Protecting Your Skin: 10 Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid for Safe, Healthy Protection
Wondering which sunscreen is safe to use? Look no further! Here, we've compiled a list of 10 ingredients you should avoid when choosing the perfect product for your skin. Adventure through this journey with us and find out what sunscreens can bring joy and effective protection from the sunny rays!
Oxybenzone
Linked to endocrine disruption, this ingredient is commonly found in chemical sunscreens.
Retinyl palmitate
This vitamin A derivative can irritate skin and increase sensitivity to the sun's rays.
Homosalate
This UV-filtering ingredient has been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity and immunotoxicity in animals.
Parabens
Used for their preservative properties, parabens have long been suspected of being potential hormone disruptors; they've even been identified in biopsies from women with breast cancer!
Octinoxate
Another UV-filtering agent, octinoxate has been linked with developmental and reproductive toxicity as well as endocrine disruption.
Octisalate
Linked to skin sensitization and known to disrupt hormones in laboratory studies, this UV-filtering agent should be avoided if possible.
Avobenzone
While effective against UVA rays, avobenzone can cause skin irritation or discoloration in some people - so use with caution!
Octocrylene
This UV-filtering agent has been associated with allergic reactions and toxic effects at high levels that may include damage to genetic material (DNA).
Fragrances/Perfumes
Many synthetic fragrances contain phthalates which are known endocrine disruptors and estrogen mimickers – two big reasons why they should be avoided when possible!
Sulfates/Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS)
These harsh ingredients can strip protective oils from the skin leading to irritation and inflammation – definitely not ideal for your sensitive areas!
When shopping for sunscreen, always read labels carefully and opt for products that use natural or mineral based ingredients instead of those listed above – your skin will thank you later!
All images used are part of a work in progress project called Humanæ by the Brazilian artist, Angélica Dass.
Based in Madrid, Dass is documenting the range of human skin tones through her portraits. To create her human mosaic, she paired each of nearly 4,000 portraits with specific PANTONE® ‘guides’—reference cards used by the world’s designers since the 1960s.
