Sunscreens that are reef safe and what that means

The hot weather is here which means spending more time outdoors. Although you should ALWAYS wear sunscreen you are exposed to UV rays more in the summer. You should also look for sunscreens that are reef safe.

If you feel summer is the only time to wear sunscreen, then I got some news for you. Did you know that the sun is responsible for 90% of premature aging? Yea, that was my reaction too. You are probably underapplying too, this is how much sunscreen you should be wearing.

Since you will probably be spending more time at the beach this summer it is time to talk about something serious. Did you know that some sunscreens are harmful to coral reefs? Did you even know this was even an issue? Before I get into that you should first know the difference between chemical sunscreen, mineral sunscreen, UVA and UVB.

What does Coral reef have to do with sunscreen?

The main culprit here are chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens contain two ingredients that are responsible for reef bleaching. Sunscreens that are reef safe don’t contain oxybenzone and octinoxate.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t buy chemical sunscreens, just look for some that don’t contain the ingredients I just listed. How oxybenzone works is by absorbing UV radiation and then dispersing it as heat (you’ll find out why this is bad soon.)

I couldn’t find information on how octinoxate harms coral reefs, but I am assuming it is similar. These chemicals are so harmful that Hawaii banned chemical sunscreens.

What is coral bleaching and what does that have to do with sunscreens that are reef safe?

Coral bleaching is when corals turn completely white. This happens with the coral gets too stressed out either by warmer water temperature, chemicals used in chemical sunscreens, pollution, low tides.

When the water temperature rises too high, the coral gets stressed out and gets rid of this alga called zooxanthellae (they help each other survive). The coral’s temperature stays high and doesn’t let the algae return and eventually the coral will die.

Coral bleaching affects the reef ecosystem (the most diverse ecosystem), which people and wildlife depend on according to world wildlife. If you are wondering what exactly coral reefs do then check out this article on biodiscovery and the great barrier reef.

What sunscreens that are reef safe should I buy

Look for mineral sunscreen which have the ingredients Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin, and blocks out UV radiation which are less harmful to corals and don’t cause bleaching.

In order for corals to be untouched, mineral sunscreen must be non-nano meaning the ingredient particles must be “above 100 nanometers in size so that they cannot be ingested by corals” according to Chasing Coral.

Sunscreens that are reef safe

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Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Sunscreen spray

If you are looking for an affordable sunscreen then check out Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Sunscreen spray. It has an SPF of 30 and is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects you from both UVA and UVB Rays.

This sunscreen is nongreasy and sprays clear, so you won’t have to worry about a white cast. It is also water/sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes. This is important to note since you will have to reapply sooner than the 2 hours recommended.

Active Ingredients: Eucalyptol 0.092%, menthol 0.042%, methyl salicylate 0.060%, thymol 0.064%.

Inactive Ingredients: Water, alcohol (26.9%), benzoic acid, poloxamer 407, sodium benzoate, caramel.

Badger

If you are looking for a sunscreen that is more on the organic side then check out Badger. It has 98% organic ingredients and non GMO. The cool think about this sunscreen is that the zinc oxide applies clear instead of white.

This sunscreen has an SPF of 30 which blocks out 97% or UVB rays. It is also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, it won’t protect you longer than that.

Ingredients: Uncoated Clear Zinc Oxide (18.75%) and Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Sunflower Vitamin E, Organic Seabuckthorn Extract.

Blue Lizard

Blue Lizard is an Australian sunscreen that is also on the affordable side. This sunscreen is also broad spectrum with an SPF of 30. This sunscreen is for you if you have sensitive skin.

It is also dermatologist approved for over 20 years. The really cool thing about this sunscreen is that the bottle turns blue in harmful UV light. Blue Lizard is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, so you might have to set an alarm before you are exposed to the harmful UV rays.

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (5%), Zinc Oxide (10%)

Inactive Ingredients: Alumina, Aluminum Stearate, Beeswax, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Hexyl Laurate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propanediol, Purified Water, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, VP Hexadecene Copolymer

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen

Another great option would be La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen. This is a pricier than the previous ones mentioned but it is totally worth it. This sunscreen is formulated with Cell-Ox Shield antioxidant technology

• Dermatologist Tested for Safety

• Allergy Tested

• Oil-Free/Non-Comedogenic

• Suitable for Sensitive Skin

• Paraben Free

• Fragrance Free

• Oxybenzone Free

• Octinoxate Free

It is a very light weight formula that is fast absorbing and non-greasy and has a velvety finished. This sunscreen also has Cell Ox Shield which is a powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from free radicals which speeds along skin aging. It has an SPF of 60 and 80 minute water resistant.

Active ingredients: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 7%

Inactive ingredients: water, styrene/acrylates copolymer, dimethicone, polymethylsilsesquioxane, butyloctyl salicylate, glycerin, alcohol denat., poly c10-30 alkyl acrylate, caprylyl methicone, trisiloxane, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, diethylhexyl syringylidenemalonate, peg-100 stearate, glyceryl stearate, phenoxyethanol, potassium cetyl phosphate, propylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, peg-8 laurate, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, triethanolamine, tocopherol, inulin lauryl carbamate, disodium edta, p-anisic acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, xanthan gum, cassia alata leaf extract, maltodextrin, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

What sunscreen are you currently using? Are you using sunscreen that are reef safe? One thing to remember is that sunscreen is nothing you should only wear in the summer or when you go out to the beach. The sun’s rays are powerful year-round. Not wearing sunscreen is one mistake many people make when it comes to their skincare, along with these other mistakes.