Skin Care

Beware of benzene: Shining a light on sunscreen spray contamination

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  • Cancer-causing benzene is widely found in aerosol sunscreens
  • Federal regulators don’t require sunscreen contamination tests
  • Keep your family safe by using lotions instead of sprays

Introduction: The health hazard hiding in your sunscreen

Many personal care products are contaminated with toxic chemicals that can harm public health, from asbestos in children’s makeup to the presence of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in many cosmetics.

Now certain aerosol sunscreens have been found to be widely contaminated by the cancer-causing chemical benzene, creating potential exposure risks for you and your family.

Many people believe the Food and Drug Administration will protect them from unsafe products. But the agency does not require companies to test their products for contamination. And its list of ingredients that are banned and restricted for use in cosmetics includes only nine substances out of the tens of thousands manufacturers may use.

Rather than rely on third parties to identify harmful products after they’re already on the market and widely used, the FDA must create safeguards that prevent contaminated or unsafe products from reaching consumers in the first place.

Although benzene is present in spray sunscreens, both the FDA and EWG recommend using other types of sun protection, such as lotions and creams. Our annual Guide to Sunscreens evaluates products based on a combination of ingredient hazard and efficacy ratings. Its rankings and recommendations are based on publicly available information, but information about contamination is mostly unavailable.

The benzene problem – unsafe at any level

Benzene is a sweet-smelling, petroleum-derived toxic chemical widely recognized as causing cancer and other serious health effects, with no safe level for human exposure.

The substance has been detected in sunscreen sprays, lotions and gel-based products, with the highest levels found in spray or aerosol sunscreens from several different brands. It’s unclear why these products are contaminated with this dangerous substance, but initial FDA reports suggest the source may be inactive petroleum-derived ingredients like thickening agents, spray propellants and antifungal preservatives.

Whatever the source, benzene does not belong in consumer products.

Many of the sunscreens with the highest levels of contamination have either been recalled or removed from store shelves, but this kind of reactive recall does not prevent harm to consumers who have already used these products.

The fact that benzene can end up in something as common as sunscreen– a product intended to be used daily for a lifetime – underscores the urgent need for the FDA to require manufacturers to test their products and verify they are free of harmful chemicals before the products reach store shelves.

Why benzene is bad

Benzene is a well-studied chemical, recognized as carcinogenic by regulatory bodies that include the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and International Agency for Research on Cancer, among others. The presence of benzene in aerosol sunscreens is especially concerning, because it can be both inhaled and absorbed through the skin.

Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause dizziness and headache and even be fatal if the level is high enough. Long-term exposure is known to cause serious health issues, including leukemia and anemia from reduced blood cell production.

FDA researchers found that active ingredients in most or all sunscreens are absorbed through the skin after just one application. And an in vitro study showed that benzene is absorbed at especially high rates when sunscreen is applied. 

Although a 2022 letter to the editor using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, reported that sunscreen use is not associated with increased benzene concentrations in blood, the authors acknowledge multiple shortcomings of the data. Most notably, there was no data on the timing of sunscreen use relative to when participants’ blood was drawn. 

Benzene levels decrease quickly in the body, so if the blood samples were not collected soon after the participants used sunscreen, the amount of benzene in the blood is unlikely to accurately reflect benzene exposure due to sunscreen use. 

Given the recent sunscreen recalls due to benzene contamination, there is potential for benzene exposure from sunscreens.

The FDA’s failure to act

In May 2021, an independent laboratory published a chemical analysis of 294 batches of sunscreen and after-sun care products from 69 brands. According to the lab, 27 percent of the batches had detectable concentrations of benzene, which is restricted by the FDA for use in sunscreen products because of its “unacceptable toxicity.”

The lab petitioned the FDA to recall 78 contaminated batches of affected products, including 40 batches with urgency, due to contamination with especially high levels of benzene. The researchers also called on the agency to investigate the cause of contamination and establish protocols to prevent it in the future.

Among the 10 brands with highest concentrations of benzene in their products, only Aveeno, Neutrogena and Coppertone have issued recalls. CVS halted sales of two highly contaminated products but did not issue a recall. The remaining 11 brands with sunscreens contaminated by lower levels of benzene continue to sell their products.

