Summer is almost here, and that means you’re gonna be reaching for your sunscreen. But before you go to the drug store and pick your favorite lotion or spray, consider this: according to the Environmental Working Group, more than half of the sunscreens on the market today contain oxybenzone, a chemical that can disrupt our hormones and may cause skin cancer. That is not fun in the sun! Not only that, but many of the most popular sunscreens brands have chemicals that can damage the world’s coral reefs.
HAWAII BANS DAMAGING SUNSCREENS
A study done by Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, a nonprofit scientific organization, claims that two chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, are contributing to coral bleaching. The study found high levels of these chemicals in ocean waters popular with tourists, including Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We don’t think too much about it when we lather up, but all that sunscreen washes off us and can affect the aquatic life around us. Almost 14,000 tons of sunscreen enters the world’s reefs every year.
Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. One million species of fish, invertebrates, and algae are estimated to live in and around the world’s reefs.
Ingredients commonly found in chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, can awaken coral viruses. The coral then becomes sick, expelling their life-giving algae. Without these algae, the coral “bleaches” (turns white), and prematurely dies. – Manda Naturals
On May 1, Hawaii became the first state to pass a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Once the bill is signed by Hawaii’s governor, it will go into effect January 1, 2021.
Haereticus Enviornmental Labs (HEL) put together a list of chemicals in sunscreen that pose the biggest threat to aquatic life. They call it the “Hel List.”
HAERETICUS ENVIRONMENTAL LAB’S
“HEL LIST”
(Avoid these chemicals in sunscreen)
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
Octocrylene
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
Methyl Paraben
Ethyl Paraben
Propyl Paraben
Butyl Paraben
Benzyl Paraben
Triclosan
Microplastic sphere or beads
Nanoparticles like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
HOW TO CHOOSE A SAFE SUNSCREEN
The safest sunscreens are physical sunscreens that provide “broad-spectrum” protection, contain organic ingredients, aren’t above 50 SPF, and are reef-friendly. Need help deciphering all that? Here are some sunscreen basics to help you gain a deeper understanding of what sunscreen is and what it does.
SUNSCREEN BASICS
UVA VS. UVB RAYS
UVA rays can penetrate deeply into the skin and cause aging and wrinkling. No one wants wrinkles! Scientists believe UVA rays are dangerous because they may initiate the development of skin cancer. No one wants skin cancer either. UVB rays cause reddening of the skin and sunburn. UVB rays play a key role in the development of skin cancer, too. No sunscreen can block 100 percent of UV rays, so it’s important to try and limit the amount of time you spend in the sun and wear a cover-up to protect your skin.
BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN
“Broad-spectrum” sunscreens have been tested to show that they protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
PHYSICAL VERSUS CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS
There are two types of sunscreens: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens are made from active mineral ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. They sit on top of the skin and deflect harmful UVA and UVB rays. In the past, these have been the types of sunscreens that can leave a white film on the skin.
Chemical sunscreens obviously contain chemicals, or synthetic compounds, that absorb UV light before it reaches the skin. Most of the sunscreens sold at the drug store are chemical sunscreens. According to Haereticus, many of the chemical sunscreens are the most harmful to the health of aquatic life.
WHAT DOES SPF MEAN?
SPF = Sun Protection Factor. Use the SPF to help you determine how much sun protection you need. For example: if you know you burn after 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure, multiply 10 minutes by the SPF number to determine how much you’ll have:
10 minutes x 30 SPF = 300 minutes of sun protection (5 hours).
If you aren’t sure how long you can stay in the sun before you burn, use 10 minutes as your guide if you have light skin and 20 minutes if you have dark skin.
AN SPF HIGHER THAN 50 IS NOT BETTER
According to the American Cancer Society, there’s no need to buy a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 50.
Higher numbers do mean more protection, but many people don’t understand the SPF scale. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. The higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. – American Cancer Society
WATERPROOF
The FDA doesn’t allow sunscreen companies to make the “waterproof” claim because it’s bogus. Look for “water resistant” or “very water resistant” instead.
8 SAFE SUNSCREENS
For every product below, we’ve included the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) score for toxicity, if it’s available. 1 is the best score (meaning the sunscreen has the least amount of unhealthy ingredients) and 10 is the worst.
