* UVB absorbers: para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), cinoxate, ensulizole,
homosalate, octocrylene, octinoxate, octisalate, padimate O, trolamine salicylate
But for 12 other active ingredients (cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole,
homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, padimate O, sulisobenzone, oxybenzone, and avobenzone), there are insufficient data to make a "generally recognized as safe and effective" determination; thus, more data have been requested from the manufacturers.
However, some sunscreens contain potentially damaging chemicals like oxybenzone, octinoxate, PABA,
homosalate, octosalate and avobenzone that disrupt coral reproduction, cause coral bleaching, and damage coral DNA.
In general, look for products that include ingredients such as zinc and titanium in mineral-based sunscreens, and avobenzene,
homosalate, and octisalate in chemical-based sunscreens.
(These chemicals include; oxybenzone/benzophenone, octinoxate, octisalate/octocrylene,
homosalate, avobenzone, ethylhexl methoxycinnamate, parabens, "fragrance," and retinyl palmitate.) As Jeff Bagshaw from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources says, "If you can't say it, don't spray it."
A chemical sunscreen is usually a cocktail of several ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate,
homosalate, helioplex, etc.
l Oxybenzone, octinoxate and
homosalate Found in many sunscreens, lip balms, and other products with SPF, these chemicals can cause endometriosis and can pose a risk to reproductive systems.
* Octisalate and
homosalate to fully enhance UVB radiation defense.
The frequency of each active component identified among the various samples was as follows: avobenzone, 88% (n=30); octo crylene, 82% (n = 28); octisalate, 73% (n=25); oxybenzone, 44% (n=15);
homosalate, 41% (n = 14); bemotrinizol, 38% (n=13); titanium dioxide, 32% (n=11); octinoxate, 17% (n=6); ensulizol, 17% (n=6); iscotrizinol, 5% (n=2); padimate O, 5% (n=2); octyltriazone, 3% (n=1).
* Benzophenone-3, 3-Benzylidene camphor, Padimate 0 and
homosalate are additional hormone disruptors commonly found in sunscreen.