Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport SPF Sunscreen Spray
Medium-high risk; spray sunscreens commonly use PFAS water-repellent additives.
This spray sunscreen is marketed as water-resistant, a feature often achieved with PFAS-based water-repellent coatings in personal care. Hawaiian Tropic discloses nothing about PFAS content or avoidance.
The safe swap
Goddess Garden
Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz
100/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
spray emulsion with water-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
PFAS
Spray sunscreens with 'sport' or 'water-resistant' claims typically rely on PFAS-based hydrophobic agents to maintain UV filter adhesion during sweating and swimming. Hawaiian Tropic's silence on this and the spray format together create medium-high probability of PFAS presence.
Source: ATSDR ↗Inhalation exposure from spray aerosolization
Sunscreen spray inhalation has been documented in dermatology literature as a route of concern for volatile solvents and fragrance sensitization. This is a spray-format hazard independent of chemical composition and is particularly relevant for application near face or in enclosed spaces.
Endocrine disruptors
Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport likely contains oxybenzone (common in this brand) and/or avobenzone; both have been flagged by FDA and consumer organizations for potential hormone disruption in high-frequency use. Not exclusive to this product but relevant to sunscreen sprays generally and this brand's filter chemistry.
Source: NIEHS ↗Fragrance allergen load
The 'Island' marketing suggests tropical fragrance additives; Hawaiian Tropic products are known for strong scent profiles. Fragrance is a common sunscreen allergen and sensitizer, particularly in spray format where it vaporizes and increases inhalation exposure.
Silicone and dimethicone buildup on skin
Spray sunscreens rely heavily on silicones for spreadability and water repellency. Repeated application without thorough cleansing can lead to occlusive buildup, though this is a cosmetic concern rather than a systemic toxicity risk.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport is a spray-applied sunscreen emulsion containing water-resistant film-forming agents, UV filters (likely oxybenzone and/or avobenzone), and silicone-based spreadability enhancers. Spray delivery systems typically require volatile solvents and aerosolization propellants to function, which raises both inhalation exposure and the likelihood of PFAS-based water-repellent coatings to meet the 'sport' water-resistance claim. The spray format itself is the primary concern here, separate from chemical filter selection.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hawaiian Tropic (Edgewell Personal Care) does not publicly disclose PFAS content or commit to PFAS-free reformulation. The brand has no major product recalls or safety certifications (e.g., EWG verification, reef-safe labeling) on record for this line. No transparency statement regarding PFAS use in water-resistant spray formulations has been issued. This silence is typical of legacy sunscreen brands but limits consumer ability to assess true PFAS exposure.
How it compares in its category
Spray sunscreens as a category carry higher PFAS risk than lotions or creams because water resistance in aerosol form almost universally requires fluorinated additives. Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport competes in the mass-market sports sunscreen space alongside Coppertone Sport and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer; none disclose PFAS status. Mineral (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) sunscreen sprays are fewer but exist and may carry lower PFAS burden, though talc contamination risk in mineral powders is a separate concern.
If you buy it
Apply in well-ventilated areas or outdoors to minimize inhalation of spray particles and propellants. Do not spray directly onto face; apply to hands first or use lotion formulation for face. Reapply every 2 hours or immediately after water exposure, as the water-resistant coating degrades. Consider a lotion-format sunscreen from the same brand or a reef-safe alternative (avobenzone-free, octinoxate-free) if you use sunscreen frequently or apply to children, given the unknown PFAS load and lack of brand transparency.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Hawaiian Tropic has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Sunscreen
Goddess Garden
Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz
mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Skin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils
Limited concern
Lower-concern mineral sunscreen backed by credible PFAS-exclusion certification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Raw Elements
Eco Formula SPF 30 Sunscreen
mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide in sunlight
Limited concern
Skin irritation or sensitivity to mineral film
Limited concern
Low risk. Mineral sunscreen backed by third-party verification, no fluorochemical history.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Raw Elements
Face & Body Sunscreen Tin SPF 30
mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide), tin packaging
Epoxy resin coating in tin lining
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Nano particle inhalation from loose powder form
Limited concern
Low risk. Mineral formula plus explicit PFAS-free stance and certs lower concern.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More sunscreen grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.