It’s been summer for a while, and you need to be finding out about reef safe sunscreen brands. I have been planning to go scuba diving, since I haven’t got around to it yet this year. I did play around on the beach loads, and it was in the tropics. Gasp! No worries, though. I used sunscreen responsibly.
See, while you’re getting baked in the sun this summer, you do need to protect your skin. And while you’ve probably been protecting your skin with sunblock since you were a little kid, it’s now way past time to ask this question seriously: what is the safest sunblock to use – for the oceans and for yourself?
The Search for Sunscreen that the Coral Reefs Like
Sunblocks, or sunscreens, are guilty of causing massive damage to the environment, and to coral reefs in particular. And chemical sunscreens are not exactly great for your health, either. Now, instead of going over the super-complicated product list of existing sunscreens on the market, I thought I’d simplify my search by sticking to a few key requirements. So what did I look for? Reef safe, cruelty-free vegan sunscreens. They’re not damaging the reefs, they haven’t been lab-tested on animals, and they contain no animal products or derivatives. Are they made of natural and organic ingredients? Not always. If you are able to access and purchase the very best, most natural, reef safe, cruelty-free vegan sunscreen, then that’s great. But there are other options, which, while not ideal, are definitely better than the toxic alternatives.
As always, this is an indicative list. Just suggestions, if you will. Please do your own research before putting anything on your skin or into your body. (Remember, what goes on your skin also gets absorbed into your body and affects stuff inside. So choose wisely!)
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
What Are Reef Safe Sunscreen Ingredients?
What is reef safe sunscreen? First, some definitions:
Chemical VS. Mineral Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreens are not only toxic and bad for coral reefs, but they ‘absorb’ the sun’s rays like a sponge (the UVAs and UVBs). Physical or mineral, on the other hand, sunscreen uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to bounce the sun’s rays back off your skin. This is not only cooler, but safer for everyone concerned.
Nano VS Non-nano
At one point, apparently, sunscreen manufacturers thought nanotechnology would come to the rescue. Physical sunscreens were made with nanoparticles, which, being very small, get ‘trapped’ in the nano zinc oxide and don’t penetrate the skin. Good for us, right? But, unfortunately, these nanoparticles cause quite a bit of damage to the environment and to marine life.
So, go for non nano sunscreen, which is made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and is not harmful to marine life.
Reef Safe Sunscreen
What is the meaning of reef safe? These sunscreens do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate (both of which cause coral bleaching and were banned in Hawaii in 2018 and in Key West, Florida, earlier this year). They also do not contain parabens or petrolatum/mineral oil, or high concentrations of titanium dioxide. Read more here.
Vegan & Cruelty-free
Beeswax seems to be pretty common in sunscreen, so even if a brand claims to be dairy-free, it may not be vegan. So, please check the ingredients. [There are additional complicating factors, such as multinational companies testing on animals in certain countries and not others, corporations that participate in worker exploitation and ecological destruction, etc. So, your best bet is to go with small & local businesses, locally sourced products, and a strict audit of all the ingredients that make up the product.]
Earth- and Ocean-Friendly Sunscreen
Sigh, even if a sunscreen is a mineral, creamy concoction that is reef friendly, cruelty-free, vegan and it goes into the ocean and gently rocks baby corals to sleep, it may still not be eco-friendly. WHAAAAT?? Yeah, it needs to be non-toxic and biodegradable. It may not damage the reef, but it needs to also not cause any harm to the rest of the ocean.
The Safe Sunscreen Council
The Safe Sunscreen Council is a coalition of companies working to raise public awareness about the impact sunscreen ingredients may have on people and the planet. Members include many of the companies in the table below, including Kokua Sun Care, Mama Kuleana, ThinkSport, and more.
Tips to Protect Your Skin from the Sun
With all that out of the way, let’s learn how to protect our skin! Let’s just try our best, ok?
First, take care of the basics: wear appropriate clothing, and protect your head with a hat or a wrap. Spend time in the shade between time in the sun (some recommend not staying in the sun for longer than 15 minutes at a stretch. This seems very subjective. But each of us knows our own skin the best, so please decide for yourself what the safe amount of time to stay in the sun is.)
After all this is taken care of, the final step is the sunscreen. You may have many questions: What are the best reef safe sunscreens? Is Sun Bum sunscreen reef safe? (Yes.) Can you buy eco friendly sunscreen at Walmart? (Yes, Walmart has reef safe sunscreens.) How is Nature’s Gate vegan sunscreen? (Pretty good.) What are the best non greasy vegan sunscreens? (See below.)
The Best Reef Safe Sunscreen Brands
Here are the best sun protective options for you!
1 // Stream2Sea Sport Sunscreen
Most Recommended
Price: $29.37
SPF 30 | Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB | Water Resistant | Eco-Packaging
This non-greasy sunscreen is water-resistant (for up to 80 minutes) and biodegradable, and super easy to apply. It’s a paraben-free broad spectrum sunblock with non-nano titanium dioxide. Stream2Sea also uses recycled or recyclable packaging, so that’s awesome. The Stream2Sea Sport Sunscreen was recommended by Rolling Stone in their list of top reef safe sunscreens.
