It’s spooky season, but the scariest thing this Halloween might be lurking inside your sunscreen.
From questionable chemical filters to ingredients that are easy to overlook, not every sunscreen formula is as straightforward as it seems. The front of a bottle may promise protection, hydration, or a “clean” formula, but the real story is found in the ingredients. In this blog, we’ll unmask six sunscreen ingredients worth taking a closer look at.
1. Oxybenzone: A Reef-Questionable Filter
Oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone-3, is a chemical UV filter commonly used in sunscreen. While it may absorb UV radiation, laboratory research has raised environmental concerns about its potential effects on coral and marine organisms.
The NOAA reports that oxybenzone exposure to coral reefs and marine life is highly toxic, but yet it is still found in 3,500 skin products worldwide.
That's not all, oxybenzone has the ability to mimic hormones. This leads to long term health issues, such as skin irritation and premature aging.
Due to the fact that sunscreen can wash off swimmers and enter waterways, ingredients like oxybenzone have become part of the larger conversation surrounding reef-friendly sun protection.
2. Octinoxate: A Chemical Filter Under Investigation
Octinoxate, also known as octyl methoxycinnamate, is another chemical UV filter used to help protect skin from UVB rats. However, it has also been studied for its potential effects on coral reefs and aquatic ecosystems, with the NOAA identifying this filter as a chemical that harms innocent marine life.
Hawaii has restricted the sale of sunscreens that contain octinoxate because of the concerns surrounding their impact on marine environments. This has encouraged many people to look more closely at the active ingredients in the sunscreen they use near beaches and waterways.
When coral reefs are involved, octinoxate is no treat, so it’s important to check the labels on your sunscreen.
3. Octisalate: An Easily Overlooked Ingredient
Octisalate, or octyl salicylate, is a UVB filter that can be absorbed through the skin. Although it is commonly used in sunscreen formulas, its absorption and potential environmental effects have raised questions among consumers and researchers.
The FDA lists octisalate among other sunscreen ingredients requiring more data to determine as GRASE (generally recognized as safe and effective).
A reminder that reading the full ingredient list matters. The ingredients that deserve your attention are not always front and center on the bottle.
4. Octocrylene: A Persistent Concern
Octocrylene is a chemical UV filter used in many sunscreen products. It can help absorb UVB and UVA rays, but it has also been studied for its potential effects on aquatic environments. Similar to Octinoxate, the NOAA identifies this as a harmful chemical filter to marine life.
As awareness grows around what happens to sunscreen after it washes off, more people are asking whether certain ingredients can persist in waterways or affect marine life.
5. Homosalate: More Than Just Sun Protection
Homosalate is a UVB filter used to help protect the skin from sun exposure. However, concerns have been raised about how much of the ingredient can be absorbed through the skin and whether it may interfere with hormone related processes.
Similar to octisalate, this is recognized by the FDA needing more information before determined as GRASE.
While research and regulations continue to develop, this is one ingredient that many consumers are choosing to investigate before purchasing sunscreen.
6. Avobenzone: A Filter That Needs Support
Avobenzone is a UVA filter that helps protect against rays associated with premature skin aging and long term skin damage. The concern is that avobenzone can break down when exposed to sunlight unless it is stabilized with other ingredients.
This does not mean every sunscreen containing avobenzone is ineffective. It does mean that the overall formula matters, including how ingredients work together to remain stable and provide consistent protection.
7. Parabens: Preservatives with a Questionable
Parabens are preservatives used to help extend the shelf life of personal care products. Some types of parabens can mimic estrogen in laboratory settings, which has led to concerns about their potential effects on hormone related processes.
Although research continues to examine the long-term effects of parabens, many consumers choose to avoid them as a precaution when selecting skincare products.
When preservatives imitate the body’s natural hormones, it’s worth asking what else may be hiding in the formula
8. Fragrance: The Hidden Ingredient
A fragrance may sound harmless, but it can refer to a combination of ingredients that are not individually listed on the label.
Synthetic fragrances may cause irritation or allergic reactions for some people, especially those with sensitive skin. Due to the fact that fragrance formulas can contain numerous undisclosed components, it can be difficult to know exactly what you are applying.
Sometimes the scariest ingredient comes from the luring smell.
9. Retinyl Palmitate: Vitamin A Under the Sun
Retinyl Palmitate is a form of vitamin A sometimes used in skincare products. Concerns have been raised about how certain vitamin A compounds may react when exposed to sunlight and whether they can contribute to free-radical activity.
Due to the fact that sunscreen is specifically designed for use during sun exposure, many consumers prefer to avoid ingredients that raise additional questions about their interaction with sunlight.
When sun is already the main concern, adding a questionable vitamin A ingredient may feel like an unnecessary risk.
10. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers: Preservatives to Question
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers may be used to help prevent microbial growth, but is known to irritate skin, causing allergic reactions and has been linked to cancer.
Formaldehyde is also classified as a carcinogen at certain exposure levels, which is why many consumers choose to avoid it.
A preservative should protect a product, not creating scares for the consumers using it.
11. Alcohol
Certain types of alcohol, such as denatured alcohol, can create a lightweight feel in skincare products. However, they may also dry out the skin or cause irritation, especially when used frequently or on sensitive skin.
It’s important to remember that not every ingredient with “alcohol” in its name has the same effect. Some fatty alcohols are used as moisturizers or stabilizers, while simpler alcohols can be more drying.
The SUNMUD Difference
At SUNMUD, we believe that protecting your skin does not have to come at the expense of marine life.
SUNMUD uses non-nano zinc oxide as its mineral UV filter, along with natural clays and throughoutfully selected natural ingredients. Our formula is designed to provide broad spectrum sun protection for people who want to be more intentional about what they put on their skin and bring near the water.
So…
The scariest part is that some ingredients are easy to overlook when you only read the front of the bottle. Before choosing your next sunscreen, take a closer look at both active and inactive ingredients. Research unfamiliar names, look for broad spectrum protection, and consider how the formula may interact with the environment.
A sunscreen should protect your skin, but not at the expense of the life within the ocean.
Skip the scares and protect your skin with SUNMUD
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs.” National Ocean Service, 23 Sept. 2026, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals-noaa-studies.html. oceanservice.noaa.gov
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs.” National Ocean Service, 23 Sept. 2026, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026. oceanservice.noaa.gov
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Questions and Answers: FDA’s Regulatory Actions on Over-the-Counter Sunscreen.” FDA, 10 Sept. 2026, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/questions-and-answers-fdas-regulatory-actions-over-counter-sunscreen.
