Neutrogena Sunscreens May Protect, But at What Cost?
Written by Ajay Chohan, Founder @ Small Batch Goodness
Why the Neutrogena labeling is misleading: Neutrogena fails to disclose that the “lightweight clean feel” of its chemical sunscreens come with an abundance of health & environmental concerns
Potentially Harmful Ingredients in the Neutrogena Sunscreen to Avoid: Oxybenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, BHT, Methylisothiazolinone, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide
Protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays is essential. This is especially true for those peak sun hours when the UV index is at its highest. When we have to - or want to - be outside during those high UV index hours, we have trusted sunscreen brands like Neutrogena to protect us from skin cancer and premature aging. Unfortunately, chemical sunscreens like Neutrogena could be doing just as much harm with all their toxic ingredients that are easily absorbed into our bloodstream.
Neutrogena sunscreens pose health risks to humans and are harmful to our coral reefs. The health effects include both immediate ones like allergic skin reactions and long term ones that are not immediately obvious.
If there is one good thing about immediate adverse reactions after applying sunscreen - such as itching, swelling or hives - it’s that we know not to use that product again. The more heinous health consequences are ones that are not immediately observed and are long term & accumulative - these include disruptions to our hormones and endocrine system, lower testosterone levels and even cancer.
Let’s now get right into the ingredients of concern and the 7 reasons why Neutrogena sunscreens are NOT worth the UV protection. I have done extensive research on the toxicity of ingredients present in the Neutrogena sunscreens and their ill health effects - look for all the sources at the bottom of this article.
Reason 1: The Oxybenzone in Neutrogena sunscreens is highly toxic and is easily absorbed by the skin. Oxybenzone has been constantly tied with: A. hormonal and endocrine disruptions, B. allergic skin reactions, C. lower testosterone levels in boys and D. pregnancy issues
Let’s start with the Oxybenzone in the Neutrogena sunscreens - this one is a biggie. There has been extensive research and studies done to understand the harmful effects of Oxybenzone. According to EWG’s article here, Oxybenzone has been linked with allergic skin reactions (1, Rodriguez 2006), it acts as an endocrine disruptor in our bodies (1, Krause 2012, Ghazipura 2017) and is of the most concern to children (1, FDA 2019).
It gets worse for the Oxybenzone present in sunscreens, the EWG research further states, “adolescent boys with higher Oxybenzone measurements had significantly lower total testosterone levels” (1, Scinicariello 2016). Additionally, links were found between Oxybenzone exposure and pregnancy and birth issues (1). As EWG states, “One reported shorter pregnancy in women carrying male fetuses, two reported higher birth weights for baby boys and one found lower birth weights for baby girls (1, Ghazipura 2017).” It does not end here, the Oxybenzone in Neutrogena has also been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and endometriosis (1).
Add to all these concerns is the ease at which Oxybenzone is absorbed by our skin. Which leads us to the below.
Please Note: Here is my article on all-natural sunscreens providing safe and effective UV protection.
Furthermore: Oxybenzone in Neutrogena makes its way into our bloodstreams - at unsafe levels - after just a single application:
Given the potential toxicity and risks, the US Food and Drug Administration’s recommended limit for absorption of active ingredients including Oxybenzone is 0.5 ng/mL (3), i.e. 0.5 nanograms per milliliter of Oxybenzone in blood.
Troublingly, after just a single application, the concentration of the toxic Oxybenzone in blood was found to be 258.1 ng/mL for sunscreen lotion - or 516 times the FDA’s limit. For sunscreen aerosol spray, the level was 180.1 ng/mL - or 360 times the FDA’s limit! (3).
Again, absorption would not be a concern if Oxybenzone was some natural and safe ingredient, but given the health concerns, it absolutely should not be in sunscreens. The European Commission has also very clearly stated that, “The use of Benzophenone-3 (another name for Oxybenzone) as a UV-filter up to a maximum concentration of 6% in sunscreen products, either in the form of body cream, sunscreen propellant spray or pump spray, is not safe for the consumer” (2). 6% is the concentration of Oxybenzone in many Neutrogena sunscreens like the one shown.
Unfortunately, Oxybenzone is just the beginning when it comes to toxic ingredients in Neutrogena being absorbed by our skin.
Reason 2: The reef-toxic (and human-toxic) petrochemical Avobenzone in Neutrogena sunscreens - and concerns around damage to coral reefs, allergic skin reactions and hormonal disruptions
The other four petrochemicals in Neutrogena that comprise its five active ingredients are not any less troubling. Let’s now get into the second reason to avoid Neutrogena sunscreens - Avobenzone. According to research cited by the EWG, Avobenzone is tied to allergic skin reactions, disruptions to our endocrine system as well as blocking of testosterone in our bodies (1). Add to that, Avobenzone is also toxic to coral reefs. Hawai’i even added Avobenzone and Octocrylene, to its earlier list that included Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, to its banned petrochemicals list given the damage being inflicted on coral reefs.
Reason 3: Homosalate, which comprises a high 15% in Neutrogena sunscreens, can be disruptive to our endocrine system and normal hormone functioning
All five of the active ingredients in the Neutrogena sunscreen are absorbed by our skin and Homosalate is no different. Now, there are concerns around Homosalate being disruptive to our endocrine system and normal hormone functioning.
