Why Is Sunscreen Bad For The Ocean
The short answer is because it washes off.
As a general rule, we dont do local ecosystems any favors when we dump foreign chemicals into them, and this problem is exasperated by the large numbers of people that tend to congregate around beaches and fragile marine habitats. As we mentioned in our list of favorites above, sunscreen is a game of lesser evils, and the chemicals used in most widely-available sunblocks are the most egregious offenders.
Kokoa Sun Care Hawaiian Spf 50 Natural Zinc Sunscreen
To understand this product, we need first to know more about the name and the spirit with which it gives more meaning.
After consulting several places, I have come to find that;Kokua;means help. But it is more than to help; it seems to have a deeper meaning to offer help with no intent of personal gain.This represents the powerful story behind Kokoa Sun Care
A product made in Hawaii with Hawaiian ingredients by two Hawaiian transplants who were brought together by the will of the ocean and their mutual love and respect of the sea, the island and their inhabitants.
Kokoa Sun Care is created and manufactured right on the islands. It includes;seven local superfood ingredients; to benefit the skin and support local agriculture to boot.
The bottle boasts a Reef Safe stamp which was a feature decided upon presumably even before the sunscreen ban took place. Aside from the locations around the Hawaiian Islands, the best place to purchase this product is on;their website;or;.
And with all 5-star ratings that seem to be kid-tested and approved, you cant go wrong to pack this in your bag or search it out once you arrive on the island of your choice.
Kokua Sun Care Zinc Sunscreen Spf 50
Amazon
This SPF 50 sunblock contains 25 percent non-nano zinc oxide for 80 minutes of water resistance, a faint scent of coconut and vanilla, and 23 antioxidants to nourish the skin, including seven superfoods sourced from Hawaiian farms like Konared coffee fruit, macadamia nut oil, plumeria, spirulina, and noni juice, thus supporting local agricultural communities. Follow up exposure with the brands Healing Serum. It makes use of sustainably harvested anti-inflammatory sandalwood and kukui nut oil.
Don’t Miss: Does Geico Do Boat Insurance
Mama Kuleana Sunscreen Reviews
Heres another genuinely Hawaiian product with an equally Hawaiian name,;kuleana, directly translated to mean right. Ultimately its a unique Hawaiian quality that means to take responsibility for self and community.
Mama Kuleana takes that responsibility seriously when it comes to protecting our skin and the environment as a whole.
With ingredients like organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, beeswax, organic almond oil, zinc powder, Vitamin E oil, and essential oils, Mama Kuleana includes no preservatives, toxins, fillers or additives, and even comes in a biodegradable container.
The company has thought about it all, and users are raving about their products too:
Brian on Facebook writes
Mama Kuleana is great for the environment and effective! Working on the beach everyday, one container lasted me over a month! Love the biodegradable container, too! The rash guard long sleeve is awesome! Can wear it even on hot sunny days! Appreciate the great product!
Jnett had this to say
I had the pleasure of vacationing in Maui for almost 2 weeks recently . I applied #MamaKuleana 2-3x a day & it lasted me the entire time. Im so happy we are all becoming aware of how important it is to protect our ocean, the animals that inhabit the ocean, our beaches, our planet. Thank you Hawaii & Mama Kuleana for leading the way on #reefsafesunscreen. BTW:my skin is glowing!!!
Coola Organic Baby Mineral Sunscreen $36
Looking for an organic, reef-safe sunscreen for baby? Look no further than;COOLA Organic Baby Mineral Sunscreen. Unscented, water-resistant, reef-safe, and organic, this SPF 50 sunscreen has everything you want without any of the chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. Safe for babies six months and older.;
“I absolutely hands-down love the sunscreen! It’s hard to swallow spending almost $40 on a small tube of sunscreen, but it is worth it! I live in the islands and this is the only brand that I will use for myself and my baby.” says RJ in their glowing review.;
Also Check: How To Check If My Boat Is Registered
What Sunscreens Are Banned
Dont just read the label.;Check the ingredient list. No one is yet governing whether a product labeled Reef Safe is, in fact, Reef Safe.What are we looking for then?
