Fans of the popular grocery store Trader Joe’s have been pleased to see a relatively new addition to the shelves in the form of their new sunscreen – a direct competitor to the wildly popular Unseen product by Supergoop. You might be wondering, though: does Trader Joe’s sunscreen have benzene in it?
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen, Sunscreen Spray, and Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Spray have not been found to contain benzene.
Read ahead to find out more about this potentially risky chemical, and whether or not it might actually be present in the sunscreen at Trader Joe’s.
Should I Worry About Benzene In Sunscreen?
Sunscreen is an absolutely essential health product that everybody should be using almost every day. It protects you from the dangerous rays of the sun and prevents long-term skin damage, it delays the signs of skin aging, and greatly reduces the risk of developing skin cancer.
With that being said, not every sunscreen is as clean and healthy as the others. There are some formulas out there that contain toxic chemicals you should watch out for – and benzene is one of them.
Benzene is a chemical used primarily as a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It’s a known carcinogen – which means that it can cause cancer in humans.
It is not an intentional ingredient, but rather a contamination that occurs during manufacturing. The FDA states that any amount above 2 parts per million (ppm) is a cause for concern.
In 2021, the online lab and pharmacy Valisure LLC found more than 2ppm of benzene in 78 of the 294 different sunscreen and after-sun products that they tested.
Valisure petitioned the FDA to have some of these products (where the quantities were particularly high) recalled – and many were voluntarily taken from the shelves by manufacturers.
It is important to be aware, though, that the potential risks of applying sunscreen containing benzene to your skin are significantly lower than the risk of not using sunscreen at all.
What Sunscreen Does Trader Joe’s Sell?
There is more than one option at Trader Joe’s when it comes to sunscreen, beyond their relatively new offering. On their shelves you can find:
- Sunscreen Spray
- Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Spray
- Daily Facial Sunscreen
Trader Joe’s Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Avobenzone 3.0%; Homosalate 15.0%; Octisalate 5.0%; Octocrylene 8.0%
It also contains Aloe, Vitamin E, and Coconut Oil. It’s non-comedogenic, PABA-free, and free from both Oxybenzone and Octinoxate.
(Find full ingredients list here.)
Trader Joe’s Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 30
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Zinc Oxide 15%
It also contains Aloe, Grapefruit Oil, and Vitamin E, and it is PABA-free.
(Find full ingredients list here.)
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 12%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 6%
It is free from oils and Ozybenzone.
(Find full ingredients list here.)
To check the current price and availability of Trader Joe’s Sunscreen, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
Does Trader Joe’s Sunscreen Contain Benzene?
So, the question is, did Trader Joe’s sunscreen appear in the report that was done by Valisure? It did not. In fact, Valisure didn’t even test Trader Joe’s products at the time.
Fortunately, ConsumerReports decided to test all of the aerosol sunscreen products that they had previously reviewed, including new versions of products that had previously been recalled.
ConsumerReports found no benzene in the sunscreen that they tested from Trader Joe’s. The more recently released Daily Facial Sunscreen has not been directly tested as of yet, but it is highly unlikely to contain significant amounts of benzene due to the way it is formulated and the fact that it is a lotion rather than a spray.
Trader Joe’s has, in the past, stated that their Face and Body Sunscreen Lotion (no longer available) did include ingredients that might contain benzene as an impurity, but they were tested to ensure that levels were always below the FDA-recommended 2ppm.
How Have Consumers Reacted To Benzene In Sunscreen?
Obviously, the initial report by Valisure was quite a shock to many consumers, who rightfully looked for reassurances that future products would be free from this chemical.
Some brands decided to recall their products and re-examine their manufacturing process to ensure this would not happen again. Johnson ; Johnson did this for their Neutrogena sunscreen products, which were found to contain benzene, and re-released them as a safer version that customers could have more trust in.
One issue with this scandal is that benzene can occur completely unintentionally, which makes it very hard for it to be removed completely. It’s also worth noting that very small amounts are not considered a health risk by the FDA.
What Has Trader Joe’s Said?
Although no Trader Joe’s products were directly targeted during the benzene investigation, they have actually responded to consumers about the issue.
In a statement in 2021, they said that all of their sunscreen is tested for benzene, and that both of their spray sunscreen products were found to be benzene-free.
They also said that their Face and Body Sunscreen Lotion (which is no longer available) did contain one ingredient that had the potential for benzene as an impurity, but tests showed that levels were below the FDA 2ppm limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Trader Joe’s Sunscreen Have Oxybenzone?
All of the current sunscreen options sold under Trader Joe’s label are oxybenzone-free.
Which Brands of Sunscreen Contain Benzene?
In 2021, the online pharmacy Valisure found benzene in a number of sunscreen brands, including Neutrogena, Live Better by CVS Health, Max Block, Banana Boat, Coppertone, and Walgreens. Now, though, most of these brands have addressed the issue.
Final Thoughts
So, does Trader Joe’s sunscreen contain benzene? Almost certainly not, or at least not enough to be of any concern.
Both of their spray sunscreen products have been tested and confirmed to be benzene-free, and their lotion sunscreen might contain a small amount that is within FDA recommendations.
Trader Joe’s has been relatively up-front in their own testing and reporting of benzene in their products, so you can feel pretty confident that you’re not exposing yourself to any risks when you buy.
