Your Reef Secure Sunscreen Information – 15 Sunscreens That Are Reef Secure

Hawaii is the primary state within the U.S. to ban the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-harming chemical compounds oxybenzone and octinoxate, ushering in a brand new period of reef protected sunscreen.

The brand new legislation went into impact January 1, 2021, prompting guests and residents alike to commerce of their non-reef-safe solar safety.

Why Reef Secure Sunscreen?

Standard sunscreens sometimes include chemical compounds, corresponding to oxybenzone and octinoxate — two elements which were linked to coral bleaching.

When coral bleaches, it loses its coloration and turns into weak to illness. Bleaching locations coral below vital stress and topics it to elevated mortality ranges. In line with the Nationwide Park Service, 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter coral reefs yearly.

The now-banned chemical compounds which were historically present in hottest sunscreen manufacturers, are believed to be one of many contributing components to the coral reef destruction. These manufacturers embody Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat, to call a couple of. Nevertheless, we’re beginning to see a development of those massive manufacturers creating new, much less poisonous sunscreen traces, corresponding to Banana Boat’s Merely Defend, which is made with out oxybenzone and parabens.

Buying and selling in previous sunscreen for reef protected variations. (Photograph: Cindy Ellen Russel / Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Find out how to Know if Sunscreen is Reef Secure

Selecting the best sunscreen is vital, not solely to guard your pores and skin from burns and most cancers, but in addition to protect our oceans and marine life. Choosing a sunscreen that’s each efficient and reef protected may be overwhelming.

Here’s a test record to take alongside when purchasing for sunscreen that can defend each your pores and skin and the reefs, in addition to a listing of solar safety thought of reef protected.

Keep away from sunscreens containing petrolatum, generally generally known as mineral oil, which takes years to biodegrade, and are recognized to be dangerous or deadly to aquatic life and waterfowl.
Keep away from sunscreens with excessive content material of Titanium Dioxide. This mineral doesn’t biodegrade and is discovered to react in heat seawater to kind hydrogen peroxide which is dangerous to all sea life.
Keep away from sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate, the 2 chemical compounds banned in Hawaii and linked to coral bleaching.

15 Reef Secure Sunscreens

The coral reefs at Hanauma Bay present meals, shelter, and breeding grounds for marine life, making the Oahu landmark one in all Hawaii’s prime sights. (Photograph: Napua Heen / Hawaii.com)

Here’s a record of sunscreens thought of to be reef protected. Sunscreens made in Hawaii are marked with an * asterisk.