First,;no aerosol. But beyond that, how do we know what to avoid?Possibly 70% of the sunscreens available to consumers will be affected by the ban.
Top sellers of sunscreens with the banned chemicals include Banana Boat, Coppertone, and Hawaiian Tropic. But even Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic carry sunscreens that are with and without the chemicals.
How confusing!
As consumers, the burden isnt really on us since the ban is on selling and distributing the sunscreens in Hawaii, but as concerned global citizens, we may want to make sure that we are not contributing to the loss of reefs. To do this, were going to have to pay attention to labels.
Look for these chemicals: oxybenzone, also known as;benzophenone-3 octinoxate, also known as; 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor
Other harmful ingredients to watch out for are parabens such as: the commonly used;methylparaben butylparaben phenoxyethanol, used initially as a mass fish anesthetic.
And the organization that put out the study leading to the new sunscreen ban, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, also has a;comprehensive list of chemicals;to look for on labels.
Reef Repair Suncream Spf 30 $15
This SPF 30+ Suncream from Reef Repair provides SPF 30 protection for adults and kids ages six months and over, and is 100% reef safe and nontoxic to aquatic plants and animals, including coral reefs. Made with;natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on the skin, this water-based formula;goes on easy and spreads evenly without leaving a white residue.;
“This is a fantastic cream! Not only is it reef-safe, it performs super well. Goes on like most sun screens you might be familiar with. Rub it in well and youre good to go for beach chilling, snorkeling, or diving.” says Aboud in their product review.
Recommended Reading: Do I Need To Register An Inflatable Boat
Will Mineral Sunscreens Protect My Childrens Skin As Effectively As Chemical Sunscreens
While protecting the environment for most people is a high priority, the health of their children is more so. If youre worried that reef safe sunscreen may not be as effective at protecting you childs skin compared to chemical sunblocks then you need not worry.
Reef safe sunscreen is highly effective at protecting skin from the damage the sun can inflict, so there should be no concern that switching to reef safe sunscreen will be less effective.
Stream2sea Sunscreen For Body Spf 30
Stream2Sea mineral sunscreen for body is a;high performance mineral-based sunscreen that protects your body while preserving the ecosystems you love. It’s a non-greasy, reef-friendly formula that won’t burn your eyes, provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection, and remains water-resistant for 80 minutes of swimming or activity. Stream2Sea also offers Tinted Sunscreen for Body and;Sunscreen for Face and Body!
“I love this sunblock! Not only do you feel good because you’re keeping the ocean safe, but it feels light. It’s not greasy and it works so well!” says Hannah Lassen in her five-star product review.;;
You May Like: How Much Does Dry Boat Storage Cost
Suntegrity Skincare Natural Mineral Body Sunscreen
Amazon
After losing her mom to skin cancer, Tricia Trimble channeled her grief into founding Suntegrity in 2010 from her Southern California apartment to offer a slew of products, including SPF 50 mineral powders and Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation. All Suntegrity sunscreens start with broad spectrum-busting non-nano zinc oxide and then receive infusions of youth-preserving antioxidants. It was important to her that they also be reef-safe, vegan , safe for sensitive skin, made in the USA and cruelty-free. One of the brands hero products, the greaseless sweet orange-smelling SPF 30 Body Sunscreen, applies like lotion and is even a tad cooling thanks to jojoba, aloe, cucumber extract, and hyaluronic acid.
Our Pick: Coppertone Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion Spf 70
*At the time of publishing, the price was $8.
Weve noticed stock issues with this item. If Coppertone Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 is unavailable, we recommend Banana Boat Light As Air SPF 50 Lotion as a substitute. Read more about the Light As Air sunscreen.
Coppertone Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70, a chemical sunscreen that earned top marks in our testing, is a great choice for most people. It offers adequate SPF and broad-spectrum protection and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Its easy to apply and comfortable to wear, while still being affordable. It has no added fragrances. Although we could detect a slight sunscreen scent when we first applied it, after its been rubbed in, it doesnt really smell like anything, said Wirecutter social media strategy editor Sasha VanHoven, who was a member of our test panel and has been using Coppertone Ultra Guard consistently since. Its texture made it one of the easiest to apply of the sunscreens we tested. And it didnt turn white when we wore it running, as some sunscreens did.
