These Sustainable Sunscreens Protects Ocean Life and Your Skin
By Beth Rush
Many promote using sunscreen to protect the skin, but not enough people discuss how the wrong product harms ocean life. However, you don’t have to choose between keeping your skin bare underneath the sun and ignoring aquatic life. Explore the sunblock options to protect both the reef and your well-being.
The Importance of Sustainable Sunscreen
Sunscreen is designed to protect your skin from UV rays. Unfortunately, its formulation includes certain chemical ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate. These eventually wash off when swimming and washing, which end up in the ocean.
Chemicals lower fish fertility and reproduction and impair green algae growth and photosynthesis. They can also kill and bleach coral, stripping aquatic life of its natural habitats. These reefs are also responsible for creating oxygen, which combat the natural heat that the ocean absorbs from the sun. Sustainable sunscreen is formulated without harmful chemicals to ensure reef safety and sun protection.
Finding and Using Reef-Safe Sunscreens
When finding sustainable sunscreens, it’s important to look at the ingredients list. If it contains oxybenzone or octinoxate, look for alternatives instead. Octocrylene, Benzophenone, and OD-PABA are also red flags in your skincare.
You should still use reef-safe sunscreen like all other products. Put it on around 15 to 30 minutes before getting into the water, reapplying after two hours or so for coverage. Prevent sunburn and other skin conditions while keeping ocean life intact.
You can also explore other ways to protect your skin and the marine environment. Avoid going into bodies of water without reef-safe sunscreen. You can look for alternative ways of sun protection, like finding shade under a hat or an umbrella.
Recommended Sustainable Sunscreens
Skincare technology advancements have led to abundant sustainable sunscreens on the market. You can test a product and see whether it works for your skin type and needs.
1. Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen is one of the best options when you’re looking for a skin—and ocean-friendly option. It provides SPF 50 to combat harmful UV rays outside. Mineral products are also generally better compared to chemical ones since they typically have UV filters sitting on the skin to protect against the sun’s rays.
However, you have to be careful of some brands that still incorporate ingredients harmful to the environment. Blue Lizard does a good job of finding alternative ingredients and even keeps the product fragrance-free.
2. Thrive Natural Care Body Mineral Sunscreen
Thrive’s Natural Body Mineral Sunscreen is a well-formulated product that melts into the skin like a moisturizer. Apart from being reef-safe, the packaging is also made from recycled plastic. It’s also water-resistant for 80 minutes upon application, perfect for an hour at the beach. If you’re going to stay around longer, remember to reapply.
3. Maui Naturals Surfer Honey All Natural Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Maui Naturals Surfer Honey Sunscreen is a staple with its creamy yet light moisturizer texture. It’s formulated in Hawaii, a tourist hotspot for beach hopping and swimming. In October 2022, Maui County banned the use of non-mineral sunscreens to ensure no harm comes to their reefs.
4. Thinksport SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen
Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen is also a great candidate for protecting ocean life and your skin. It’s formulated without harmful chemicals and sticks well to the skin. These features appeal to surfers, boaters, and other people who get into the ocean often.
5. Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 40
Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream is a wonderful reef-friendly product with a broad spectrum and SPF 40. It’s also water resistant for 80 minutes, minimizing residue in the oceans. Even after time has passed, though, this product has 98% organic ingredients and is certified to protect the sea while covering your skin.
6. Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk Body Lotion SPF 50
The Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk Body Lotion offers excellent sun protection and water resistance. Its consistency makes it easy to slather on all over the body for good coverage. It has a variety of tropical scents, letting you skip putting on perfume.
7. SurfDurt
Surfdurt is also an excellent reef-safe sunscreen with a balm-like texture that melts into the skin as you apply it. It contains a variety of oils to hydrate the face and body. Its reusable packaging is made out of bamboo and recycled aluminum. Single-use plastics create about 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
8. Pipette Mineral Sunscreen
One common disadvantage of mineral sunscreens is how they often leave a white cast upon application. Some may fade over time, but others may stay on. The Pipette Mineral Sunscreen protects ocean life, covers the skin, and ensures you’re photogenic.
9. Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen
Tatcha has an impressive skincare line, and the Silk Sunscreen is no exception. It offers SPF 50 while nourishing your skin with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. The texture also creates a smooth yet skin-like finish, which some people use as a base for their summery makeup.
10. All Good Face & Body Sport Sunscreen Lotion
The All Good Face & Body Sport Sunscreen Lotion is another reef-safe sunblock. It has SPF 30 for adequate protection, as well as water and sweat resistance. One underrated is its mild formula for people with more sensitive skin.
Get Adequate Sun Protection
Sustainable sunscreens are available to ensure the safety and health of aquatic life and your skin. Apply them liberally when having a beach day, going for a lake swim, or engaging in other water activities.
About the author: Beth Rush is the green wellness editor at Body+Mind, where she covers topics like the power of climate consciousness at all stages of education. You can find Beth on Twitter @bodymindmag. Subscribe to Body+Mind for more posts by Beth!