Natural ingredients like sunflower seed oil, avocado, and jojoba lead the non-greasy formula, ensuring a smooth, easy application - even on sensitive skin. (Hawaii’s law, the first statewide ban in the US, went into effect in last year.)įree of oxybenzone, octinoxate, or parabens, this non-nano zinc sunscreen from Babo Botanicals is safe for both you and the reefs. Those ingredients have been banned in many marine preserves, Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Virgin Islands, parts of Mexico, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii. If you’re going to use sunscreen, he says to always avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate at all costs. It’s also a major factor in decreased water quality,” says Craig Downs, the study’s co-author and the executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory.ĭowns says the best course of action is to exchange sunscreen for protective clothing like hats, rash guards, and swim leggings that have broad-spectrum UV protection built into the fabric, but he understands that that isn’t always an option when you’re at the beach. “Sunscreen pollution is a real phenomenon and it poses a threat to coral reefs and aquatic life. But, according to scientific research, they’re also being killed - and your sunscreen may be part of the problem. They provide nesting grounds and homes for hundreds of species, prevent coastal erosion and storm surge damage, help mitigate climate change by regulating carbon dioxide levels in the ocean, and so much more. Many of these reef safe sunscreens are available at your favorite retailer.If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.Ĭoral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and their survival is inextricably linked to our own. Banana Boat Simply Protect SPF 50+ Sunscreen (spray, not lotion).Loving Naturals Clear Body SPF 30+ All-natural Sunscreen.Raw Elements SPF 30 Certified Natural Sunscreen.Badger SPF 30 Unscented Sunscreen Cream.Babo Botanicals SPF 30 Clear Zinc Lotion.*Raw Love SPF 35 All-natural Mineral Sunscreen.*Little Hands Hawaii SPF 35+ All-natural and Organic Sunscreen.*Mama Kuleana Waterproof SPF 30 Reef-safe Sunscreen.*Kokua Sun Care Hawaiian SPF 50 Natural Zinc Sunscreen.Made in Hawaii sunscreens are marked with an *asterisks. Here is a list of sunscreens considered to be reef safe. Reef Safe Sunscreen: Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, the two chemicals recently banned in Hawaii and are believed to cause coral bleaching.This mineral does not biodegrade and is found to react in warm seawater to form hydrogen peroxide which is harmful to all sea life. Avoid sunscreens with high content of Titanium Dioxide.Avoid sunscreens containing petrolatum, commonly known as mineral oil, which takes years to biodegrade, and are known to be harmful or fatal to aquatic life and waterfowl. Photo: Cindy Ellen Russel / Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid: Trading in old sunscreen for reef safe versions. Here is a check list to take along when shopping for sunscreen that will protect both your skin and the reefs, as well as a list of sun protection considered reef safe. Selecting a sunscreen that is both effective and reef safe can be overwhelming. However, we are starting to see a trend of these big brands creating new, less toxic sunscreen lines such as Banana Boat’s Simply Protect which is made without oxybenzone & parabens.Ĭhoosing the right sunscreen is important not only to protect skin from burns and cancer, but also to preserve our oceans and marine life. These brands include Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat, to name a few. Most popular sunscreen brands are known to contain these dangerous chemicals. These now banned chemicals are believed to be one of the contributing factors to the coral reef destruction. According to the National Park Service, 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter coral reefs every year. When coral bleaches, it is not dead, but under significant stress and subject to increased mortality levels. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two ingredients believed to contribute to coral bleaching. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2021, but many visitors and residents are already trading in their non-reef safe sun protection. Hawaii is the first state in the US to ban the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, ushering in a new era of reef safe sunscreen.
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