Reef Safe Sunscreen – What You Need To Know

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Are you wearing reef safe sunscreen? We all know we must wear sunscreen to protect our skin from the damaging effects of sun exposure, but now it is clear we need to be more careful about what sunscreen we choose. So we’re here to help you find coral safe sunscreen.

Just so you know, this post includes some affiliate links as well as links to blog posts where we have worked with sponsors in the past or received sample products.

In 2018, Hawaii proposed banning certain sunscreens because of the damage to coral reefs and that ban is getting closer to becoming reality.

And recently The United States Virgin Islands banned the importation, sale, and possession of sunscreen products with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene. Those chemical ultraviolet filters are what absorbs harmful rays to reduce your chance of developing skin cancer.

The ban makes the U.S. Virgin Islands the first jurisdiction compliant with the Food and Drug Administration’s recently issued monograph noting that only two sunscreen active ingredients, the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, have been recognized as safe and effective. Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene are among the 12 chemicals for which the FDA has requested additional industry data in order to determine their safety and effectiveness.

Personally, I think this push towards consumers using coral safe sunscreen is a good thing.

This New York Times article explains that Hawaii’s new legislation prohibits the distribution of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate that scientists have found contributes to coral bleaching when washed off in the ocean.

Janice and I have used natural zinc based sunscreens for years because they work well and are safer for our family.

So when I heard about Hawaii becoming the first state to enforce the use of reef safe sunscreen, I was glad to know we were already on the right track.

Reef-safe sunscreen alternatives that use mineral sunblocks with zinc oxide must be “non-nano” in size to be considered reef safe. Apparently if they are below 100 nanometers, the creams can be ingested by corals.

As the Be Reef Safe site warns… The label “reef safe” is in no way regulated by the FDA. Manufacturers can therefore label sunscreen “reef safe” even if it includes oxybenzone and octinoxate – two chemicals that are known to cause reef damage.

They go on to explain “Zinc oxide is, hands down, the most effective, non-toxic sunscreen on the planet and there are several high-SPF sunscreens which use zinc oxide to reflect the sun’s rays and it works better than anything else on the market, lasts longer and doesn’t have any negative effects on coral – or people.”

Consumer Reports also warns that labels claiming to “reef safe sunscreen” can be misleading.

So the best way to know if your sunscreen is reef safe is to read the ingredients.

Reef Safe Sunscreen Means Safer Sun Protection For Your Family Too

When you’re trying to select a safe sunscreen, the website Hawaii.com suggests…

1. Avoid sunscreens that include Petrolatum, aka Mineral Oil, because it takes years to biodegrade and is harmful to aquatic life.
2. Don’t use sunscreens with high content of the mineral Titanium Dioxide because it also does not biodegrade and reacts in warm seawater forming harmful hydrogen peroxide.
3. And especially stay away from sunscreens that use Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. Those are the two chemicals recently banned in Hawaii because they cause coral bleaching.

I take sunscreen seriously because skin cancer runs in our family. My mom, aunt, and grandmother ALL had skin cancer. I’m determined to break that pattern and do everything I can to prevent myself and my daughters from getting skin cancer.

We’ve blogged in the past several times about sun safety and we’ve shared products from various sponsors and affiliates that we trust including swimwear for kids with UV protection.

Since we’re in the middle of a hot summer and you’re likely slathering your kids and yourself in lots of sunscreen, I thought I’d share with you some of our favorite natural sunscreens that also happen to be reef safe sunscreens. Because even if you don’t have the chance to swim in Hawaii this summer, you might as well use sunscreen that is healthier for your family. (And wow, do I wish I were swimming in Hawaii right now!)

I admit, it can be hard sometimes to always use these safer, natural sunscreens for your kids. Sometimes my kids complain that the lotions with zinc oxide feel thicker and harder to spread than the chemical ones their friends’ may be using. And they always beg for spray sunscreens. So you may want to try a few options to find one that your kids like.

If you don’t plan ahead and have your reef safe sunscreen ready, you might be tempted to buy whatever sunscreen you can find at the local store on your way to the beach.

One of the natural sunscreens we have used for years is from a direct sales company called Melaleuca. While I do like it, now that I’m looking at the ingredient list, I’m not sure it’s as pure as some of these others.

So I’ve done some more research to find a few other natural reef safe sunscreens for you to try…

7 Reef Safe Sunscreens

1. Badger Sunscreen – We have used Badger sunscreen many times over the years. It is based on zinc oxide with very few other ingredients and it is safe for kids and coral reefs.
    
   I noticed that they also now have versions of their sunscreen using clear zinc oxide which I think we might try.
    
   I like that Badger is available in both the US and Canada online and at many retail shops.
    
2. Attitude 100% Mineral Sunscreen – I’m excited to have discovered this brand of coral reef safe sunscreen. I’d never heard of it before, but I was impressed by their pure ingredients and agreed to let their company send me a few samples… which I really like.
    
   You can find some of their sunscreen line on Amazon in both the US and Canada… but if you’re Canadian, definitely check out their new sunscreen line – including a 100% Mineral Face Stick – available in Canada through their website.
    
3. Goddess Garden – We’ve purchased Goddess Garden sunscreens locally and used them several times.
    
   I like that this is organic and made with safe mineral ingredients. My kids have complained about this sunscreen being harder to smooth in… but I think it is still a safe brand that you can trust. In general zinc oxide sunscreens do take more time to rub in than chemical sunscreens.
    
4. All Terrain Kid Sport – We first used All Terrain Kid Sport Sunscreen in 2011 when Disney sent us a set of Phineas and Ferb branded All Terrain Kid Sport. While you can no longer buy it with Phineas and Ferb labels, you can still get the same quality sunscreen.
    
   You should find that this is non-whitening because it uses transparent non-Nano zinc oxide. which I assume is the same type of clear zinc oxide that is now in Badger and some of these other zinc oxide sunscreens that advertise being “non-whitening”.
    
5. TropicSport – I haven’t yet tried this sunscreen as I just found it while researching this blog post. I like that they say on their website that it is easy to apply and not pasty white… which are the main complaints I hear from my kids. I assume that this brand is also using clear zinc oxide.
    
   TropicSport sunscreen meets the Australian 240-minute water resistance test and they are one of only a few in the U.S. that meet standard. The U.S. standard is an 80-minute water resistance test.
    
6. Beautycounter reviews.

   Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion is a reef safe sunscreen that guards against sun’s damaging rays with a water-resistant lotion formulated with non-nano zinc and California Poppy. This physical SPF 30 formulation provides an effective shield from UVA and UVB, while being gentle and pleasant feeling on the skin.

   We love that this lotion goes on smoothly and blends evenly.
    

7. CōTZ The Healthier Sunscreen® – I tested the CōTZ brand of sunscreen and found it worked well on my sensitive skin. It is reef-friendly and formulated to protect the skin during sun exposure and prevent damage from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

   This is a great line of sunscreen if you are prone to acne, rosacea, eczema or irritation due to laser and cosmetic procedures. They come in tinted and non-tinted formulas. I love having a tinted sunscreen to wear on my face during the summer!

Take a look at the ingredient list on the sunscreen you’re currently using. If it doesn’t meet the standards for reef safe sunscreen, then try out one of these natural brands. I’m sure you’ll find a sunscreen that works well for you and your family.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links as well as links to blog posts where we have worked with sponsors in the past or received sample products. We published the first version of this post on July 16, 2018.
Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
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