Many of us look forward to a tropical vacation. Destinations such as Hawaii, Aruba, and Australia look incredibly dreamy. As you get ready for your tropical vacation, don't forget to pack your sunscreen!
Depending on your destination, you may be required to bring reef-safe sunscreen.
Recent studies have shown certain sunscreen ingredients to be harmful to coral reefs and marine life. As visitors, we should do our best to protect these beautiful destinations. Not to mention some tropical destinations have banned certain sunscreen ingredients!
Reef-safe sunscreen is required in destinations such as: Hawaii, Mexico, Key West, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bonaire, Aruba, Thailand, and Palau.
But what is reef-safe sunscreen? Is it a marketing scam? How do you actually find reef-safe sunscreen?
This article will cover everything you need to know to find your perfect reef-safe sunscreen.
- What does it mean to be reef-safe?
- What causes coral bleaching?
- Which ingredients to avoid
- Tips for finding a reef-safe sunscreen
- Destinations that require reef-safe sunscreen
What is reef-safe?
A reef-safe product means the ingredients do not cause harm to corals or marine life.
Chemicals from our sunscreen (and other skincare products) can enter the ocean. Swimming or taking a shower can wash the chemicals into the ocean through waterways.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), chemicals can affect many types of marine life.
Some examples include:
- Preventing growth and photosynthesis of green algae
- Bleach or damage coral reefs
- Cause defects for mussels and sea urchins
- Accumulation of chemicals in dolphins
What chemicals are considered unsafe for oceans?
These common sunscreen chemicals are considered harmful to marine life. Not all of these are UV ingredients.
The ingredients with the most research backing their harmful effects on marine life include: oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, and nano zinc oxide.
The rest of this list is not in any specific order. These ingredients have been studied and found to have varying levels of harm on marine life.
This list is aggregated from sources such as NOAA, Hawaii's official tourism board, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, Oceanic Society Organization, and Stanford University.
UV Filters, Absorbers, Protectors, and Stabilizers Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, 3-Benzylidene camphor, nano-Titanium dioxide, nano-Zinc oxide, Octisalate, Butyloctyl Salicylate
Preservatives and Parabens Triclosan, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Benzylparaben
Nylon Powders Nylon-6 / polyamide-6, Nylon-10, Nylon-11, Nylon-12, polyester-8, polyester-25
Studies
Ongoing research is looking into the effects of these chemicals on marine life. While many studies offer evidence of these chemicals causing harm, limitations do exist.
Most research looking at the harmful effects of chemicals on marine life are conducted in a lab. A lab cannot fully simulate the ocean and all environmental factors. Many other elements contribute to coral bleaching, such as warming water temperatures.
The research behind these chemicals does not tell the entire story. While we know certain chemicals can harm marine life in lab settings, we don't know if sunscreens are the sole cause of harm in the actual ocean. Scientists and dermatologists are split on this topic. Some advocate for reef-safe sunscreen, while others argue there is no conclusive proof.
As research on this topic continues, we recommend looking for a reef-safe sunscreen when visiting a tropical destination with reef-safe sunscreen laws.
Find a reef-safe sunscreen
When looking for a sunscreen, don't grab the first one you see with the reef-safe label!
The term 'reef-safe' is unregulated in the skincare industry. The definition of reef-safe is often set by the manufacturer or brand. This means some reef-safe sunscreens aren't actually safe for oceans.
Some sunscreens are labeled as reef-safe due to their mineral UV filters. However, nano sized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have both been labeled as non-reef-safe by research institutions.
Tips for finding reef-safe sunscreen
- Many organizations and destinations have a list of reef-safe sunscreens. For example, the state of Hawaii's official website contains a list of reef-safe suncreens.
- If you are having trouble finding a reef-safe sunscreen in your vicinity, you can always purchase reef-safe sunscreen at your destination.
- The Haereticus Environmental Laboratory offers a certification to brands who have passed a rigorous reef-safe test.
- When looking for a mineral sunscreen, be sure to avoid nano-sized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Micro-sized mineral sunscreen ingredients are the way to go. The sunscreen should explicitly say "micro-sized" or "non-nano". Otherwise, these ingredients are nano-sized.
- Sunscreens that have instructions stating to apply 15 minutes prior to sun-exposure are chemical based. This is a good starting point when looking at ingredients.
- Look at the ingredients list! You can set your ingredient preferences with a SkinSort account to be notified when a product contains certain ingredients.
7 Destinations with Reef-Safe Requirements
It is always best to follow local regulations as a visitor. Here is a list of destinations and their official websites for choosing reef-safe sunscreen.
Hawaii
Hawaii was the first state to ban non-reef safe ingredients. In January of 2021, the state banned all sales of non-reef safe sunscreens. Here is their official guide for choosing a sunscreen.
Key West
The city of Key West, Florida, has also banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.
Mexico
Some areas of Mexico have banned ingredients. Los Cabos, Cozumel, and Riviera Maya require sunscreen ingredients to be reef safe and biodegradable.
You are not permitted to wear sunscreen inside of Mexico's famous cenotes.
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands has banned oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene. They advise visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreen.
Aruba
Aruba has banned all sunscreen containing oxybenzone as of 2020.
Bonaire
Bonaire has a goal of keeping their reefs the healthiest in the Caribbean. They even had studies done in their famous Lac Bay.
Palau
The country of Palau is an island nation nestled between Guam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Palau has banned the following ingredients: Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, Triclosan, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Benzyl paraben, Phenoxyethanol
