Luckily, reef-safe sunscreens are becoming much more widely available, so it’s easier than ever to make this environmentally conscious swap. Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Banish The Defender Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.Best for Sensitive Skin: Alba Botanica Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45.Best for Blue Light: Versed Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35.Best Mattifying: COOLA Mineral Face Sunscreen Sheer Matte SPF 30.Best Organic: MANDA Organic Sun Creme SPF 50.Best Under Makeup: Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30.Best for Activities: Thinksport Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+.Highly Rated: Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Mineral Lotion SPF 50.TSA-Friendly: Reef Repair Reef-Safe Sunscreen SPF 30.Best Overall: Kōkua Sun Care Reef Safe Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50.Resources like the National Ocean Service and Save the Reef include many others in their HEL List of harmful and/or controversial ingredients, so check your labels before you apply your go-to sunblock. Unlike mineral sunscreens, however, the ingredients in chemical sunscreens do leach into marine environments, have been linked to reef degradation, and are found to have a negative impact on sea life and the ecosystem. These work by absorbing UV rays and turning them into heat that’s then dissipated from the skin. In particular, reef-safe sunscreen uses “non-nano” or non-nanoparticle-sized zinc or titanium, as studies have found nanoparticles to have toxic effects on aquatic organisms.Ĭhemical sunscreens, on the other hand, use ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate to provide sun protection. They’re considered reef-safe or coral-safe because these ingredients don’t damage coral reefs, and aren’t found to be harmful to marine life. These mineral ingredients physically block UVA and UVB rays from entering the skin (which is why mineral sunscreen is also referred to as physical sunscreen). What is reef-safe sunscreen? Simply put, it’s a mineral sunscreen that uses specific ingredients - namely zinc oxide and titanium dioxide - to protect skin from UV rays. It’s been proven that freshly applied sunscreen can be harmful to our ocean's disappearing coral reefs, which is why switching to reef-safe sunscreen is crucial as we get more proactive about preserving our marine ecosystems. And with tourists swimming, diving, and snorkeling on only a small portion of the world’s reefs, the pounds add up.When buying sunscreen, it’s super important to keep ingredients in mind - and we’re not just talking about ingredients that are safe for your skin. John surveyed a popular beach on the island, estimating that with 2,000 to 5,000 swimmers using the beach daily, over 6,000 pounds of sunscreen would be deposited into the reef annually. In addition, the presence of these chemicals in sea water allows viruses to thrive, putting corals at high risk of catching an infection that could lead to bleaching and death.Īreas such as Oahu’s Hanauma Bay off the coast of the Hawaii, sees close to a million tourists each year, which makes it highly susceptible to sunscreen-induced coral bleaching. When corals absorb these chemicals, they have a similar reaction as they would if surrounding water temperatures were to get too warm. Studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate are found in over 3,500 sunscreen products, including household names like Tropicana, Banana Boat, and Coppertone. In addition, scientists now say that chemically based sunscreen can induce the same bleaching response in coral. We know that reefs are suffering at the hands of global climate change due to rising ocean temperatures, as the stress of warm water causes corals to bleach. Why is this important? Because both have been linked to coral bleaching. The state passed a bill that will prevent the sale of sunscreen containing common UV-filtering ingredients, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate. You may have seen a thing or two in the news recently regarding Hawaii’s ban on chemically based sunscreen.
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