#1 All GOOD SUNSCREEN BUTTER SPF 50+, $9.99, 1 oz
This family-run business does just about everything right.
Their sunscreens are reef-friendly. They use USDA Certified Organic ingredients. Their products are non-GMO. Their packaging is recycled and recyclable, and their sunscreens are broad-spectrum, and Cruelty Free.
All Good Products has been a Certified B Corp (Benefit Corporation) since 2009. Certified B Corps are for-profit companies “certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.”
They’ve also been a 1% For the Planet member since 2006, which means they give 1% of their sales to direct action environment initiatives.
Active ingredient: 25% Zinc Oxide
Additional ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Calendula Flowers infused in Organic Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E.
BONUS: ALL GOOD GOOP HEALING BALM, $23.50, 4 oz
“Our first product ever to hit store shelves, we named this healing balm All Good Goop when we realized how amazing it is for everything! Its organic skincare formula mixes essential oils with medicinal plants to make it strong enough for a climber’s raw knuckles and gentle enough for a baby’s bottom.” This balm helps heal minor burns, including sunburns, insect bites, blisters, cuts, scrapes, scars, and more.
#2 BADGER BALM CLEAR ZINC SUNSCREEN, SPF 30, $16.99, 2.9 oz
Badger is another company firmly committed to making safe and effective products while also doing good for the planet. Badger has been a certified B Corporation since 2011. Their products are certified Cruelty Free, and their ingredients are 98% certified organic. Badger’s sunscreen is reef-friendly, biodegradable, non-GMO, water resistant for 40 minutes, and offers broad-spectrum coverage for UVA and UVB protection. Badger is also a 2018 Earth Day Beauty Award Winner 2018.
We tend to be organic fanatics. That’s because we believe that sustainable organic agriculture is our hope for the future. Imagine food, clothing, and shelter produced in harmony with nature, without the use of toxic chemicals polluting earth, air and water today. – Badger Bill Whyte, Founder, CEO & Head Badger
EWG SCORE: Not available as this is a new product.
Badger’s sunscreens typically score a 1.
BADGER BABY SUNSCREEN CREAM SPF 30, $14.99, 2.9 oz
With extremely gentle ingredients, this baby sunscreen is great for adults, too. It’s unscented, water and sweat resistant for at least 80 minutes of swimming or other activities, broad-spectrum, 100% certified natural, and contains 96% certified organic ingredients. It’s also biodegradable and safe for coral reefs and other ecosystems.
This sunscreen contains just five ingredients:
Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Uncoated Clear Zinc Oxide 18.75%.
Base Ingredients:*Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract. *=Certified Organic
EWG SCORE: Not available as this is a new product.
BONUS: BADER ALOE VERA GEL, $6.99, 4 oz
It’s 96% pure aloe juice, 95% certified organic, Fair Trade certified, and packaged in a BPA-free and recyclable container.
#3 RAW LOVE ALL NATURAL MINERAL SUNSCREEN $16.99 for 2 oz, or $24.99 for 4 oz
This sunscreen was developed on the island of Maui by a SNUBA instructor (snuba is a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving) and PADI dive master. They use 100% all natural plant-based and organic ingredients. Raw Love sunscreen is made with zinc oxide, cold pressed unrefined coconut oil, raw shea butter, sesame oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, carrot seed oil, and pure essential oils. Raw Love sunscreen is recommended by Ocean Wise, is reef-friendly, and offers full broad-spectrum sun protection.
EWG SCORE: Not available
#4HAPPY AS LARRY NON-TINTED VITAMIN D SUN SCREEN, SPF 35, $9.49, 1oz
Why is Larry happy? He lives on the Hawaiian island of Kauai (I’d be happy if I lived there, too). His products are organic and reef-friendly. He made the sunscreen for his daughter, Lia.
All Happy As Larry products are safe for the environment, reefs, and fish. Their sunscreen products are broad-spectrum, biodegradable and “contain none of the petrochemicals known to have estrogenic effects in the environment, coral toxicity or bioaccumulation problems.”
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide – 25% (Non-Nano), El Dorado Springs Artesian Spring Water, Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Certified Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Butter, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF, Vegetable Vitamin E (Non-GMO from Sunflower), Iron Oxides.