One : It didnt feel overly greasy, and it rubbed in fine, no white residue. The reviewer concludes that it does the job its intended to do. We agree.
It comes in a packable, easy-to-grip, 8-ounce bottle with a seal-tight cap.
The active ingredients are avobenzone , homosalate , octisalate , octocrylene , and oxybenzone .
Read Also: How To Register Boat Without Bill Of Sale
Spread The Word And Advocate For Bans On Reef Harming Sunscreens
In addition to changing our actions and purchasing decisions to protect the marine environment, itâs also important to spread awareness about the issue to friends, family and community members. At the local level, ensure that your townâs stores are offering “reef friendly” sunscreen products, and encourage them to stop the sale of harmful products.
You can also advocate for local legislation that bans the sale and use of toxic sunscreens. For instance, in 2018, Hawaii passed the first ever statewide ban on oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens, soon after, island nations including Palau, Bonaire and Aruba followed suite. Due to widespread community support, the Florida Keys were also able to pass an oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreen ban in Key West, but chemical companies have been working tirelessly to try and revoke this important legislation through the use of statewide preemption.
At the federal level, you can ask your federal representatives to support the first federal bill to ban oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens in National Marine Sanctuaries with coral reefs!
How Do Chemical Sunscreens Protect Your Skin Vs Mineral Sunscreens
Chemical Sun cream works by absorbing the UV rays and converting them to heat. The chemicals in these sunscreens then absorb the heat preventing them from penetrating peoples skin and causing damage.
Mineral based sunscreens however work differently. Titanium dioxide works by absorbing and scattering UV rays so they dont get absorbed by the skin. It is effective at deflecting both UVA and UVB rays.; Zinc oxide works by reflecting both UVA and UVB rays to prevent them from penetrating the skin.
Don’t Miss: How To Patch Canvas Boat Cover
Best Sunscreen For Hawaii For Babies
1. Baby Bum
Baby Bum is a reef safe sunblock developed for babies. The product has environmentally and kid friendly right at the forefront of its thinking. Check out the latest prices and more details.
Plant based and;developed specifically for babies sensitive skin, this is one of the best sunscreens for babies around.
Whats even better is they have several options you can choose from depending on the type of sunscreen application you prefer.
They have normal a bottle for general application where you just squeeze the cream out, a spray alternative for people who prefer that and even a face stick, which makes applying the cream on those sensitive face areas easy.
This sunscreen is SPF50, so it provides high protection for your babys delicate skin.
Pros:
Banana Boat Sunscreens Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: An environmentally-conscious consumer lodged a class action lawsuit against Edgewell Personal Care Brand, LLC.
- Why: Plaintiff claims Edgewell Personal Care Brand sold Banana Boat brand sunscreens that were deceptively mislabeled as Reef Friendly.;
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.;
Certain Banana Boat sunscreens marketed as Reef Friendly, contain ingredients that are harmful to coral reefs and other marine life, a new class action lawsuit alleges.;
Plaintiff Mary Condreay claims Edgewell Personal Care Brand, which markets and sells Banana Boat sunscreens, is misleading consumers by labeling them as Reef Friendly, when they in fact contain avobenzone and octocrylene chemicals toxic to the development of coral reefs.;
The affected products include Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15-50+, Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Spray SPF 15-50+, Banana Boat Sport Coolzone Sunscreen Spray SPF 30-50+, and Banana Boat Ultra Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+, according to the class action lawsuit.;
Also Check: How To Build Your Own Boat
Which Ingredients Are Reef Safe
The two active ingredients in reef safe sunscreen which protect your skin from the sun are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc oxide. If these two ingredients are listed then your sunscreen is most likely reef safe.
However, for your sunscreen to be completely reef safe you need to make sure you avoid certain chemicals which are listed in a question below.
