Harmful Chemicals In Sunscreen: Aluminum And Non-Organic Plant Oils Explained

You’re trying to protect your skin from the sun. But then you read that sunscreen may contain harmful chemicals—and suddenly the choice feels more complicated than it should.

Some sunscreen ingredients do raise valid concerns. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid sunscreen altogether.

What matters most is choosing the right type of sunscreen and avoiding a few key ingredients.

This guide will help you understand which ingredients in sunscreens to avoid, without overcomplicating the decision.

What Sunscreen Ingredients Should You Avoid?

To begin with, concerns about sunscreen ingredients come from different areas of research. They include possible hormone effects, skin irritation, environmental impact, and how ingredients are made.

This doesn’t mean you should stop using sunscreen—it just means that ingredient choice matters.

If you want a quick starting point, focus on avoiding the following chemical sunscreen ingredients.

Step One: Avoid Fragrance And Chemical UV Filters In Sunscreen

First, start by choosing a fragrance-free sunscreen. This includes avoiding “fragrance,” “aroma,” “natural fragrance,” “natural fragrance oil,” and similar terms. These blends often contain undisclosed ingredients, some of which may trigger allergies or affect the endocrine system.

Next, make sure the sunscreen does not contain the chemical UV filters listed below.

Oxybenzone (also known as Benzophenone-3) is on the EU Chemicals Agency endocrine disruptor assessment list. It is also known to trigger allergic reactions in some people (source). Key West and Hawaii banned oxybenzone due to its toxic effects on coral reefs (source).

Octinoxate may affect hormone function (source and source). It has also been banned in Key West and Hawaii due to potential harm to marine ecosystems (source).

Octocrylene is also banned in Hawaii due to toxicity it poses to aquatic life (source). It has allergenic potency, ability to persist in the body and environment, and potential endocrine disruption properties (source, source, and source).

Homosalate showed potential for endocrine effects in studies (source).

Avobenzone might harm cells and cause problems with how the placenta develops early in pregnancy (source). It has endocrine-disrupting potential can function as an obesogen, consequently interfering with normal lipid metabolism (source and source). Maui does not allow avobenzone for use in or around the ocean (source).

Step Two: Avoid Sunscreens With These Harmful Chemicals

If you want to go a step further, you can also avoid the ingredients below to make your sunscreen an even safer choice.

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a controversial ingredient because of its suspected potential hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic impact (source, source, and source). In addition, it is on the state of California Hazardous Substances List (source).

Cyclopentasiloxane may contain toxic residues of endocrine disrupting cyclotetrasiloxane (source). For more information, visit my blog post about the Safety of Cyclopentasiloxane.

Ethoxylated ingredients, such as PEGs or the word “polysorbate” followed by a number or ending in “eth” (Laureth), are produced through the process called “ethoxylation.” Ethoxylation can create trace amounts of carcinogenic ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane that can easily be absorbed into the skin. To learn more about ethoxylated ingredients, please read my post on the Safety of Polysorbates.

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate is a contact allergen at concentrations as low as 0.1% (source and source).

Parabens can bind to the estrogen receptors and increase local estrogen levels. Hence, they are linked to hormone disruption (source). Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben have skin irritation potential (source). And benzylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, phenylparaben, and pentylparaben are banned from use in cosmetic products by the European Commission (source).  

Petrolatum is banned by the European Commission from use in cosmetic products unless the full refining history is available and shows that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen (source). Learn more and find 15 non-toxic petroleum jelly alternatives here.

Polyaminopropyl Biguanide is a skin sensitizer in concentrations higher than 2% and suspected of causing cancer (source).

Step Three: Consider Avoiding These Middle-Of-The-Road Ingredients

The ingredients below are generally less concerning than those above. That’s why you may still see them in the “better” category of my sunscreen guides for grownups.

However, for babies and kids my standards are stricter, and I recommend avoiding them altogether. Personally, I choose not to use products with these ingredients or include them in the non-toxic products shop on my website.

