Have you ever jumped into a pool and noticed an iridescent layer of film floating on the water around you? More importantly, have you ever wondered where it came from?
With summer on the horizon, and beach trips lining up, we have to discuss another way you can do just a little bit more to protect the environment. Think about all the times you’ve been to the beach, lathered on sunscreen (because, safety first!) and then jumped into the ocean. What happens to all that sunscreen that eventually washes off your body? It washes OUT into the ocean. Consumer Reports estimates that about 6,000 tons of sunscreen washes out into the ocean (and into the reefs!) Other studies estimate it could be as much as 14,000 tons each year! Unfortunately, it’s not nicely and evenly distributed around the water either. It tends to concentrate in more popular areas…usually those areas with more marine life!
What Exactly Is Dangerous?
There’s more than just one thing to look out for when you’re searching for reef-safe sunscreen. Since there’s no real rules about what exactly makes a sunscreen “reef-safe”, manufacturers can put a reef-friendly label on sunscreen that still contains ingredients that are damaging. Our most important advice is to READ THE LABEL and decide if something is reef-safe for yourself!
The most dangerous chemicals are oxybenzone and octinoxate. Both these chemicals are great in sunscreen because they absorb UV rays. The bad news? They can also cause coral bleaching. Oxybenzone will trigger coral bleaching at temperatures even lower than normal, which leads to more frequent bleaching. It’s easily the most common and perhaps the most damaging of all the chemicals. Other harmful chemicals to try to avoid in your sunscreen are butylparaben (a preservative) octocrylene, PABA (aminobenzoic acid), Enzacamene, Octisalate, Homosalate, and Avobenzone. Some of these are chemicals that simply aid in the effectiveness of chemical sunscreen, but still can cause damage to marine life. You should also try to avoid parabens, pthalates, triclosan and microbeads, which are usually plastic.
But What About Instagram?
The one drawback to using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which is the ingredient that scientists recommend you should be using, is that it’s a mineral. Mineral sunscreens work by forming a physical barrier on the skin, so instead of absorbing the rays, like chemical sunscreen, mineral sunscreen simply blocks and scatters the rays. This means that usually, mineral sunscreens are known for leaving a white film over your skin. To solve this problems, sunscreens have used nano-sized particles to try to eliminate the white, chalky look you used to get. The bad news is that nano-sized particles can be absorbed by marine life and still cause damage to the reef. Most companies producing reef-safe sunscreen use non-nano particles, but it’s important to check out the labels and research the company. The good news is, as technology develops, some companies, like Badger Balm, have found ways to introduce non-nano zinc that is clear!
How to Choose a Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Thankfully, with a rise in understanding about the damage these chemicals are doing to the environment, there has also been in a rise in studies and potential solutions for this environmental problem. First and foremost, scientists suggest that instead of using sunscreen, people wear clothing that shields them from the sun’s harmful rays. Even a t-shirt, or a rash guard that isn’t specifically designed to offer UV protection can help! This will drastically reduce the amount of sunscreen people have to use, and as a result, limit how much sunscreen is washed off into the ocean. Hats can also offer protection and reduce the amount of sunscreen you need.
If you aren’t into covering up, there are some things you can look for specifically to make sure that your sunscreen is environmentally friendly.
- Skip the oxybenzone! Try to find sunscreens that don’t contain this ingredient. Mineral sunscreens typically don’t contain oxybenzone and are safer to use.
- Go For Waterproof or Water Resistant! If a sunscreen is waterproof or water resistant, there’s a good chance that less of it will wash off into the water.
- Read the Ingredients Carefully! Don’t be fooled by a label on the front! Take the time to read through all the ingredients on the back of the bottle.
- Non-Nano! Nano sized particles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can be absorbed by marine life and can disrupt the reef growing process as well. If the bottle doesn’t say “non-nano” take the time to do a little investigating of your own.