Badger Clear Zinc Spf 40
Amazon
A pioneer in the eco-friendly mineral sunscreen market since 2005, the New Hampshire-based certified B Corporation specializes in super-simple yet effective formulations that start with uncoated zinc oxide and end with high marks from the Environmental Working Group and on the Protect Land + Sea certification test. In between, youll find organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and plant-based inactive ingredients like beeswax, jojoba, and other essential oils. Clear Zinc SPF 40 comes in a squeeze tube or eco-friendly tin. Borrow your childrens lotion, the SPF 40 Kids Sunscreen Cream, for the dreamy tangerine and vanilla notes.
You May Like: What Do Boat Shoes Look Like
Are You Using The Best Sunscreens
A past EWG report cited research of Brian Diffey, PhD, emeritus professor of photobiology at the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University. Hes shown that, on average, U.S. sunscreens allow about three times more UVA rays to transfer through skin compared to European sunscreens. In fact, Americans sunscreen choices are fewer and often offer worse UVA protection compared to those available in the European Union.
This matters becauseUVA rays are more abundant than UVB rays, and UVA damage is more subtle than the sunburns induced mainly by UVB rays. UVA rays can damage your skin invisibly by suppressing the immune system and aging the skin over time; overexposure of these rays are also linked to the development of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, too.
According to EWG, most sunscreens sold in the U.S. would not be sold in Europe, which sets much more stringent UVA standards.
In the U.S., sunscreen regulations havent been updated since 2011. And while the FDA signaled it would take on the issue of UVA exposure, its recent proposal was withdrawn in the first coronavirus relief bill. The agency is due to propose its long-awaited rules on sunscreens again this fall.
Protection You Can Trust
Weve been protecting fun under the sun for 40 years and counting. Our dedication to safety and high-quality sunscreen means guaranteed fun-in-the sun protection that you can trust every day. Whether spray, lotion or stick, our easy-to-apply products are designed with one idea in mind: to help you and your family enjoy every moment outdoors.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is Boat Carpet
Surface Sheer Touch Spray Sunscreen $15
Surface Sheer Touch Spray Sunscreen offers reef-safe;SPF 30 protection and the tropical fragrance of coconut, mango, and guava in the convenience of an easy to use spray. Even better, it’s water resistant for 80 minutes!
“Best Sunscreen Ever!” says Steph E in their Amazon review.;
Protect your skin and coral reefs with these US-based sunscreen brands. Shop US tax-free and ship worldwide with MyUS!
What Are The Best Reef Safe Sunscreens
So, now you know why you should only be using mineral based sunscreen, its time to figure out which ones are the best to use.
There are so many sunscreens out there to choose from you may need a little help in deciding which ones to go for. I have compiled a list of the best reef friendly sunscreens out there so you can choose which is the best one for your needs.
Read on to find out the best Hawaii approved sunscreen brands that are both safe and effective for you and you family, as well as being environmentally sound.
Recommended Reading: Can I Rent My Boat Out
What Sunscreens Have Oxybenzone
Ok, I get it. None of those scientific words mean anything to you well unless you are a scientist, that is.So I figured I would research for you, and it seems that a simple search to find a list of sunscreens containing oxybenzone, which has been said to cause coral bleaching, does not bring up a list to avoid.
Fortunately, I was able to find some information so you at least know a few brands to avoid.Of course, after this section, Ill let you know several Reef Safe options that have received high Hawaiian approval, but before we go into that
Lets take a look at some of the brands and products you will want to steer clear of:Johnson & Johnson In a;2017 safety and care statement by Johnson & Johnson,;it is clear that they do not find the study about these chemicals to have enough scientific evidence to change their products at this time.
This may change later, but a portion of their statement on oxybenzone reads:
Therefore, Johnson & Johnson, a parent company to Neutrogena, will not be sold and deemed harmful to the coral reefs and banned by Hawaiian legislation.
Bayer All current products contain oxybenzone, but they have stated they will comply with the new regulation for Hawaii. You will need to look at labels to make an informed decision when buying these products.
Most Generic Brands
Equate
