Unfortunately, most SPF’s you will find in supermarkets and pharmacies are not supportive to human and environmental health. Some UV filters have been shown to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, with studies detecting them in blood plasma, urine, breast milk and other tissues after regular use. While the full health implications are still being researched, concerns about hormone disruption and irritation in children and sensitive skin are not going anywhere. There are major concerns from an environmental perspective too, with researchers estimating that 6,000–14,000 tonnes of UV filters are released into coral reef zones annually.

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SPF brands to avoid if you want to reduce your toxic load and choose better for the environment — **Common ingredients to look out for:**

**Alcohol Denat -** can dry and weaken the skin barrier, increasing sensitivity and post-sun inflammation.
**Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) -** a chemical UV filter linked to skin reactions and environmental persistence.
**Octocrylene** - can cause contact dermatitis and photo allergic reactions in sensitive skin, and has been found to accumulate in the body with repeated use.
**Octisalate (Ethylhexyl Salicylate) -** may irritate sensitive skin and has shown weak hormone-disrupting activity in lab studies.
**Acrylates Copolymers (microplastics) -**synthetic polymers that do not biodegrade and accumulate in waterways.
**Cyclopentasiloxane** - a volatile silicone that improves texture but is environmentally persistent and can trap heat or other ingredients against the skin.
**Triethanolamine (TEA) -** can be irritating and may form harmful by-products when combined with certain preservatives.
**Disodium EDTA -** persists in wastewater and rivers and can increase the mobility of heavy metals in water systems.
**Fragrance/Parfum -** an umbrella term that can hide hormone disrupting chemicals and allergens.

Thankfully, there are safer UV filters that are not shown to bioaccumulate in humans or pose risk to the environment.

Non-nano Zinc Oxide

This is the most common one used in natural SPF products because it provides broad spectrum protection - UVA and UVB. It’s important that it is non-nano zinc oxide, which stays sitting on top of the skin. It’s not hormonally active and it’s much safer for marine life.

Non-nano Titanium Dioxide

This is generally seen with zinc oxide as it provides only good UVB protection. Again the non-nano version sits on the skin with low absorption rates. Environmentally, it’s much gentler than the traditional chemical filters.

Mineral SPF for safe sun exposure

Common ingredients to look out for:

Mineral based SPF’s:

New chemical filters:

Mineral SPF for safe sun exposure

Common ingredients to look out for:

Mineral based SPF’s:

New chemical filters:

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