Sunscreens play an important role in protecting our skin. However, which ones are safe for our health? Keep reading to check the top 10 best reef-safe sunscreens.
It has been publicly announced that sunscreens with harmful chemicals are going to be prohibited in Hawaii. That’s why reef-safe sunscreens are now more favorable.
The new law of the state said that these chemicals are killing coral reefs. Thus, cosmetic manufacturers have created biodegradable and eco-friendly reef-safe sunscreens, made from natural materials to protect coral reefs. Let’s check out Top 10 best reef-safe sunscreens.
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Contents
10 Best Eco-Friendly Sunscreens Reviewed
1. Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion SPF 30
This kind of sunscreen is supposed to be powerful sun protection and gentle care for your skin as well. It contains Kakadu plum, Eucalyptus, and Red algae, which deliver non-whitening protection and powdery-clean feel. Your skin can completely be safe with the vitamins and antioxidants from domestic Australian botanical ingredients, and be protected from UVA and UVB ray.
Besides, it also has water resistance for up to 80 minutes, so the users can be completely relaxed in the sea all day.
Product specs
- SPF 30
- Water Resistant (80 minutes)
- Fragrance: Citrus Oasis scent
Pros
- Non-chemical
- Broad-Spectrum
- Biodegradable, eco-friendly
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Water Resistant (80 minutes)
- Hypoallergenic
- Nongreasy, dye, and oil-free
- Subtle and refreshing fragrance
Cons
- Colorless (cannot whiten your skin)
- Smell (a bit slight)
- Low SPF (unsuitable for outdoor activities)
This excellent model of sunscreens can be suitable for every type of skin, from dry skin to those who have the most sensitive skin.
2. Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen 30+
Another eco-friendly sunscreen is Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen 30+. It is a kind of mineral sunscreen from Australia. With no chemicals like Botanical Australian Gold (no Oxybenzone or Octinoxate), Blue Lizard is considered a premium item to protect coral reefs.
It protects your skin by acting like thousands of tiny mirrors that prevent UV rays from entering your body. Another advantage is the ability of water-resistant which is up to 40 minutes so that you can be protected longer.
Product specs
- SPF 30+
- Water Resistant (40 minutes)
- Mineral active Zinc Oxide
- No fragrance
Pros
- No chemical active ingredients
- Broad-Spectrum
- Eco-friendly
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Hypoallergenic
- Various in types
Cons
- No fragrance
- A bit condensed (it takes time to spread out on your skin)
- Low SPF (unsuitable for outdoor activities)
If you are looking for a sunscreen for your regular days, Blue Lizard appears to be a good choice. Not only various types, its SPF is a bit low, which makes you completely assured when using.
3. Thinksport Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
The next product in our list goes to Thinksport Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+. The manufacturer has been growing concern about toxic chemicals and aiming to create safe alternatives for babies and athletes as well. They are making their products by safe natural materials for consumers.
It is the first sunscreen to pass Whole Foods Premium Care requirements and top-rated by EWG in 2010. One remarkable point is reef-friendly. It contains no reef damaging toxins, thus highly biodegradable.
Product specs
- Non-chemical sunscreen
- SPF 50+
- Broad-Spectrum
- Mineral-based formula
- Water Resistant (80 minutes)
- No fragrance
Pros
- No chemicals
- Reef-friendly
- Biodegradable
- No oily feeling and obtrusive smell
Cons
- No fragrance
- Specialized for sports activities (not effective for swimming)
- High SPF
A sportsman or a sportswoman is likely to be keen on this product for its unique features. However, don’t forget to reapply it on your skin after a certain phase of time for much skin protection.
4. Kokua Sun Care Hawaiian SPF 50
This type of sunscreen is announced to be zinc-based one which is enriched with local Hawaiian spirulina, plumeria extract, honey, kukui nut oil, and other nourishing oils. It, therefore, can moisturize and soothe the skin.
In terms of environment, this type of sun cream is publicly believed to be reef safe and marine safe. Be a non-toxic and eco-friendly product, it is rated a “1” on EWG and meets the world’s strictest standard for sunscreen.
