Is Your Sunscreen Disrupting Your Hormones?

When it comes to hormone health, what you put on your skin matters. Especially in the summer, your sunscreen could be silently working against your cycle.

We’re breaking down what to look for (and what to avoid) in SPF products so that you can protect both your skin and your hormones.

Chemical vs. Mineral: What’s the Difference?

While “sunscreen” and “sunblock” are often used interchangeably, they work very differently:

• Mineral Sunscreens (often labeled as sunblock) use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays. These are broad-spectrum, low-absorption, and generally considered hormone-safe.
• Chemical Sunscreens absorb UV radiation into the skin using ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate. The problem? These can be absorbed into the bloodstream, and several are linked to endocrine disruption.

Multiple studies have detected chemical sunscreen ingredients in urine, blood, and breast milk, raising concerns for people with hormone-sensitive systems.

Ingredients to Avoid for Hormone Health

If you're cycle-syncing, supporting fertility, or simply trying to limit endocrine disruptors, steer clear of these common sunscreen ingredients:

• Oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, homosalate
  Linked to hormone disruption and found in systemic circulation
• Fragrance / parfum
  Can include hundreds of unlisted chemicals, some of which disrupt hormone signaling
• Aerosol sprays
  May contain or become contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen
• Parabens, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic preservatives
  All tied to hormone imbalance and reproductive concerns in both men and women

What to Look for Instead

Choosing a hormone-friendly sunscreen doesn’t mean sacrificing sun protection. Mineral sunscreens often provide immediate broad-spectrum protection and are safer for both you and the environment.

Look for products with:

• Non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
  These sit on the skin’s surface and don’t penetrate the bloodstream
• Cream or stick formats
  Avoid inhalation risks common with sprays
• Fragrance-free, paraben-free formulas
  Especially important for children and hormone-sensitive individuals
• Transparent ingredient lists
  If you can’t find the full ingredients online, skip it

Let’s Talk About Greenwashing

Just because a sunscreen looks clean doesn’t mean it is.

Greenwashing is when brands use eco-friendly design, buzzwords, or vague claims to make a product seem safer or more natural than it actually is.

Here’s what greenwashing often looks like:

• Earth-toned packaging with leaves, waves, or minimal design that implies "natural"
• Terms like “reef-safe,” “non-toxic,” or “eco-conscious” that aren't always backed by ingredient safety
• Highlighting one clean ingredient (like zinc oxide) while still including chemical filters or hormone disruptors
• Hiding problematic ingredients behind words like “fragrance” or “proprietary blend”

Bottom line: If the branding feels clean but the ingredients don’t match, it's likely greenwashing.

Your skin deserves protection. Your hormones deserve respect.

With a little label-reading, you can have both.