This article will discuss Valisure’s recent findings/sunscreen recalls, key takeaways and three sunscreens without benzene that do not have a white cast.
I’ve also listed three affordable brands below that do not have a white cast.
In 2021, a report by Valisure found that 27% of the sunscreens and after sun care products they tested were contaminated with benzene.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and many other government & health professionals, benzene is a known human carcinogen, meaning, it is known to cause cancer. More specifically, benzene has been linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.
Full Valisure Announcement + Reports: Announcement with all attachments
List of Products where benzene WAS detected: Full Citizen’s Petition
List of Products where benzene WAS NOT detected: Attachment A
Key Takeaways:
Contamination = Accidental
These sunscreens were contaminated with benzene. This means that the chemical was not supposed to be in the sunscreens. Valisure’s CEO believes the contamination may have occurred during the manufacturing process.
Every existing sunscreen was not tested
Valisure did not test every sunscreen line and brand that exists. They tested “294 unique batches from 69 different companies.” Out of those 294 batches, 78 were found to be contaminated with benzene.
If the sunscreen brand and line that you use were not mentioned, then that means it was not yet tested by Valisure to see if it is contaminated by benzene or not.
Recalls
Brands are currently in the recall process, including Johnson & Johnson, who recalled five of its sunscreens this month.
Johnson & Johnson is NOT the only brand impacted
Johnson & Johnson (parent company of Neutrogena and Aveeno) is NOT the only brand with products that benzene was found in. Several other brands including Elta MD, Banana Boat, Sun Bum and La Roche-Posay had products that were contaminated with benzene.
IMPORTANT: Neutrogena, Aveeno, Elta MD, Banana Boat, Sun Bum and La Roche-Posay had SOME products contaminated with benzene and SOME products that were NOT contaminated with benzene. Every product by each of these brands is not contaminated with benzene, only SOME of them.
It’s imperative that you look at both lists linked above to verify whether a line of sunscreen was contaminated or not.
Sunscreen is still necessary
It is still important to continue wearing sunscreen and you can take a look at some of the benzene-free sunscreens listed by Valisure to make your next purchase.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
Three Sunscreens Without Benzene + No White Cast
Among several brands, the following three sunscreens were found to be benzene free. They are all affordable, do not leave white residue and can be found on Amazon:
1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
2. Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Mist Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
3. Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
This Hydro Boost Water Gel SPF has a light scent and is moisturizing while not making you oily. I can use it without regular moisturizer because it hydrates your skin for up to eight hours.
This broad spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen comes with UVA/UVB protection and is also water resistant. It is a part of Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost line that is infused with hyaluronic acid to help your skin bounce back from dryness.
Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Mist Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
Supergoop! is one of my favorite brands of sunscreen. I love that they focus on clean ingredients, are vegan and cruelty free. Also, most of their products dry sheer and without a white cast.
I like to use the Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Mist Sunscreen Spray on my body. It provides a faster application than lotion and gives me an amazing glow afterward! It also has a lovely citrus scent.
For this sunscreen mist, along with all of their products, Supergoop! uses clean ingredients and is vegan/cruelty free. Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Mist Sunscreen is also non-aerosol and water-resistant.
Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+
When it comes to skin, I recently learned that it’s better to work on prevention than correction. This serum + sunscreen combo helps you do just that by helping the skin fight environmental aggressors and the aging process.
I mostly use this Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+ sunscreen as a serum, so the added sun protection benefits are awesome! It also dries clear so you do not have to worry about an unsightly white cast.
What is After Sun?
After sun care products were created to provide relief and moisture after you spend time in the sun, and more specifically, if you have a sunburn.
Many after sun care products include aloe vera and other moisturizing ingredients to help your skin heal, cool down and bounce back after being in the sun.
Let me know your thoughts about these three sunscreens without benzene. Make sure to share this with your friends and family so they can make sure they are educated and avoid using any of the sunscreens that contain benzene.