Product specs
- SPF 50+
- UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum Protection
- Gluten-free
- Mineral-based formula
- Water Resistant (80 minutes)
- Light coconut-vanilla scent
Pros
- No chemicals
- Native Hawaii materials
- UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum Protection
- Reef-safe, marine-safe
- Biodegradable
- Water Resistant (80 minutes)
- Non-greasy/sticky
- Comfortable scent
- Suitable for the most sensitive skin (baby skin also)
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- A bit high in price
- Not good for those allergic to its scent
- High SPF (unnecessary for regular work)
With the most distinctive points mentioned above, Kokua Sun Care should be listed in your purchasing items because it is not only suitable for the adults but also baby skin.
5. MANDA Organic Sun Paste – SPF 50
The next item in this list comes to MANDA organic sun paste SPF 50. One special natural material is Thakana, extracted from the wood of a small tree in Myanmar, which has been used to protect and beautify the skin. This natural cosmetic is most commonly used to provide natural sun protection, anti-aging and moisturizing your skin.
Additionally, MANDA does not contain any chemicals such as oxybenzone,…which have been proven to kill coral reefs in our oceans.
Product specs
- Size: 40g
- Non-chemical sunscreen
- SPF 50
- No oxybenzone, octinoxate
- Non-nano zinc oxide
Pros
- No chemicals
- Natural ingredients
- Reef-friendly
- Biodegradable
- Recyclable and reused packaging
Cons
- A bit high in price
- Not good for those allergic to Thakana
- High SPF (unnecessary for regular work)
MANDA organic sun paste will not make you disappointed when using it for your skin. For those who are interested in its natural ingredients such as Thakana, this environment-friendly sunscreen will completely make you feel excited.
6. COOLA Mineral Face Matte Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
Another name for reef-safe sunscreen must be COOLA. It is said, by most of its users, that it can fight any signs of aging caused by the sun with powerful antioxidants. With the broad-spectrum SPF 30, natural shea butter and rose oil, this unscented and tinted sunscreen can improve elasticity and help your skin retain moisture.
Product specs
- SPF 30
- Mineral Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide
- Water-resistant (40 minutes)
- Antioxidant Rose Hip Oil
- Shea butter, fruit extract
- Unscented
Pros
- Ideal for all skin types (for the most sensitive skin)
- No chemicals
- Fruit extract, natural materials
- Broad-spectrum
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- A bit high in price
- No fragrance
- The tropical scent is a bit strong at first
Unlike traditional types of sunscreen, COOLA makes you forget that you are applying it on your skin. It seems to be the most lightweight that you have ever tried on before.
7. Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30+
Another sport sunscreen is Banana Boat Ultra Lotion. With higher SPF, it is a perfect choice for an outdoor day playing on the beach or swimming in the sea. It can be absorbed quickly and doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry. Especially, the bottle’s slightly curved shape makes it easy to dispense sunscreen, even with slippery hands.
Product specs
- SPF 30+
- Lotion
- Water-resistant (80 minutes)
- Lightweight formula
Pros
- No chemicals
- Broad-spectrum
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Stays on in the sun, pool water, ocean water, wind, sweat, sand, and extreme heat
Cons
- High SPF (not suitable for the regular day)
- No fragrance
For an outdoor day on the beach or at the workplace outside, Banana Boat Ultra Sport seems to be an ideal model.
8. Ocean Potion Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
If you prefer a spray type, this model from Ocean Potion appears to be one of the easiest to apply. It may take a little extra time to absorb on your skin but it gives no feeling of dry or irritated. It also leaves no white residue or stains on clothing.
This sunscrean is a sheer and non-greasy sunscreen and provides a moisture-rich feel to its users. Besides, some users might be interested in the scent of sunshine.
