Safer Sunscreen Guide: 2025
- Alex Kelly
- Mar 6
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 2
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.
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