Given these concerns, the European Commission in 2020 recommended a maximum concentration of 1.4% for Homosalate in sunscreens and then revised this level further down to 0.5% in 2021 (4). At 15%, the Homosalate in Neutrogena sunscreens is thus 30 times the limit recommended by the European Commission!
We don’t know the long term bioaccumulative exposure risks from using Homosalate for years or decades. It’s simply not worth using chemical sunscreens will all their toxic ingredients, as it’s difficult to tell which specific ingredient or contaminant is posing a given health risk.
Please Note: Here is my article on the best all-natural mineral sunscreens for completely non-toxic UV protection.
Reason 4: The allergen Octisalate in Neutrogena sunscreens — sensitive skins beware
Octisalate (or Octyl Salicylate), found in this Neutrogena sunscreen at a 5% composition level, is an ingredient to avoid especially if you have sensitive skin, eczema or are applying the sunscreen on the little ones. Octisalate is highly allergic and has been tied to dermatitis and itchy skin rashes. As this study published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) states, “A 62-year-old woman developed allergic contact dermatitis from sunscreens containing Octisalate…results of testing confirmed that she was allergic to Octisalate” (5). Another study published by the NLM also alludes to “acute contact sensitivity” from using sunscreens containing Octisalate (6).
Reason 5: Octocrylene in Neutrogena is bad for our coral reefs and again for our sensitive skin + there are concerns around formation of the carcinogen Benzene as a result of Octocrylene degradation
Neutrogena proudly markets the “water resistance” of its sunscreens. Sadly, coral reefs and aquatic life are not quite resistant to the harmful chemicals leached by Neutrogena sunscreens. Which brings us to the last active ingredient of concern in Neutrogena - Octocrylene. Octocrylene is especially bad for our oceans and coral reefs. This is because Octocrylene has been shown to accumulate in coral tissues and damage coral cells (7). It has also been shown that we have so far underestimated the environmental concentration of Octocrylene that aquatic life like dolphins and mussels are exposed to (8). And mentioned above in Reason 2, Octocrylene is part of Hawaii’s toxic petrochemicals ban given the damage being caused to our coral reefs.
Octocrylene has also been linked with skin allergies, so avoid this ingredient especially if you have sensitive skin (1). Lastly, there are concerns that Octocrylene might be producing the carcinogens Benzene and Benzophenone as it degrades. The Consumer Product Testing Company here states, “It has been strongly suggested that both Benzene and Benzophenone may form as a result of the degradation of Octocrylene within sunscreen product formulations” (9). The other source of Benzene in sunscreens could also be contamination coming from one of the many other chemical compounds. Yikes. These Benzene concerns lead us to point 6 below - Neutrogena sunscreen recall and the resulting class action lawsuit.
But first — tying together the first 5 points — what does it mean for people using Neutrogena sunscreens?
32%. That’s the magic number. Or more like the troubling number. 32% is what we get when we add up the composition levels of the 5 active ingredients in Neutrogena. As I have shown with the research, there is abundant evidence on the concerns posed by these chemical ingredients. The harmful side effects could be immediate, like a skin rash, or they can manifest after years or even decades in the form of endocrine, hormonal or reproductive issues.
Thankfully, it is possible to get effective protection from sun’s UVA and UVB rays without using a toxic sunscreen. It is best to use actual mineral based sunscreens with non-nano Zinc Oxide as the primary ingredient.
Reason 6: Benzene contamination concerns in Neutrogena sunscreens that led to a recall as well as class action lawsuits
In early 2021 Valisure, an independent lab, found the cancer causing carcinogen Benzene in tens of sunscreen brands. Neutrogena sunscreens “stole the show” in that study, as at least 11 Neutrogena varieties, including the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Water Resistant Sunscreen SPF 70 product that I am using as an example in this article, were found to have unacceptable levels of Benzene (10).
The levels of Benzene in Neutrogena sunscreens were especially concerning. Valisure segmented its results based on whether Benzene levels were between 0.1 ppm and 2.0 ppm (parts per million) OR if they were north of 2.0 ppm. Neutrogena sunscreens made up the vast majority of the batches that were found to have the highest levels of Benzene north of 2.0 ppm (11).
You can find the complete list of effected sunscreens here.
The class action lawsuit against Neutrogena:
The Benzene detected in Neutrogena sunscreens is concerning as there really is no safe level of Benzene. Post the lab results, a class action lawsuit was filed against Neutrogena. As this ClassAction.org article on the lawsuit states whilst quoting the complaint, “Benzene, a known human carcinogen, is not on the FDA’s list of acceptable active or inactive ingredients for Sunscreen Products…the health hazards associated with Benzene—exposure…carry a “substantially increased risk” of developing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.” Neutrogena and its parent company Johnson & Johnson settled the lawsuit in April 2022. We still don’t have a good picture of Benzene levels in Neutrogena sunscreens that are currently being sold, so it is best to completely avoid this misleading brand.