In July 2021, Johnson & Johnson, which owns Aveeno and Neutrogena, issued a recall for specific aerosol sunscreens, even though it said daily exposure to their contaminated sunscreen “would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.”

But Consumer Reports obtained an internal FDA health hazard evaluation in December 2021, a week before Johnson & Johnson’s recall, that reached a different conclusion. The report stated “life-threatening” health hazards and “permanent impairment of a body function” could be caused by use of the company’s contaminated sunscreens.

It’s not clear why the FDA withheld its internal evaluation from the public. The agency’s inability to identify contaminated products and effectively convey product safety information underscores the need for the agency to take preemptive measures rather than rely on third parties and manufacturers to report contamination.

Tips to keep your family safe

Benzene contamination of some sunscreens should not discourage anyone from wearing sunscreen altogether. When selecting a product:

  • Choose a lotion instead of a spray. To reduce inhalation risk and minimize potential benzene exposure, avoid spray and powder sunscreens.
  • If you must use a pump or spray, apply sunscreen to your hands first then wipe it on your skin to ensure uniform sun protection.
  • Avoid SPF values above 50, which provide diminishing sun protection and can lead to exposure to overly high concentrations of sun-filtering chemicals.

Ancient Tips to Help Skin Care and Enhance Your Natural Beauty

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(Andrey Popov/iStock)

(Andrey Popov/iStock)

The benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) reach far beyond treating acute and chronic diseases. Since ancient times, Chinese medicine doctors have used acupuncture and various Chinese herbal formulas to improve skincare and enhance beauty.

Chinese medicine views the human body as a holistic system with a complex network of interconnected parts. The body is considered healthy when the interconnected parts are in balance. In Chinese medicine, skin health reflects the condition of internal organs, and any skin-related issues may be traced back to the imbalance of the internal organs in the body.

Why Is Lung Health Important for Skin Care?

In Chinese medicine, five significant organs (the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen) connect the entire body. Skin is considered an extension of the inner organs.

In TCM, the lungs are more than just a respiratory system—they are deeply related to the large intestines and hold a strong role in breathing in and out, the necessity of living a healthy life. The skin is seen as an external reflection of the lungs as an internal organ.

The lungs cannot nourish your skin correctly if their energy is blocked or the qi (vital energy) is too weak. Therefore, Chinese medicine skin care usually starts by treating issues of the lungs.

In TCM, qi and bodily fluids are the essential substances for life’s activities, all originating from the internal organs and flowing constantly inside the body. Ensuring these essential substances are sufficient and circulating throughout the body is very important for health and well-being.

How Do Environmental Factors Affect Skin Care?

Due to the delicate nature of the organs, they can be affected by several environmental factors that, in turn, impact skin health.

Lung health, for instance, can be affected by heat, cold, dryness, and wind.

Poor diet or lifestyle habits can result in consuming too many foods with “heat,” including spicy or deep-fried food, excessive alcohol, caffeine. Smoking also creates heat. Too much heat interferes with the balance and harmony in the lungs, resulting in skin symptoms such as redness, dryness, hot flushes, acne, eczema, or psoriasis. In addition, spending too much time in the sun can result in severe skin damage.

Cold and dry air can irritate the airways of people with lung disease and can cause dry, itchy, and cracking skin. Excessive consumption of cold foods and icy beverages can also have a similar impact on the skin.

Dampness is another factor that can affect lung health. According to Chinese medicine, dampness may be caused by poor digestion and a diet high or rich in fatty foods. Dampness may result in skin issues like thickening skin, pus, pimples, and lumps such as cystic acne or warts.

Does Facial Acupuncture Work?

For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine doctors have used herbs and acupuncture to treat and prevent various skin issues and achieve beautiful, young-looking skin.

Cosmetic acupuncture works because it treats the root causes of skin issues, identifies and treats the imbalances of organs, and addresses the environmental impact on the skin. The facial acupuncture treatment stimulates blood circulation in the face, helps reduce wrinkles, and improves the overall skin condition. After a series of facial acupuncture treatments, most people not only look younger but also feel better. That is why people call facial acupuncture a health lift.

