Hawaiian Tropic
Hawaiian Tropic was founded in 1969 by Ron Rice in Ormond Beach, Florida, who reportedly started the company with $500 and a garbage can to mix his first batch of suntan lotion. The brand was acquired by Edgewell Personal Care (formerly Energizer Holdings' personal care division) and is known for its coconut-scented, tropical-themed sun care products. Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens have historically used chemical UV filters including oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene. The brand's emphasis on fragrance and tropical scent experience means many products also contain synthetic fragrances and parfum compounds. Despite its laid-back brand image, Hawaiian Tropic products contain some of the same chemical sunscreen ingredients that have raised safety concerns in FDA absorption studies.
Products Analyzed
Flagged Ingredients Found
Who Owns Hawaiian Tropic?
Big Corp SubsidiaryParent Company
Edgewell Personal Care(EPC)
Parent Industry
Personal Care
Parent Revenue
Approximately $2.2 billion (2024)
Also Makes
Hawaiian Tropic is owned by Edgewell Personal Care. Edgewell acquired the brand when it separated from Energizer Holdings in 2015.
Corporate ownership does not automatically mean a product is unsafe. It means ingredient and sourcing decisions are influenced by a parent company whose primary business is personal care. Consumers deserve to know who profits from their purchases.
Products by Hawaiian Tropic
Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch SPF 30
Hawaiian Tropic
Numbrrrz
Organic Lip Balm
Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport SPF 50
Hawaiian Tropic
Numbrrrz
Organic Lip Balm
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30
Hawaiian Tropic
Numbrrrz
Organic Lip Balm
Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active SPF 30
Hawaiian Tropic
Numbrrrz
Organic Lip Balm
Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil SPF 8
Hawaiian Tropic
Numbrrrz
Organic Lip Balm
Get Your Free Ingredient Safety Report
Enter your email and we'll send you a personalized breakdown of the most common harmful ingredients in your daily products.
Flagged Ingredients in Hawaiian Tropic Products
We found 10 different ingredients of concern across Hawaiian Tropic's product line. Each one links to a full safety analysis with details on health risks, regulatory status, and which other brands use the same ingredient.
Oxybenzone
A chemical UV filter found in many sunscreens and SPF-containing cosmetics. It absorbs UVA and UVB radiation but is a known endocrine disruptor, coral reef toxin, and one of the most frequently detected chemicals in human blood and urine.
Parabens
A class of synthetic preservatives used to prevent microbial growth in cosmetics and personal care products. Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, raising concerns about endocrine disruption and links to breast cancer.
Synthetic Fragrance
An umbrella term that can hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Under US law, companies are not required to list individual fragrance components, which may include phthalates, musks, allergens, and sensitizers.
Homosalate
A chemical UV filter that absorbs UVB radiation. Used in sunscreens and SPF cosmetics, homosalate is an endocrine disruptor that breaks down into more toxic byproducts under UV exposure.
Mineral Oil
A colorless, odorless oil derived from petroleum distillation. Used extensively in cosmetics and skincare as an emollient and solvent. Like petrolatum, cosmetic-grade mineral oil may contain impurities if insufficiently refined.
Avobenzone
One of the few chemical UV filters that provides good UVA protection. However, it is photounstable, breaking down rapidly under UV light and losing effectiveness within 30 minutes unless stabilized by other chemicals.
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
A synthetic antioxidant closely related to BHA, used to prevent oxidation in cosmetics and food. Less studied than BHA but shares some endocrine disruption concerns.
Propylene Glycol
A synthetic liquid used as a humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer in cosmetics. While considered safe at low concentrations, it is a skin irritant at higher levels and enhances absorption of other ingredients — including harmful ones.
Dimethicone
A silicone-based polymer widely used in cosmetics and skincare for its smoothing, water-repellent properties. Not toxic in itself, but creates a synthetic barrier that can trap impurities, clog pores, and is not biodegradable.
Phenoxyethanol
A glycol ether used as a preservative in cosmetics, often marketed as a 'safer' alternative to parabens. At regulated concentrations (up to 1%), it is generally well tolerated, but higher concentrations can cause irritation and are toxic to infants.
