Generally speaking, non-nano mineral sunblocks are the way to go. Try Mineral Sunblocks: The good news is that more companies are creating eco-conscious products than ever before, and at all price points, so doing the least harm while playing outside requires minimal effort. Trusted third-party certifications like the seals awarded by 1% For The Planet or Downs’ strict Protect Land + Sea will also help narrow the field. First and foremost, say no to the Os - oxybenzone, which is also called benzophenone-3 and BP-3, and octinoxate.Īvoid Other Chemicals, Parabens, and Nano-Particles: To level up your commitment to conservation, make sure sunscreens, toiletries, and cosmetics don’t contain petrolatum/mineral oil as it takes years to biodegrade and is known to be harmful to aquatic life and waterfowl, really high titanium dioxide levels, or anything on Downs’ HEL List including parabens, microplastic spheres or beads, nano-particles (as they are small enough to be consumed by coral), or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Make Sure It’s Oxybenzone- and Octinoxate-Free: And just like at the grocery store, a minimal number of ingredients that sound like they were brewed in a lab is a good rule of thumb to abide by. Laws like Hawaii’s and retailers like REI, which stopped carrying oxybenzone-laden sunscreens in 2020, are helping by getting products off shelves, but the onus is usually on the consumer to become an educated label reader. Some companies actively try to hide, confuse, or play loose with the unregulated term “reef-friendly.” A reef-safe label has more legal ramifications thanks to cases like this one out of Sonoma County, Calif., and companies often have to substantiate those marketing claims.
LIST OF REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN HOW TO
We recommend it for use on the body, although it should work on faces too in case you forgot your face sunscreen.īuy Babo Botanicals Zinc Sunscreen $15.99 How to Choose a Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Although it’s gentle, Babo’s sunscreen is quite robust with SPF 30 protection and water and sweat resistance for up to 80 minutes.
Natural ingredients like sunflower seed oil, avocado, and jojoba lead the non-greasy formula, ensuring a smooth, easy application - even on sensitive skin. (Hawaii’s law, the first statewide ban in the US, went into effect in last year.)įree of oxybenzone, octinoxate, or parabens, this non-nano zinc sunscreen from Babo Botanicals is safe for both you and the reefs. Those ingredients have been banned in many marine preserves, Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Virgin Islands, parts of Mexico, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii.
If you’re going to use sunscreen, he says to always avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate at all costs. It’s also a major factor in decreased water quality,” says Craig Downs, the study’s co-author and the executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory.ĭowns says the best course of action is to exchange sunscreen for protective clothing like hats, rash guards, and swim leggings that have broad-spectrum UV protection built into the fabric, but he understands that that isn’t always an option when you’re at the beach. “Sunscreen pollution is a real phenomenon and it poses a threat to coral reefs and aquatic life. But, according to scientific research, they’re also being killed - and your sunscreen may be part of the problem. They provide nesting grounds and homes for hundreds of species, prevent coastal erosion and storm surge damage, help mitigate climate change by regulating carbon dioxide levels in the ocean, and so much more. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.Ĭoral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and their survival is inextricably linked to our own.
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