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The fragrance facts, graded

Don’t take our word for it. Here’s every fact on this site, with its evidence grade, its caveats, and a link to the source, so you can check us.

We start you on the strong ones: findings that have been replicated or come from one large, well-controlled study. Moderate and weak facts are here too, labeled for what they are. Use “Link to this fact” to share a single card.

2 facts match “oxybenzone”

Skin allergy / Other evidence

In the manufacturer's own pooled patch tests, the rate of skin reactions to sunscreens with 1-6% oxybenzone did not rise with the oxybenzone concentration, and photoallergy tests and standard repeat patch tests gave the same low rate (about 0.27% vs 0.26%).

Weak evidence: Sponsor-held data from healthy adults; per-formula averages, not pooled individual data; the null concentration trend spans only 1-6% with most formulas at 6%.

Source: Agin 2008 (oxybenzone HRIPT), Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine Industry-funded Link to this fact

Skin allergy / Other evidence

Few sunscreen shoppers raised ingredient worries: among 325 top-voted reviews, nanoparticles were named in 7 comments (2%) and oxybenzone, avobenzone, parabens, homosalate and retinyl palmitate in about 3 each (1%).

Weak evidence: Top-voted comments only; absence of mention is not absence of concern, and many shoppers may not know which filters are in the product.

Source: Xu 2016, JAMA Dermatology Link to this fact

Information, not medical advice. See also: myths we won’t tell you.