Sunscreen is the single most important part of any skincare regime. It is the most effective solution for anti-aging and protects against cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays. But what if your sunscreen was doing you more harm than good? Oxybenzone is an ingredient used in over 40% of sunscreens that can cause hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and allergic reactions (EWG’s Worst Scoring, 2017). This compound has the ability to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. A study done by the U.S. Center for Disease Control showed that oxybenzone was found in 97% of the people tested (CDC: Americans, 2008). Further studies that the more oxybenzone present in pregnant women the more likely they are to give birth to underweight girls. Babies born underweight are at a higher rate for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other severe health complications (CDC: Americans, 2008). Not only that, but oxybenzone can be found in the breast milk of new mothers, causing their children to ingest this harmful chemical. Allergic reactions are also commonly linked to oxybenzone, causing photoallergic contact dermatitis due to sun exposure (CDC: Americans, 2008). In fact, it was crowned “Allergen of the Year” by the American Contact Dermatitis Society in 2014 (Vazirnia, MAS, Jacob, 2015). Soleil Toujours uses safe and gentle mineral based SPF, not chemical based. Oxybenzone and other similar chemicals are never used in our products, so slather yourself up and enjoy the sun!
Unfortunately, oxybenzone isn’t just harmful to humans. Recently, research has discovered that oxybenzone is extremely detrimental to coral reefs. Biologists discovered that oxybenzone reacts to DNA in the same way gasoline would. It halts the reproduction and growth of coral and causes deformities in the tissue which can lead to the destructions of entire reefs (Yuhas, 2017). Research found that even a drop of oxybenzone in the amount of water contained in six and a half olympic-sized swimming pools can damage coral, yet humans contribute to contamination of 25 to 60 million bottles worth of sunscreen chemicals each year (Yuhas, 2017) (Sun, 2016). Soleil Toujours is working towards ending the spread of the harsh chemicals by using safe, natural ingredients, and when you indulge in our products, so are you!
"CDC: Americans Carry Body Burden of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical." EWG. N.p., 25 Mar. 2008. Web. 07 July 2017.
"OXYBENZONE." OXYBENZONE || Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database | EWG. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 July 2017.
Sun, Wendy. "Do the Chemicals in Your Sunscreen Damage Fragile Coral Reefs?" EWG. N.p., 6 July 2016. Web. 07 July 2017.
Sunscreens, EWG's 2017 Guide to. "EWG's 2017 Guide to Safer Sunscreens." EWG. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 July 2017.
Vazirnia, Aria, MAS, and Sharon E. Jacob, M.D. "Review ACDS' Allergen of the Year 2000-2015." Review ACDS' Allergen of the Year 2000-2015 | The Dermatologist. N.p., 2015. Web. 07 July 2017.
Yuhas, Alan. "Slathering on Sunscreen at the Beach? It May Be Destroying Coral Reefs."The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 28 Apr. 2017. Web. 07 July 2017.