Sunscreens and Benzene Contamination: Safe for YOU and Safe for our Waters… Safe for You is first

Do you know where your sunscreen in manufactured?

Is it in a large production facility that uses economies of scale to manufacture hundreds – or thousands – of other products?

Contaminants are common in large scale productions

When Stream2Sea was originally founded, like most brands, our intention was to use one of those manufacturing facilities when we outgrew the launch incubator. Then in 2017, we submitted our mineral sunscreens to Haereticus Environmental Laboratories for the prestigious Protect Land + Sea certification. Like many other brands, we failed when the lab detected trace amounts of contaminants in our ‘clean’ formulas. How could this be? The detection levels were ridiculously small, but nonetheless indicative of cross-contamination.

So what would any passionate cosmetic chemist with a background in production management would do? I decided to tightly control our supply chain and manufacturing process and built an FDA-registered and regulated manufacturing facility. Not only are these contaminants NOT allowed in our formulas, but they are NOT allowed to enter our production facility either. And, as most contaminants come from the manufacturing process, not the formulas themselves, we only use compliant cleaning supplies and pest control products as well.

And, as most contaminants come from the manufacturing process, not the formulas themselves, we only use compliant cleaning supplies and pest control products as well.

Benzene, a potentially cancer-causing chemical

When the news about J&J recalling its Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen sprays broke yesterday, our emails went crazy. We are very confident that we don’t have any detectable levels of benzene in our formulas and look forward to the certification to prove it within the next few days, but in the meantime, what do we need to know about Benzene:

• Benzene is a petroleum-based ingredient, found in crude oil and used in solvents. Stream2Sea products contain NO petroleum-based ingredients.
• No petroleum-based solvents are used in our manufacturing process.
• The benzene contamination may be the result of a naturally occurring breakdown in chemical sunscreens. Avobenzone, oxybenzone and homosalate are all chemically related to benzene. Another common sunscreen ingredient, octocrylene, was shown to degrade into benzophenone, also a known carcinogen, earlier this year.

Benzene is a petroleum-based ingredient, found in crude oil and used in solvents. Stream2Sea products contain NO petroleum-based ingredients and no petroleum-based solvents are used in our manufacturing process.

At Stream2Sea, I take quality and contamination seriously and have our own manufacturing facility to prove that point. We have also done an incredible amount of testing and are proud to share our results on our website here. Our benzene-free certification will be added soon!

In the meantime, please make sure to check all your ingredients and cross-check the Valisure report here as even some mineral sunscreens are listed! I thank you for continuing to join us on this journey…because we DO have a choice and we can choose to do better. We appreciate your comments, concerns and questions that will help to ensure that we share information that is important to you along the way. 

EcoConsciously,

Autumn Blum
Formulator & CEO

From Stream2Sea – Protect what you love 

#KnowYourIngredients #ProtectWhatYouLove #ProtectWhoYouLove

Stream2Sea is setting the standard for EcoConscious sunscreen and skincare. Along with standard human safety and SPF tests, Stream2Sea products are proven to be biodegradable in both salt water and fresh water, have passed a comprehensive series of aquatic toxicity tests and was formulated without ingredients known to harm the environment.  Formulated with powerful antioxidant blends to protect skin from sun damage, the Stream2Sea line includes sunscreens, conditioning shampoo and body wash, leave-in conditioner, nourishing body lotion and lip balms. Stream2Sea products are currently available online at www.Stream2Sea.com or ask for them at your favorite health food store, dive center or outdoor retailer. Friend us on Facebook or call (866) 960-9513.