Why Are Australia’s Sunscreen Standards Behind the Rest of the World?

September 23, 2025

We all know sunscreen is meant to protect against harmful UV rays. But what if some sunscreens were also exposing you to hormone-disrupting chemicals?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — Australia’s health regulator — recently announced they will review the upper limits of certain chemical UV filters in sunscreens. This follows global research showing some ingredients can act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with your body’s natural hormones.

What Are Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals in Sunscreen?

Hormone disruptors — also called endocrine disruptors — are chemicals that can mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s natural hormones. This can affect everything from mood and metabolism to reproductive health.

International studies have linked some chemical sunscreen ingredients — including oxybenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate — to hormone disruption, especially when used at high concentrations.

These chemicals are:

·       Common in conventional sunscreens sold in Australia

·       Absorbed into the skin, with some detected in blood samples days later

·       Potentially harmful to the endocrine system, especially with repeated daily use

For a safer option, learn more about our natural zinc oxide sunscreen which contains no hormone-disrupting UV filters.

Why is the TGA reviewing the concentration of these chemicals in Australian Sunscreen

Your hormones are your body’s communication system. Disrupting them can affect:

·       Reproductive health

·       Thyroid function

·       Growth and development

·       Mood, sleep, and energy

Here’s the kicker — Australians are encouraged to wear sunscreen daily and reapply often. That means long-term, repeated exposure if your sunscreen contains these chemical filters.

For daily wear, see our face sunscreens and BB creams designed for sensitive skin.

How Australia Compares to the Rest of the World

Countries like the EU and Japan have already set lower maximum limits for some of these chemicals — or banned them altogether. Australia, however, is only now beginning to review these limits, meaning our sunscreen standards are behind the rest of the world.

Discover how our natural sunscreen range meets or exceeds international safety standards.

Wotnot Naturals’ Position on Safe Sunscreen

At Wotnot Naturals, we’ve always believed sunscreen should protect your skin — not play with your hormones.

Our sunscreens are:

·       Free from hormone-disrupting UV filters

·       Made with natural zinc oxide as the active UV blocker

·       TGA-approved and broad spectrum (UVA & UVB)

·       Reef-safe and suitable for sensitive skin — including babies and children

·       Designed to sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays, rather than being absorbed into your bloodstream

The TGA’s review is a welcome step — but while they work on updating the rules, you can already choose safer, natural alternatives.

Switch to a sunscreen that blocks the bad stuff — UV rays and unnecessary chemicals.

Also in Our Blog