When it comes to shopping for {sunscreen}, we all know that we should be looking for ‘broad-spectrum’, ‘SPF30’ (at the very least!) and ‘water-resistant’ (if you’re a water baby). But if you want to do your bit to help the ocean and its delicate ecosystem, you need to be looking for reef-safe sunscreens too.
The problem is, ‘reef safe’ (or ‘reef-friendly’) isn’t a regulated term, meaning that brands and products can use the label pretty freely without any testing required. That’s why it’s important to do your research, check the ingredients list or, better yet, rely on your good pals at Cult Beauty to share their wisdom with you!
With that in mind, we’ve created a round-up of the best reef-safe sunscreens, to take all that hard work out of being kinder to Mother Nature. But first, let’s take a more in-depth look at what ‘reef-safe’ means and how you can tell if a sunscreen is reef-safe.
WHAT EXACTLY IS REEF-SAFE SUNSCREEN?
The term ‘reef-safe’ (or ‘reef-friendly’) is generally used to refer to sunscreens that are formulated without oxybenzone and octinoxate, which scientists have linked to the bleaching of coral reefs and the disruption of the ocean’s local ecosystems, which puts marine life in critical danger.
Bonus points go to Hawaii who passed groundbreaking legislation in May 2018 banning the sale of SPFs formulated with oxybenzone and octinoxate! Woo-hoo!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A REEF-SAFE SUNSCREEN
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Stay away from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Get checking those ingredients lists and make sure your SPF is free from oxybenzone and octinoxate. They’re the big two, but if you want to really crack down on damaging ingredients, look out for octocrylene, homosalate and any form of microplastic too.
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Check for nanoparticles
The vast majority of SPFs are formulated with nanoparticles (meaning they’re less than 100 nanometres in size). Because they’re so small, they break down and dissolve in the ocean, where they can be toxic to marine life.
Look for products containing non-nanoparticles instead (these are bigger than 100 nanometres), as rather than breaking down, these larger particles simply sink and become part of the ocean sediment, posing less risk to marine life. (p.s. They’re also gentler on skin, as they sit on the skin’s surface rather than absorbing in.)
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Stick to mineral-based SPFs
This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but mineral-based SPFs containing ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide are generally far better for the ocean than chemical-based products. That’s because a) they tend not to contain those harmful chemicals we’ve mentioned and b) they have larger particle sizes.
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Avoid other chemical nasties
Where possible, go one step further and look for products that are free from parabens, silicones and sulphates, as these aren’t great for the environment either!
THE BEST REEF-SAFE SUNSCREENS
Here are Ryan and Connor (from the {Cult Concierge} team)’s pick of the best reef-safe sunscreens…