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Safer Sunscreen Guide: 2025

  • Writer: Alex Kelly
    Alex Kelly
  • Mar 6
  • 1 min read

Updated: 1 day ago


Chemical Sunscreen

Allows UV light into the skin. Once the light is absorbed, the chemicals in the sunscreen create a reaction in which UV light is converted to heat and dissipates from the skin. The typical chemicals you will find are: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. You will also typically find parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, nonparticles, and more.


Mineral Sunscreen

Uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which sit on the skin's surface and physically prevents UV rays from penetrating the skin. This is the "safer" option of the two. It is not absorbed into the skin like the chemicals in “typical” sunscreen, and usually doesn’t contain all the unnecessary and toxic additives mentioned above.


Ingredients to Avoid

avobenzone

homosalate

octinoxate

octisalate

octocrylene

oxybenzone

benziosothiazolinone

butylated hydroytoluene (BHT)

butyloctyl salicylate

disodium EDTA

diethanolamine (DEA)

ethoxylared ingredients (PEG-, PPG-, poly-, -eth, -oxynol

fragrance / parfum

mineral oil

methylisothiazolinone

monoethanolamine (MEA)

nonaparticles

para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

parabens

phenoxyethanol

phthalates

propylene glycol

triethanolamine (TEA)




Butyloctyl Salicylate

Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical often used in beauty products to soften skin and dissolve other ingredients. In sunscreen, it is used as a UV filter and SPF booster. It is categorized as “Aquatic Chronic 4,” meaning it is NOT reef safe. Some studies show it may be an endocrine disruptor, and is not typically recommend for use by pregnant women. 

Application: IRL



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