2 // BeautyCounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense
Best for Delicate Skin
Price: $46 (50ml)
SPF 25 | vegan | cruelty-free | EWG certified
Countersun is a light, SPF 25 mineral-based sunscreen that uses non-nano zinc oxide. It provides protection from UVA, UVB, and HEV blue light rays, and is a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula for all skin tones.
If you’re a fan of spray sunscreen, Countersun’s SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Mist has a non-aerosol air-powered propellant mechanism (eco-friendly, woot!).
3 // All Good Sport Sunscreen
Best for Sports
Price: $13.99
Broad spectrum SPF 30 | water resistant (up to 80 minutes) | B corp
This company is founded and run by an all-woman team in California. They’re a member of the Safe Sunscreen Council and 1% For The Planet. With thoughtfully mixed anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and moisturizing ingredients, the sunscreen packs a punch and is great for sweaty, sporty activities in the sun.
4 // Raw Love All Natural Mineral Sunscreen
Best for Organic
Price: $16.99
SPF 35 | water resistant | FDA-approved | certified organic ingredients
Created by marine biologist Jenna Davis in Hawaii, this sunscreen is organic and plant-based, and smells fresh and minty. It’s effective, and gentle enough for babies. It comes in an eco-friendly tin container.
5 // Earth Mama Organics Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Best for Kids
Price: $15.99
SPF 40 | water resistant (40 minutes) | EWG rating of 1 | sensitive skin
Earth Mama’s Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion was created for sensitive skin (especially kids) and tested by pediatricians. Also, this sunscreen has an extra recommendation: the Environmental Working Group (EWG) gave the Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen a hazard rating of ONE, which is the lowest hazard rating a product can achieve.
Earth Mama’s Lady Face sticks are also worth checking out. They come in two shades, and work as a concealer or bronzer as well, which is just so convenient!
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
There are many more brilliant brands, and some of them are listed below:
| Reef Safe Sunscreen | SPF | Price | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alba Sport Sunscreen | 45 | $7.97 | BUY |
| Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen | 30 | $13.30 | BUY |
| Babo Botanicals Zinc Sunscreen | 30 | $13.04 | BUY |
| Badger Clear Zinc | 30 | $17.99 | BUY |
| Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion | 50 | $14.96 | BUY |
| Blue Lizard Sunscreen | 50+ | $15.00 | BUY |
| C’Est Moi Sunshine Sunscreen | 45 | $18.89 | BUY |
| Elina Organics Sun Day | 35 | $32.00 | BUY |
| Green People Edelweiss Sun Cream | 15 | £12.00 | BUY |
| Hello Bello Mineral Sunscreen Spray | 30 | $9.78 | BUY |
| Jason Family Sunscreen | 45 | $10.41 | BUY |
| Kokua Sun Care Zinc Sunscreen | 50 | $30.00 | BUY |
| Mama Kuleana Reef-safe Sunscreen | 30 | $21.00 | BUY |
| Odylique Sunscreen | 30 | £15.00 | BUY |
| Omuci’s Nothing To Hide Eco Friendly Sunscreen | 50 | €12.45 | BUY |
| REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral | 30 | $40.00 | BUY |
| Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lotion | 50 | $14.99 | BUY |
| Suntegrity Natural Mineral Body Sunscreen | 30 | $36.00 | BUY |
| Thinksport Safe Sunscreen | 50+ | $21.95 | BUY |
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
Other brands to try: SURFYOGIS, Suntribe, New Layer
Know of any other reef safe sunscreens? Let us know!
Let’s try to preserve all of this:
for as long as possible <3
Read More About Sustainable Living
Ethical Swimwear Brands
Want a list of vegan reef safe sunscreen in the UK?
The Best Clean Beauty Makeup Brands
Non Toxic Personal Care & Beauty Products
If you liked this post, please share it with your friends. Thank you!<3
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
NOTE: All brand photographs belong to the respective brands/businesses.
hard to take this seriously when you’re providing links to buy thing on Amazon.
Hi Claire,
They’re reef safe sunscreens, and you can buy them wherever they are available, the most convenient of which is often Amazon. I understand your skepticism/disdain towards Amazon (and I probably share a lot of it), but Amazon is an aggregator marketplace that makes it convenient to buy certain things that are not available in every corner store. Where Amazon is being problematic, I will not use them. But where they provide a useful service, I will include that option since purchasing from Amazon is a reality for most of us in mainstream society, whether we like it or not. I’m simply providing a link to buy the reef safe sunscreen (or other eco-friendly products listed on this site) via Amazon; I’m not forcing anyone to make that choice. If you can order directly from the brand website, that’s awesome. But if you cannot, you have the Amazon option. And if you don’t have even that option, then that gives me the next topic to write about: making your own reef safe sunscreen at home;)
Thank for stopping by. This is a complex world, and ideas change all the time. Thank you for challenging me on something I’m not convinced entirely about yet but continue to remain open to.