What Natural Herbs Help Clear Skin Care?

For a great skincare routine, there are some universally beneficial herbs.

Chinese herbalists usually recommend chamomile tea to calm and reduce facial redness, tea tree oil to relieve mild or moderate acne breakouts, honeysuckle to relieve rosacea, and calendula oil to soothe eczema.

They also recommend herbal teas that include tulsi, echinacea, olive leaf, and green tea for clear skin.

Additional herbs and spices that support healthy skin from the inside out include:

  • Turmeric for reducing inflammation.
  • Oregano for maintaining a healthy microbial balance.
  • Chaga, an antioxidant, for protecting the body from oxidative stress or pollution.

Cold Dry Air Requires a Little Extra Skin Care

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dry winter skin

Here at The Skin Cancer Foundation, we spend a lot of time talking about skin cancer, but we’re also concerned with overall skin health. That means not only protecting your skin from sun damage, but also giving the largest organ in your body some TLC throughout the year.

Bitterly cold weather can be particularly harsh on your skin. Here are some simple tips to keep your skin soft and supple as we get through this final stretch of winter:

  1. Use a humidifier
    A humidifier adds moisture to the air, soothing itchy winter skin and preventing dryness. Make sure to use filtered or distilled water rather than tap water, and replace it daily so that bacteria doesn’t have a chance to grow.
  2. Consider a new moisturizer
    Many people find a moisturizer that they love and stick with it day in and day out. The issue with this approach is that your skin changes as the environment around it changes. With colder weather, your dry skin may require a denser moisturizer. When selecting a product for your winter routine, take a close look at the label and look for ingredients which are well-suited for dry skin. Hyaluronic acid, lactic acid and glycerin have all been proven to hydrate and refresh. Regardless of your preferred product, your moisturizer should contain SPF 15 to protect against incidental sun exposure.
  3. Mind your water temperature
    While your natural instinct may be to take steamy hot showers when the weather is cold, doing so robs the skin of necessary moisture. Instead, opt for warm showers and use a gentle, moisturizing soap or body wash.
  4. Apply moisturizer when skin is wet
    The best time to use cream or lotion is when your skin is still damp (like right after you’ve washed your face or taken a shower). This helps to trap the moisture before it evaporates and is especially important during the winter because the season’s dry air speeds up the process.

With a few weeks left in winter, you still have plenty of time to perfect your cold weather skin routine and master tricks for keeping your skin healthy for years to come. Stay tuned for updates to Sun & Skin News; we’ll share skin tips for spring and summer in the coming months.

9 Bad Beauty Habits to Break ASAP

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Expert tips to help you quit.

Everyone has a bad habit. Whether it’s leaving wet towels on the bed or sleeping with a full face of makeup, we’re all guilty of something because…life. That said, some quirks are worse than others, particularly when it comes to your beauty routine. Your hair, makeup, and nail missteps may seem harmless now, but eventually they could require even more effort to repair. SELF reached out to some of the top beauty experts in the industry for those killer practices they all really wish we’d stop doing. Think of them as your New Year’s “glam-o-lutions.”

1. Change your pillowcase often.

Even if you can’t see or smell the nastiness that’s gathering on your pillowcase, just trust us: it’s affecting your skin. “Excess dirt, oil, and makeup accumulate on your pillowcase, particularly if you sleep with a dirty face. This accumulation can not only cause skin irritation the next day, but also blocked pores and breakouts,” explains Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at The Mount Sinai Hospital.

You want to change your pillowcase often, and make sure to wash your face before bed. If you’re just too tired to cleanse at night, cheat. “Keep a container of cleansing towelettes by your bedside. While they may not be quite as effective as traditional cleansers, they will do the job if you are too lazy to walk back to the bathroom.” Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Daily Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths ($8.94, Walmart.com) are cost-effective and will take care of it.

2. Don’t use dull razor blades.

We’re all guilty of hanging onto that blade too long, but Dr. Whitney Bowe, board-certified dermatologist, says this habit could cause serious issues. “Keep your razor blade sharp by storing it in a dry place after use, which can prevent rusty blades and decrease your chance of a bacterial or fungal infection,” she says. “It’s also important to rinse your razor out thoroughly. If you don’t, soap and shaving cream will dry in between the blades, making them dull.”

