Safe Sun, Safe Skin: The Sunscreen Ingredients to Skip

Aug 16, 2025

Sunscreen is an essential part of protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, premature aging, and skin cancer. But not all sunscreens are created equal. In fact, some contain harmful ingredients that can damage your health and the environment—especially marine life like coral reefs. If you're trying to make safer, more informed choices, here are toxic ingredients to avoid in sunscreen, along with our favourite cleaner alternatives.

1. Oxybenzone

  • A known endocrine disruptor that can interfere with hormone levels.

  • Can trigger allergic reactions and skin irritation.

  • Damages coral reefs—linked to coral bleaching and DNA damage in marine life.

2. Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate)

  • Disrupts thyroid and reproductive hormone function.

  • Penetrates the skin and has been found in breast milk.

  • Contributes to coral reef destruction.

3. Homosalate

  • Often used to help sunscreen ingredients absorb better.

  • Can build up in the body and affect hormone function.

  • Breaks down into harmful byproducts over time.

4. Octocrylene

  • Forms benzophenone, a potential carcinogen, as it degrades.

  • Accumulates in aquatic ecosystems and has been found in fish and coral.

  • Linked to allergic skin reactions.

5. Parabens (e.g., Methylparaben, Propylparaben)

  • Preservatives used to extend shelf life.

  • Mimic estrogen and disrupt hormonal balance.

  • Detected in breast tissue and linked to breast cancer in some studies.

6. Fragrance (Parfum)

  • Often a cocktail of undisclosed chemicals.

  • Can cause allergies, irritation, and even respiratory issues.

  • "Fragrance" is considered a trade secret, so companies aren’t required to disclose ingredients.

7. Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate)

  • May increase sun sensitivity and speed up the development of skin tumors and lesions when exposed to sunlight.

  • Not suitable for daytime sun exposure, despite being an antioxidant.

Safer, Reef-Friendly Alternatives

Look for sunscreens that are:

Recommended Ingredients:

  • Zinc Oxide – Broad-spectrum protection, non-irritating, safe for coral reefs

  • Titanium Dioxide – Effective at blocking UVB and some UVA rays, gentle on sensitive skin

Shop our best selling safe sunscreens here! 

Check ingredient labels even on “natural” or “organic” sunscreens—marketing terms don’t guarantee safety. While protecting your skin is vital, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your health or the planet. Choose sunscreens with safe, non-toxic ingredients, and avoid common chemical culprits like oxybenzone and octinoxate. Your skin—and the Earth—will thank you.
Back to Cheung's Wellness Edit

Share this