Reason 7: The inactive ingredients in Neutrogena do not provide any respite
I also did not expect this article to get so long, but…it has. Now, there are three main inactive ingredients of key concern to our health in the Neutrogena sunscreens. First is the preservative BHT. This preservative increases shelf life by preventing the growth of bacteria and mold. In studies on rats, BHT was deemed a possible cancer causing carcinogen (13). There are also toxicity concerns with BHT. The National Library of Medicine mentions, “BHT applied to the skin was associated with toxic effects in lung tissue,” but says that it is safe at the current concentrations approved in cosmetics (14).
BHT is also a likely endocrine disruptor. EWG in its research says, “BHT may disrupt endocrine function by causing thyroid changes” (15). It’s best to avoid this unpleasant preservative whether found in cosmetics or foods!
The next harmful preservative in Neutrogena sunscreens is Methylisothiazolinone. Methylisothiazolinone is a nasty neurotoxin that has been tied with allergic reactions, lung toxicity and neurotoxicity (16). Lastly we have the highly potent preservative Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PHMB). PHMB was initially deemed safe at a 0.3% concentration in cosmetics, but the limit was subsequently lowered to 0.1% by Europe’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and 0.3% was no longer considered safe (17). The SCCS in its research describes PHMB as “irritating to skin,” as “suspected of causing cancer” at high does - above the concentration limits found in cosmetics and says “PHMB’s use in sprayable formulations is not advised” (17). We do not know the concentration level of PHMB in Neutrogena sunscreens. Again, it is best to avoid all sunscreens and skincare with this preservative.
It’s also disturbing just the sheer number of synthetic and petroleum based chemicals that are in Neutrogena sunscreens. I am talking about the acrylates and copolymers here. Even though deemed safe for use at current concentrations, these synthetic ingredients are not nourishing for our skin in any way. Compare these to ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, raspberry seed oil and calendula flower extract that form the basis of mineral based sunscreens which provide a physical barrier against UV rays while enriching our skin.
When it comes to environmental harm, we have the synthetic silicones Dimethicone and Cetyl Dimethicone in Nuetrogena. While they are generally considered safe in sunscreens and other cosmetics, they are bad for our planet as they are not easily biodegradable and can be bioaccumulative & toxic for the environment (12).
Conclusion
As we see, there are a ton of harmful ingredients in Neutrogena sunscreens that are best avoided. This is especially true if one has sensitive skin, eczema or is applying the sunscreen on the little ones. My recommendation is to avoid chemical sunscreens like Neutrogena regardless of if you experience any immediate issues though - give all the long term exposure concerns. Even scientists and researchers have urged the FDA to pull sunscreens like Neutrogena from the market and the FDA has been requesting chemical sunscreen manufacturers for further safety studies for years now without any success (18). Probably because makers of sunscreens like Neutrogena - or Coppertone and Banana Boat, which I have written about here and here - know that results won’t be too pretty. “# 1 dermatologist recommended” is indeed a shameless self-proclaimed title by Neutrogena.
What makes a better sunscreen?
Let’s succinctly summarize that here:
The first thing is to avoid the toxic active ingredients found in most chemical based sunscreens - you know, the ones that are also easily absorbed via our skin into our bloodstreams - and are also harmful to coral reefs. The ‘big 6’ sunscreen ingredients to avoid are Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Octisalate, and Octinoxate
Second the sunscreen needs to be effective in protecting us against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Find a natural mineral based sunscreen that sits on top of the skin and is non-nano. Look for a sunscreen with non-nano Zinc Oxide as the primary active ingredient
Now, besides doing the important work of protecting us against harmful rays, what if the sunscreen was actually nourishing for our skin? Find a sunscreen that has naturally nourishing ingredients and protective anti-oxidants like raspberry seed oil, calendula and soothing butters like shea butter and cocoa butter
My finding a safe yet effective sunscreen article goes into the details on the above. I also give my mineral based all-natural sunscreen recommendations here.
Is (or was) Neutrogena part of your fun in the sun routine? Share your thoughts below! Think a loved one can benefit from this important research? Do not forget to share!
Sources - Research for Yourself!
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-04/sccs_o_247_0.pdf
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2759002
https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-06/sccs_o_244_0.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16956469/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17177714/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04187?
https://cen.acs.org/environment/water/Common-sunscreen-ingredient-octocrylene-might/97/web/2019/01
https://cptclabs.com/benzene-benzophenone-in-sunscreen-products/
https://www.goldenberglaw.com/blog/2021/may/valisure-discovers-benzene-in-sunscreens/
https://www.classaction.org/blog/neutrogena-among-first-facing-class-action-lawsuit-after-tests-show-sunscreens-contain-carcinogen
https://cosmethicallyactive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Silicones-in-cosmetics-and-their-impact-on-the-environment.pdf
University of California at Los Angeles publication "What Food Additives Add"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12396675
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2021/10/common-food-additives-capn-crunch-and-apple-jacks-cereal-may-harm-human
https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/chemical-free-living-methylisothiazolinone/
https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2018-03/sccs_o_204_0.pdf
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-08-10/sunscreen-fda-carcinogen-benzophenone-octocrylene-concerns