Proposed legislation to ban octinoxate and oxybenzone in sunscreens was passed by the Hawaii's legislature last week because of the harmful ecological impact on the coral reefs and their causing hormonal and reproductive harm to marine animals according to a 2015 study. This is a first of its kind legislation that could set the standard for other states to follow. If the legislation is signed by Governor David Ige, it will become law in January of 2021.
The two ingredients identified in the proposed legislation, octinoxate and oxybenzone are also bad for humans. One study in the International Journal of Andrology detected oxybenzone in 96 percent of the American urine samples it tested, and chemical UV-filters were detected in 85 percent of Swiss breast milk samples. Oxybenzone has been found to mimic estrogen in cellular studies, while butylparaben, which is present in a host of cosmetics in addition to sunscreen, has been linked to endocrine disruption, which can cause everything from development delays to poor reproductive health.
Take care of your family and the environment. Avoid chemical sunscreens with octinoxate and oxybenzone.
So what is a health conscious and environmentally concerned person who prefers not to get skin cancer or burned to do? Avoid chemical sunscreens such as those that contain octinoxate and oxybenzone. Be careful and read the ingredient list before you buy; there are 3400+ sunscreens on the market with those toxic ingredients.
Fortunately, there are a number of brands that offer varying quality of natural sun protection. At the higher quality end of the spectrum is ATZEN which has been at the forefront of natural and eco-friendly skincare with their Superior to Organic® line of products. Many users have attested to the high quality of their sunscreens. They have three products that offer sun protection -- Natural Protection Face and Eyes SPF30, Sun Shield SPF50+ and Bio-Active SPF 15. All three use high quality zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and double as moisturizers. Buyers beware, not all zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the same. High quality ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can cost 20 times more than lower quality ones. The products are safe for all ages, non-oily, non-sticky, no tearing of the eyes and leave no white residue. Even people with very sensitive skin can use these products.