3. Throw out old hair products after a year.

Stockpiling hair products in your shower? It’s time to purge that stash. “Don’t keep any shampoos and conditioners more than a year,” recommends Kattia Solano, owner of Butterfly Studio Salon. “The formula can break down, rendering the product less effective.” Solano suggests pairing cleansers down to two. “I like to keep two shampoos in the shower: a cleansing version like Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo ($57, Birchbox.com,) and another for specific needs, like color preservation, moisture, or volumizing.”

4. Quit picking your cuticles.

This is a particular sore spot for Jin Soon Choi, celebrity manicurist and creator of JINsoon Nail Products. “A surprising number of people bite their nails and pick at their cuticles,” she says. “Moisturizing your nails and cuticles prevents hangnails and the temptation to bite them.” If regular manicures or applying vinegar around the nail bed isn’t enough to prevent chewing, Choi suggests applying Tiger Balm Ultra Sports Rub ($11.95, Drugstore.com) to nails and cuticles. “It has a very strong smell, yet it moisturizes thoroughly.”

5. Remove all your makeup before you work out.

Sweaty makeup is never as cute as you want it to be. “From an aesthetic standpoint—unless you’re wearing waterproof—it might be dripping down your face. From a dermatological standpoint, makeup and sweat are never a good combination,” explains Dendy Engelman, M.D., Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Laser Medicine at Metropolitan Hospital, and dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. “When you’re hot, the body naturally cools by sweating and sweat escapes through your pores. If you have a layer of makeup over those pores, it’s causing a blockage. So now there’s sweat, bacteria, and makeup trapped in a pore with nowhere to go, which can lead to pimples. Dr. Engleman recommends an antioxidant serum like Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Defense Serum ($62, Sephora.com) applied to a clean face prior to sweating for maximum benefit.

6. Stop playing with your hair.

Although cute in the first grade, according to Janelle Chaplin, Global Creative Director, Original & Mineral, you’re wrecking things as an adult. “It creates stress on your locks and adds to oil build up.” Chaplin recommends keeping a small smoothing brush along with a detangler like O&M Mini Know Knott ($11, Originalmineral.com) in your purse. “No twisting, touching, playing, or using your dirty mitts on your locks!”

7. Give up tanning.

Tanning is never OK. “Stop thinking that a tan is ‘healthy’ as long as you don’t burn,” warns Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Founder & Director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at The George Washington Medical Center. “A tan is a sign the skin has already been damaged. Protect your skin from premature aging and skin cancer by regularly using sunscreen and more importantly cover with a hat and clothing. It makes a big difference!” Try gentle sunscreens like Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF 30 ($38, Sephora.com).

8. Don’t skip the serums.

What’s the most common skincare mistake? Forgetting to bolster your sunscreen with antioxidants. “The most preventable cause of aging is sun damage from daily outdoor exposure, but common SPF creams prevent only about 50-60% of environmental damage,” explains Dr. Jennifer Myers, board-certified dermatologist of Myers Dermatology. “Environmental exposure to UV rays and pollutants lead to wrinkles, dull texture, brown spots, and even skin cancer. The most effective anti-aging secret is the use of an antioxidant paired with sunscreen every single day. These serums reverse free radical damage and give an added layer of protection.” Dr. Meyers recommends SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($162, Skinceuticals.com) used in combination with a zinc and titanium-based sunscreen with SPF 50 for maximum benefit.

9. Stop over-processing your hair.

Bleach paired with heat styling equals the mother of all recipes for bad hair. So beautiful, but so bad for you. “Dry, damaged, and brittle hair is typically the result of too many chemical services (color, perms, relaxers, straighteners, extensions); repeated or inappropriate use of heated styling tools; and environmental stressors like the sun, hot water, and chlorine,” says David Adams hair colorist for Aveda. “Over-processing breaks down the protein (keratin) in the hair, which causes breakage, split ends, and dull look.” Plus it destroys the cuticle, causing dryness and frizz. If this describes your hair, Adams suggests a combination of regular salon treatments and proper home care like Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($36, Aveda.com) paired with proper lessons for blow drying and heat styling.