- When in Doubt, Google! If you aren’t sure about your sunscreen selection, simply Google the brand, OR visit the companies website. You’ll be able to get some more information from both places and hopefully be a more informed consumer.
We linked all the sunscreen below! If you click the name of the sunscreen, it will take you directly to the company website. We’ve also given you a link directly to an Amazon listing so you can click and shop! Each sunscreen we listed has at least a four-star rating on Amazon.
All photos below are from Amazon.com
- All Good Sunscreen: Another brand with a lot of different options (the sport type is linked here!) that will meet your family’s needs. It meets all the “reef-safe” criteria and is non-nano! ($12.98 on Amazon)
- Goddess Garden: Contains organic shea butter and coconut oil so it helps take care of your skin while you’re using it!They have kids and baby versions, as well as a spray on type! ($14.99 on Amazon)
- Blue Lizard: The sunscreen that inspired this post! Blue Lizard was created in Australia, and might be the most well-known brand. It’s mineral and has been around for 20+ years. They also offer kid and sport versions. The coolest part? The container turns blue when it’s time to re-apply! ($14.98 on Amazon)
- Thinksport: One of the most popular brands, Thinksport offers their regular sunscreen, as well as kids, baby, and sport versions. ($12.69 on Amazon)
- Badger Balm: The big selling point for Badger Balm is their new clear zinc mineral sunscreens. This means that they start out white and then eventually go clear. (Clicking the link for Badger Balm will take you to their actual website, where they are currently running a promo for free shipping on orders over $25 and a free lip balm with everyone order!) Badger Balm is an entire skin care line and they make a ton of different products. If you want to check them out on Amazon, click here: ($22.08 on Amazon for sunscreen and a sunscreen face stick)
- Kokuka Sun Care: Definitely the most expensive of the bunch, but racks up a 4.5 star rating on Amazon, so it’s worth it! It had 23 antioxidant ingredients in addition to the sun protection you’ll get. This is another sunscreen that’s a product of Hawaii. ($29.99 on Amazon)
- Suntegrity: Another site that has A LOT of skin care products that will help you stay safe all summer and are reef-safe and non-nano! ($24.00 on Amazon)
- Mama Kuleana: Handmade in Maui, this sunscreen is reef-safe AND the container biodegrades in two months time! Currently, it’s out of stock on Amazon, but should be back in stock by June 12. ($22.00 on Amazon)
- Manda Organic Sun Paste: This sunscreen uses Thanaka, as an ingredient. According to the Amazon listing, “From the wood of a tree native to Myanmar, Thanaka has been used for over 2000 years as a natural sun protectant that preserves and beautifies the skin. ” This one is a little bit more expensive, but it’s packaged in bamboo and tin, so the container is recyclable! ($18.00 on Amazon, plus $4.59 shipping)
- Sun Bum: Consistently ranked pretty highly on multiple lists for reef-safe sunscreen. Their products are vegan plus paraben, sulfate, and gluten free. Plus, the website says it smells like summer! ($15.95 on Amazon)†
Know Better, Do Better
Sunscreen is an essential part of summer because we know how important it is to protect our skin. While we’ve had access to sunscreen for years, it’s only recently that we’ve learned how damaging traditional sunscreen chemicals can be. Thankfully, there is a growing number of people who are concerned about our safety AND the safety of the environment. The best thing you can do is to use the new knowledge we have to be proactive! Take the time to read the ingredients and research what makes sunscreen (and other beauty products) dangerous to you and the environment. And remember, sunscreen isn’t the only beauty product that can cause trouble when it washes off into rivers, streams and oceans. Consider looking at the labels on all your skin care products to find places you can make small changes that make a big difference!
If you want to read a lot more about this topic, check out The Environmental Working Group.
If you have any reef-friendly sunscreens you’ve used, let us know how they work! AND we’re ALWAYS interested in beauty products that have less chemicals. Share with us your most favorite! Stay safe and ENJOY THE SUNSHINE!
The Ladies Auxiliary 