


How did benzene - a chemical compound that's naturally found in crude oil and gasoline - end up in sunscreen? Experts and manufacturers were shocked to find it in sample tests: It's not an intended ingredient in any sunscreen formula or production process, regardless of the brand or manufacturer. Customers were asked to dispose of or request a refund for the affected bottles immediately in "an abundance of caution" while the company investigated how a known carcinogenic chemical known as benzene worked its way into these aerosol products.

Earlier this summer, Johnson & Johnson officials issued a voluntary recall for four different varieties of Neutrogena sunscreen products as well as one of its Aveeno sprays. Sunscreen is essential for healthy skin, but news reports about a widespread recall for popular sprays may have you second guessing what's in your beach bag these days. In July 2021, Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of several sunscreens from Aveeno and Neutrogena contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen.īenzene is a volatile chemical compound that can impact immediate health and influence cancer risk health experts worry that benzene-contaminated sunscreens pose a risk for unintentional absorption over time.Įxperts still advocate for regular sunscreen use, citing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as two of the safest and most effective actives.
