We interrupt your week with more sunscreen news, this time straight from the mouth of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The TGA has announced that it’s changing its sunscreen formulation guidance around two sunscreen ingredients, homosalate and oxybenzone, and one byproduct, benzophenone.
In Australia, sunscreens are permitted to have higher levels of homosalate and oxybenzone than other parts of the world. Homosalate is permitted at levels of up to 15% in the USA, Canada and Australia. In the EU, the maximum percentage is 7.34%. As for oxybenzone, Australia permits this 10% compared to the EUs 6%.
After a review of seven active sunscreen ingredients, the TGA is says that based on the data from the safety review it is recommending “regulatory controls for homosalate and oxybenzone to restrict their permitted concentrations” in sunscreens.
“The TGA review proposes that some sunscreen products containing the active ingredients homosalate and oxybenzone, as well as the degradant benzophenone, be reformulated to ensure sunscreens meet the highest standards of safety for prolonged and frequent use,” a statement said.
It’s important to know that Australian sunscreens are still considered safe and well-tested.As technology and research continues to advance, its normal for humans to discover new insights and tweak and reformulate popular products in line with the most recent data. The TGA is urging people to continue to use their sunscreens. We’ll have more information after the TGA’s further review and consultation on suitable ingredient levels. This process will run until 12 August 2025.
That said, if it makes you more comfortable and will encourage you to protect your skin from the sun (remember Australia has some of the highest rates of melanoma in the world), there are plenty of sunscreens that are oxybenzone-free. Some of these are also homosalate-free. You can find a selection of these, below.
Oxybenzone and homosalate-free
1. Sun Bum – mineral sunscreen range only
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? Yes
2. people4ocean – all products
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? Yes
3. Sun Butter
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? Yes
4. Ultra Violette Clean Screen
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? Yes
5. Naked Sundays – mineral range only
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? Yes
6. Mecca To Save Face Superscreen
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? Not in ingredients list but brand does not outright state its absence in the product description.
Oxybenzone-free only
7. We Are Feel Good Inc – all products
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? No
8. Standard Procedure
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? No
9. Bondi Sands
Oxybenzone-free? Yes
Homosalate-free? No