Acrylates can cause allergies, especially if you have pre-existing sensitivity (source).

Citrus Paradisi, alternatively referred to as “grapefruit seed extract,” may contain triclosan or other hormone-disrupting chemicals when used as a preservative (source). For details on the grapefruit seed extract controversy, visit my WaterWipes baby wipes review.

Chlorphenesin is toxic to human meibomian gland epithelial cells, located in the eyelids, and has skin irritation potential (source and source).

Phenoxyethanol is listed as a core allergen in concentrations above 1% by the American Society of Contact Dermatitis. Like chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol can also adversely affect the cells in our eyelids that make our eyes moist (source). My blog post Is Phenoxyethanol Safe? covers the safety concerns of this ingredient in detail.

Propylene Glycol may cause allergic and irritant contact dermatitis (source).

Should You Avoid Non-Organic Plant Oils And Extracts?

Non-organic plant oils and extracts may contain trace residues of pesticides, including potentially carcinogenic glyphosate, or solvents used during farming and processing.

In higher doses, these substances can contribute to skin irritation, or eye irritation and may affect overall health with repeated exposure (source).

Additionally, environmental chemicals may affect skin microbiome (source).

While there is no specific safety data on pesticide or solvent residue amounts in cosmetics, I believe it’s reasonable to consider that repeated exposure to small amounts may contribute to some negative effect on skin health.

That said, it’s important to keep perspective.

Certified organic plant extracts and oils can be expensive and sometimes unavailable, which can make shopping stressful. And that’s counterproductive—because stress itself can be more harmful to your health.

Bottom line: I’m more concerned when a product contains lots of plant oils and extracts and none are organic. However, if a formula includes just a few plant ingredients and at least some are organic, I consider it a “best” category choice.

Does Sunscreen Have Aluminum?

Yes, many conventional sunscreens use aluminum or its compounds – like aluminum hydroxide and aluminum stearate – to improve texture.

The good news is that normally aluminum does not penetrate the skin well.

However, some evidence suggests that aluminum found in sunscreens can potentially increase the risk of oxidative damage to the skin (source). 

Hence, I include it in the list of chemicals to avoid in sunscreens.

How To Choose Safe Sunscreen Without Overthinking It

Choosing safe sunscreen does not have to be complicated.

A simple approach is to start by eliminating fragrance and chemical sunscreen ingredients like:

• Oxybenzone
• Octinoxate
• Octocrylene
• Homosalate
• Avobenzone

Instead, choose mineral sunscreens that use non-nano zinc oxide as an active ingredient.

To take it a step further, check the ingredient list and avoid sunscreens with the following ingredients:

• Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
• Cyclopentasiloxane
• Ethoxylated Ingredients
• Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
• Parabens
• Petrolatum
• Polyaminopropyl Biguanide

Finally, to get complete peace of mind, you can consider avoiding the following middle-of-the-road ingredients:

• Acrylates
• Alumina (also Aluminum Hydroxide and Aluminum Stearate)
• Citrus Paradisi
• Chlorphenesin
• Phenoxyethanol
• Propylene Glycol

It also helps to choose products with simpler formulas. Fewer ingredients often mean fewer opportunities for irritation or unwanted interactions.

Finally, look for brands that are transparent about their ingredients and manufacturing practices. Clear labeling and quality control make a meaningful difference.

For sunscreen options without chemical UV filters, visit my post on Mineral Sunscreens without Oxybenzone.

Specifically for safe facial SPF options, refer to my guide to Best Non-Toxic Face Sunscreens.

Final Thoughts: Are Sunscreen Ingredients Actually Harmful?

Some sunscreen ingredients raise valid questions, especially with frequent and long-term use. But that does not mean sunscreen itself is something you should avoid.

You don’t need to get everything perfect. You just need to make a more informed choice than before.

A more practical approach is to avoid ingredients of concern by choosing safely formulated products.

My favorite mineral sunscreens without any harmful chemicals are Crunchi and Pure Haven. You can find them in the non-toxic products shop on my website.

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