Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.Ox
Oxybenzone
Benzophenone-3SPF filter
An older sunscreen filter that works, but Hawaii and other regions banned it over reef concerns, and allergy reports run higher.
What it does
It’s one of the older chemical filters, covering UVB and some UVA. It prevents sunburn and has a long track record. Hawaii and several other places have banned it over coral-reef concerns, and allergy reports are higher than for newer filters, so brands are slowly replacing it.
The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a UV filter (filters UV rays) and a light stabilizer (protects the product from light).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗
The evidence, graded
expert consensusSunscreen is the final leave-on step of the morning. The SPF number on the bottle comes from testing that product on its own, spread evenly at 2 mg/cm², with nothing layered over it — so once something goes on top, the label no longer describes what is on the skin. No study Drop has read measured how much protection a layer on top costs.Petersen 2014 · Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine ↗ expert consensusReapply sunscreen at least every two hours during sun exposure, and immediately after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying. One of the reviews behind this advises going sooner: Petersen and Wulf suggest a second coat within the first hour, because the first coat is almost always thinner than the amount the SPF number was measured on.Petersen 2014 · Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine ↗ expert consensusIn March 2021 the SCCS (SCCS/1625/20), considering the concerns about endocrine disruption, concluded that benzophenone-3 as a UV filter at up to 6% is not safe in body cream, propellant spray or pump spray sunscreens, and is safe in face cream, hand cream and lipstick. It judged up to 2.2% safe in body creams and sprays, and up to 0.5% safe where it only protects the product. It called the endocrine evidence inconclusive, and at best equivocal.SCCS 2021 · European Commission SCCS (final opinion, plenary meeting of 30-31 March 2021) ↗ Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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