Product specs
- SPF 50
- Lotion
- Water-resistant (80 minutes)
- Oxybenzone-free, gluten-free, paraben-free
- Antioxidants
Pros
- No chemicals
- Broad-spectrum
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Spray design
Cons
- High SPF (not suitable for the regular day)
- Tropical scent (may cause irritated feel)
Ocean Potion turns out to be an advanced technology with the spray design, which helps the users to apply it easily. If you are looking for a convenient type, let’s try it now.
9. EltaMD UV Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40
It is a sunscreen product specialized for your face. With some advantages such as transparent zinc oxide, UVA-UVB protection, and lightweight, it is another remarkable model for women’s facial sunscreen. This sunscreen is produced for normal and combination skin, so it can satisfy a big number of women today.
Product specs
- SPF 40
- Facial sunscreen
- Mineral-based formula
- 9% transparent zinc oxide
- Antioxidants
Pros
- No chemicals
- Broad-spectrum
- Lightweight
- Sheer
- Affordable
Cons
- High SPF (not suitable for the regular day)
- Specialized for face only
If you are looking for facial sunscreen, this is a good choice to protect your face from sunshine every day outside.
10. Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection SPF 50 Body Shield
Last but not least is a super-effective sunscreen for your whole body from Colorescience. Zinc oxide formula goes on smooth and leaves a powdery, silky finish. It is also found to be gentle on skin, causing no irritation even when applied around your eyes. With SPF 50, it should be applied before going outside for outdoor energetic activities.
Product specs
- SPF 50
- Lotion
- No chemicals
- Mineral-based formula
- Water-resistant (80 minutes)
- UVA-UVB protection
Pros
- Hypoallergenic
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, oil-free, dye-free
- Broad-spectrum
- Reef-safe
- Lightweight
Cons
- High SPF (not suitable for the regular day)
- Much high price
- No fragrance
This is the best choice for those who have enough money to purchase, with the most distinctive points mentioned above.
How to choose a suitable sunscreen?
If you are going out for working, playing or swimming in the sea, or just want to do yoga outside it’s important to apply sunscreens to protect your skin from sunshine and prevent sunburns. However, it is recommended that whether you are out on a sunny day or a cool day, don’t forget to use some sunscreens to protect your skin completely.
The thing is how to choose the right sunscreen for you. First, you need to think about sun protection factor – SPF, ingredients or special type that meets your conditions. The important thing you should keep in mind is trying to choose an eco-friendly and biodegradable one to prevent bad impacts on our environment. Moreover, focus on whether you are allergic to any ingredients or not.
FAQs
Question: Should we use a sunscreen with the highest SPF?
Answer: No, we shouldn’t. SPF index might be higher or lower depending on our requirements. For your daily routine with regular work, you should use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, while SPF 30 or 50 is usually for extended outdoor activities. Don’t use a sunscreen with extremely high SPF. It will be harmful to your skin.
Question: Do we need to reapply sunscreen every two hours?
Answer: No, we don’t. We do not have to reapply sunscreen every two hours. Sunscreens are broken down by the effects of direct exposure to daylight, not by the amount of time.
Question: Is it bad to wear sunscreen every day?
Answer: Sunscreens protect us from UV rays, which cause sunburn and skin cancers. But some people say wearing sunscreen regularly is harmful because some of its ingredients promote the development of skin cancer and other diseases.
Conclusion
In a word, choosing the right sunscreen is an important thing we need to consider all the time. Try to look for a product made from natural materials and coral-reef safe, so that it can be easily biodegradable. Everything we use should be good for us and be friendly to our Earth!
Name: Rebecca Tarvin
Discipline: Integrative biology
Degrees: B.A., Biology, Boston University, 2010; Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin,2017
Rebecca Tarvin is broadly interested in integrating studies of natural history with molecular genomics and phylogenetics. Specifically, she aims to elucidate causal genetic mechanisms underlying novel traits, characterize phenotypic diversification at macro and micro-evolutionary scales, and identify factors that promote and constrain biodiversity.
She also likes to write about eco-friendly lifestyle and other material alternatives that are eco-friendly, aside from other ways to save Mother Earth
