Is your sunscreen killing coral reefs?

Have you noticed headlines like this popping up everywhere? Or maybe you’ve seen new reef safe sunscreen products sprouting up on the store shelves.

The recent news that Hawaii is banning the sale of sunscreens containing the ingredients: oxybenzone and octinoxate – chemicals that are harmful to corals – has brought a lot of attention to the environmental impact of sunscreen and the need for reef safe sunscreen.

If you can’t imagine going to Hawaii without sunscreen, don’t fret. It’s not about giving up sunscreen completely. It’s about choosing a better reef safe sunscreen.

Reef safe sunscreens are a little different from the traditional sunscreens you may be accustomed to. But choosing a reef safe sunscreen is easy — if you know what to look for. 

Here is a quick rundown of what reef safe sunscreen is, why you should be using one and some great brands to try.

Reef safe sunscreen – the ultimate guide

1. What is reef safe sunscreen?

2. Why choose a reef safe sunscreen?

3. What is non-nano zinc oxide?

4. How to pick a reef safe sunscreen

5. List of reef safe sunscreen brands (Approved by surfers)

Let’s get started.

Just want the list of reef safe sunscreen brands?

Click here. 

What is reef safe sunscreen?

Chemical vs physical sunscreen

Most sunscreens on the market are chemical sunscreens. Typically they contain some of the following ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. When you apply these sunscreens, the chemicals penetrate your skin and those chemicals absorb and filter UVA and UVB rays from the sun.

Reef safe sunscreen uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as a physical barrier on your skin which reflects the sun’s rays. These mineral sunscreens are better for the environment (and probably for your health too!) because they provide sun protection, but don’t contain the harmful chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Why choose a reef safe sunscreen?

Effects on corals

An astonishing 14,000 tons of sunscreen gets washed off our bodies and into oceans near coral reefs each year. The chemicals in traditional sunscreen that protect you from cancer have been shown to be toxic to the algae that live within corals.

This algae provides corals with their color and performs vital functions. Exposure to oxybenzone causes the corals to bleach and die (Downs 2016, Danovaro 2008).

And it doesn’t take much of these chemicals to cause problems for corals. In fact, according to Craig Downs, Executive Director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory,  “oxybenzone can cause an adverse effect in coral at 62 parts per trillion. That is equivalent to one drop of water in 6 1/2 Olympic swimming pools.”

Concerned about the effect of sunscreen from its 8 million visitors per year on its already stressed coral reefs, Hawaii became the first state to pass a bill banning sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate in May of 2018. The law will go into effect on Jan 1, 2021.

Health concerns

There is also some concern about the effect of the chemicals in traditional sunscreens on human health. High levels of oxybenzone have been found in human bloodstreams among people who use products containing the chemical.

There is also some evidence linking oxybenzone to lower testosterone, allergic skin reactions and birth outcomes (see the citations in this article by the Environmental Working Group).

This area of research is fairly new and more studies are needed to have conclusive evidence of the effect of these chemicals on human health.

In contrast, since reef safe sunscreens are physical sunscreens — they don’t penetrate your skin – there is less worry about hormonal issues. 

WATCH THIS

What is non-nano zinc oxide?

Reef safe sunscreens made from zinc oxide are the thick white sunblocks you see on the noses of lifeguards in 80’s films. In recent years, advances in using nanoparticles have made zinc-based sunscreens more transparent and easier to spread, but may provide less defense against UVA. 

When shopping for a zinc oxide sunscreen, you will likely come across sunscreens advertised as non-nano zinc products. Non-nano refers to the size of the zinc particles in the sunscreen – specifically, these sunscreens use zinc particles greater than 100 nanometers in size. 

Why choose non-nano zinc?

When your mineral sunscreen washes off the particles drop to the seafloor into the sediment. It is thought that nanoparticles (< 100 nanometers in size) can be ingested by corals.

So the current recommendation is to use non-nano mineral sunscreens. However, there is still a lot to learn about the effects of nano and non-nano particles on the environment.

Jump to the list of reef-safe sunscreens

How to pick a reef safe sunscreen

1. Check the ingredients

The term “reef safe” is not regulated, so you can’t always believe it when you see it on a label. You have to take a quick peek at the ingredients. 

Look for a mineral or physical sunscreen that uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredient.

Avoid products with oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. Some sunscreens labeled as a mineral sunscreen contain both zinc oxide and UV blocking chemicals too. Avoid those ones.

All the brands listed below and on my free Reef Safe Sunscreen Cheatsheet don’t contain ingredients harmful to ocean wildlife. So you can simply pick a brand on the list. 

2. Choose from stick, paste, lotion or spray

Stick

Sticks are great for convenience and easy application, especially when on the go. However, I’ve found that some sticks are very firm which makes them hard to apply.

My fave right now is the Suntegrity Sport Mineral Sun Stick. It is soft enough that it goes on easy. It’ s been my go-to all summer long.

Lotion

Lotions go on smooth and are great for everyday use, especially for the face. Note that they will be a little thicker than your traditional sunscreen.

Some of my faves: Raw Elements, Badger

Paste

Pastes are generally in a little bowl or jar that you scoop out. These seem to be thicker and can be great for long-lasting protection during a water session.

My faves: Manda

Spray

Sprays can be easier to get more overall coverage including your arms, shoulders or other parts. Note, they do not spray on like the thin, lightweight traditional sunscreens. You still need to rub them in with your hands. 

Current fave: Beauty Counter (tinted option available).

3. Choose tinted or not

Zinc based sunscreens can leave a slight white residue. Although this is wayyyy less of an issue today than lifeguards in movies from 1984 make it out to be. If you have darker skin or don’t want any trace of ghost-like paleness, opt for a tinted version. Many brands have this option now. 

4. Pick your packaging

If you prefer to avoid packaging that will end up in the landfill, there are biodegradable and reusable options. Typically these are cardboard and metal, respectively. Just know that it can be a bit of a bummer if the cardboard packaging gets wet in your gear bag. 

5. Opt for non-sunscreen options

Even better for the environment, minimize your sunscreen use by grabbing a rashguard or t-shirt to protect yourself from the sun. 

13 Best Reef Safe & Surfer Approved Sunscreens

All the sunscreens on this list are:

• physical mineral sunscreens that contain non-nano zinc
• made from natural and/or organic ingredients
• reef-friendly & eco-friendly
• and most importantly – are tested, approved and recommended by women who surf