You should use reef safe sunscreens to keep yourself safe and protect the ecosystems that you enjoy and depend on.
#LIST OF REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN SKIN#
įinding the right sunscreen for your skin and our environment can be complicated - this article will help you understand what makes a sunscreen reef safe and why that matters. The same chemicals that harm our environment are known to cause serious human health issues. The only way to know for sure that a sunscreen is reef safe is to check its ingredients. Some sunscreen companies will put “Reef Friendly” or “Reef Safe” labels on products that contain toxic chemicals that harm coral reefs because this type of language is not regulated by government agencies.
#LIST OF REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN FREE#
> Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 32 (Tinted) – This physical sunscreen uses 5% titanium dioxide and 6% zinc oxide to provide superior protection.A coral reef safe sunscreen is free of chemical active ingredients and nanoparticles. > Essential Defense Everyday Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 47 – This oil-free, paraben-free and fragrance-free formula contains 7.5% octinoxate and 12% zinc oxide to shield skin from sun damage. > Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 35 – Uses a 5% titanium dioxide and 6% zinc oxide formula that protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Our Hawaii-approved, reef-safe sunscreen options, all available at both our locations, or by using our product order form To be sure your SPF is a reef-safe mineral sunscreen and protects you from the sun, use broad-spectrum products considered GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective) by the FDA. These minerals, zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide do not damage reefs. Mineral (aka physical) sunscreens are not absorbed into the blood screen, but instead create a barrier against the sun, which reflects, scatters, and blocks ultraviolet radiation. All humans would suffer the loss of food, livelihoods, and medicines, and of course, the beauty and renewal of a tropical, seaside vacation. Once coral dies, there’s a fast impact to the marine biodiversity once supported by the reef. Even low concentrations of these chemicals have been shown to damage coral reefs which can absorb the chemicals and have its reproduction cycle interrupted and risk irreversible bleaching. It’s estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash off into our oceans each year.
The FDA-recommends only mineral sunscreens to protect our health. Studies have found them to cause hormonal disruption in humans. It’s not just our oceans that chemical – homosalate, avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene – sunscreens can harm. Chemical (aka non-mineral) sunscreens have no place in our marine environments at this time when these fragile habitats are endangered. (See our list of reef-save sunscreens below.) Not just for your Hawaii trip, but to be responsible any time you plan on paddling, swimming, snorkeling or surfing in our world’s vast oceans.
This ban, designed to protect our country’s valuable coral reef environments, recently became law.ĭon’t be a touron! Tourism is one of the leading factors of reef death world-wide Double check your sunscreen before you pack it. Did you know that Hawaii has banned non-mineral sunscreens?
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