this information is a substitute or replacement for professional or medical advice.

Please note that the products may contain affiliate links to products or services. I may receive a commission for any purchases made through these links. However, this does not affect the recommendations or advice provided. Any reviews or recommendations of products or services are done in good faith based on my experience, their relevance to the needs, and my belief in their value and alignment with my values. I am not responsible for any dissatisfaction with third-party products or services, and may not be held liable for any injuries or damages that occur as a result of their use.

Safe Sun - Part 4