What exactly is oxybenzone? It is an organic compound used in sunscreens because of its ability to absorb UVB and short UVA rays. As a chemical ingredient, it is also helpful in maintaining the qualities of other ingredients and therefore you will also find it used in conjunction with other chemical ingredients in other personal care products such as lotions, lipstick and nail polish. As an ingredient in products, it may be referred to as Benzophenone-3.

I have always considered myself to live a pretty healthy lifestyle. I eat vegetables, I exercise regularly and drink one cup of coffee a day. I have also considered my beauty regimen to be pretty low maintenance. I take a shower, apply body lotion afterward and face cream. Then I usually call it a day. If I’m headed out somewhere special, I may put on a little make-up, nothing too fancy. So, imagine my surprise when I started learning about harmful chemicals being used as ingredients in most of my personal care products. There I am going about my daily life thinking I’m doing the best for not only myself, but my family (husband and two little girls), only to find out that the personal care products I’m using may be causing more harm than good, especially in the long run…