These 22 Sunscreens Are Free from Unwanted Chemicals
We tested 52 sunscreens and sun sprays for suspected endocrine disruptors and other unwanted substances. See the results here.
Are you buying a new sunscreen for your summer vacation? We tested 52 sunscreens for problematic chemicals so you can easily choose a sunscreen without unwanted chemicals.
These sunscreens are free from unwanted chemicals
In the test, 22 sunscreens received the highest rating, the A-rating, because they are free from a range of unwanted chemicals. All the sunscreens are bought on the Danish market.
The protection of the sunscreens is not tested
This test is a chemical test, where The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals examined the ingredient lists of sunscreens for chemicals suspected of being endocrine disruptors, allergens, or environmentally problematic.
Selected sunscreens ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays is continuously lab-tested by The Danish Consumer Council THINK. To see the functional test of selected sunscreens, you need to log in or become a member.
Avoid suspected endocrine-disrupting UV-filters
In the test, 20 out of 52 sunscreens with SPF 30 received the lowest chemical rating, the C-rating, because most of them contain UV filters or other substances suspected of being endocrine disruptors.
For one of the creams, this is due to the content of a UV filter problematic for the environment.
These are substances listed by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and other authorities as endocrine disruptors or substances that are suspected endocrine disruptors for other reasons.
The most common suspected endocrine-disrupting UV-filters in the tested suncreams are ethylhexyl salicylate, octocrylene, and homosalate.
Sunscreens can contain perfumes and environmentally harmful substances
25 sunscreens in the test contain perfumes or plant extracts that can cause allergies.
These chemicals receive a medium rating, the B-rating, in our test.
Plant extracts or perfuming substances may be added to sunscreen to give a specific scent.
It is a good idea to consider whether you need perfumes, plant extracts, or other allergy-causing substances in sunscreen that stays on your skin for a long time.
You may also encounter environmentally harmful substances in sunscreen. They are added for different reasons for example, to extend the shelf life of the product.
If you choose sunscreens with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel or the A-rating, you can avoid a range of environmentally problematic substances.
The cocktail effect is the problem - not the individual sunscreen
Substances suspected of being endocrine disruptors can be problematic in products due to the so-called cocktail effect.
The cocktail effect means you can be exposed to problematic chemicals from many sources in your daily life. The total exposure can pose a health risk.
Sunscreen is in itself safe and important to use as sun protection.
But it is generally a good idea to reduce your total exposure to suspected endocrine disruptors when you can. For example, by choosing a sunscreen without the problematic substances.
Always use sunscreen – regardless of the chemicals
If you already have a sunscreen that gets the C-rating in our test or in our app, Kemiluppen, you don’t need to throw it out.
It is important to use sunscreen for sun protection during the summer regardless of the ingredient list.
Our test helps you make a good choice the next time you need to buy a sunscreen and want to avoid undesirable substances.
About the test
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We checked the ingredient lists of 52 sunscreens with SPF 30 for a range of problematic chemicals for health and the environment.
All sunscreens were purchased in Danish stores and online shops in the spring of 2024. Some of the sunscreens in the test were also reported to us by users after a survey on social media.
We sent the ingredient lists of the products to the manufacturers to check that the information is correct.
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22 sunscreens are free from a range of undesirable chemicals and receive the highest rating, the A-rating.
10 sunscreens contain perfumes or environmentally problematic substances and receive a medium rating, the B-rating.
20 sunscreens contain suspected endocrine disruptors or other problematic substances. They receive the lowest rating, the C-rating.
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Most suspected endocrine disruptors in the sunscreen test are UV filters.
Some are also perfuming substances, preservatives, , or antioxidants.
- Ethylhexyl salicylate: This substance is a UV filter suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.
- Octocrylene: This substance is a UV filter suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.
- Homosalate: This substance is a UV filter suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.
- Benzyl salicylate: This substance is a perfume suspected of being an endocrine disruptor and can cause allergies.
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate: This substance is a UV filter suspected of being an endocrine disruptor and can be problematic for the environment.
- Methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (nano): This substance is a UV filter problematic for the environment.
- Isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate: This substance is a UV filter suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.
- Benzophenone-3: This substance is a UV filter suspected of being an endocrine disruptor and can be problematic for the environment.
- BHA: This substance is an antioxidant suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.
- Methylparaben: This substance is a preservative suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.
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Perfume and perfuming substances can cause allergies. They receive a medium rating, the B-rating.
If you want to lower your risk of perfume allergy, it is a good idea to limit how much perfume you are exposed to overall. The same goes for certain plant extracts that can cause allergies.
Some perfuming substances can also be problematic for the environment.
We found perfume in 22 sunscreens and potentially allergy-causing plant extracts in 6 sunscreens.
We also found EDTA compounds in 9 sunscreens. These substances can help release heavy metals that are otherwise bound in nature.
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In our test, we evaluate substances on the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and other countries’ common authority list from June 2020 of substances suspected of being endocrine disruptors and/or the EU Commission’s list of potential endocrine disruptors in cosmetics and personal care products.
We also look for substances classified by the EU as allergens or problematic for the Environment.
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We do not evaluate nano compounds in the test.
The EU has approved the use of certain nanomaterials in personal care products.
Nano ingredients has been assessed to be safe as long as the product is used on intact skin and not as an aerosol spray. Under the individual products in the test, you can see whether the manufacturer has indicated that they contain nano.
If you have eczema or other skin conditions, it may be a good idea to avoid sunscreen with nano.
If you want to avoid nano, you can choose sunscreens with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, which does not allow nano. Alternatively, you can check the ingredient list where "nano" must appear in parentheses after the substance's name if it is on nanoform.