EWG SCORE: Not available
#5 SEA & SUMMIT ORGANIC SUNSCREEN ULTRA MOISTURIZING SUNSCREEN LOTION SPF 30+, $18.99, 3oz
This sunscreen was developed by a beach lifeguard and sea kayak-guide. Sea & Summit sunscreen is reef-friendly, offers broad-spectrum coverage, contains cosmetic grade non-nano zinc oxide, and the packaging is 100% biodegradable, made from recycled plastic milk jugs. Sea & Summit is a member of 1% For The Planet.
I stand for what I believe in, and no one or no amount of money is going to sway me from my values. When big business pushes, I’ll push back harder. – Ryan Fell, creator
This sunscreen is made with 6 USDA ingredients: 1) Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera) 2) Organic Jojoba Seed Oil Esters (Simmondsia Chinensis) 3) Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii) 4) Natural C.G. (caprylyl glycol) emulsifier & preservative derived from coconut 5) Organic Sesame Seed Oil (Sesamum Indicus) 6) Zinc Oxide 20% (non-nano, cosmetic grade)
NOTE: product is out of stock until June 1, 2018.
EWG SCORE: Not available
#6 GODDESS GARDEN ORGANICS EVERYDAY NATURAL SUNSCREEN LOTION, SPF 30, $12.99, 3.4 oz
This sunscreen is reef-safe, biodegradable, broad-spectrum, and contains certified organic ingredients. Goddess Garden is a B Corporation, which makes them extra special.
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6.4%, Zinc Oxide 6.0%
Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Oil), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil*, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Lavandula Hybrida (Lavender) Oil*, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Water, Xanthan Gum. *Certified organic.
#7MANDA ORGANIC SUN PASTE SPF 50, $28.00, 40 grams
Developed by surfers (always a good sign), this reef-safe sunscreen is made with food grade, all natural, organic ingredients. It’s kid safe too.
In a world inundated by technology, which inherently develops synthetic and chemical solutions, we lose sight of how effective nature can be in solving everyday problems. – Manda
Active Ingredient: Non-nano zinc oxide
Inactive ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Cocoa Butter, Thanaka, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cinnamon Oil
“Thankaka – Exceptionally high in antioxidants and ideal for sensitive skin, this ground tree bark from Myanmar has been used for over 2,000 years as a natural alternative to sunblock. In addition to its natural wellness properties, Thanaka is a sustainable and regenerative ingredient. By supplementing the Sun Paste with Thanaka, Manda Organic Sun Paste was created to minimize its environmental footprint.” – Manda
EWG SCORE: Not available
#8 AVASOL SURFER’S BARRIER STICK, 30 SPF, $19.95, 1oz
Avasol sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection, is made with organic and Fair-Trade ingredients, and their packaging is made from recycled paper. Avasol is a member of 1% For the Planet (which we always like to see).
If we were just in it for the money, we could have just stuck some goop in a plastic bottle and called it organic. But we’re not, so we didn’t. – Avasol
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 24.5% (USP, Non-Nano, Non-Coated)
Inactive Ingredients: Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Wildcrafted Euphorbia cerifera (Calendilla) wax, Organic Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil, Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Silica, Wildcrafted Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Seed Butter, Wildcrafted Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Organic Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter), Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Iron oxides, Organic Fragrance, Propolis, Plankton Extract, Mica, Wildcrafted Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka) Oil, Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Organic Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Leaf Oil, A Supportive Community and Love!
EWG SCORE: Not available
A FEW POINTS TO CONSIDER
DON’T SPRAY – the residue can stick to sand and then get washed out to sea, which can lead to contamination.
KEEP IT SIMPLE – avoid sunscreens with too many ingredients, especially if you can’t pronounce them.
TRY IT – keep trying physical sunscreens until you find one that works for you.
WANT MORE? – if you want more sunscreen options, including bottles you can pick up at drug stores or national health food markets, refer to the Environmental Working Group’s recommendations for beach and sports and for kids.
WHAT ABOUT THE POPULAR
DRUGSTORE BRANDS?
(We wouldn’t recommend any product that scores higher than 3)
BANANA BOAT SPORT CONTINUOUS SPRAY, SPF 50
EWG SCORE: 5
BANANA BOAT BABY SUNSCREEN LOTION, SPF 50
EWG SCORES: 6
(It’s upsetting that the baby formulation has more harmful ingredients than the sunscreen for adults!)
COPPERTONE SPORT HIGH PERFORMANCE CLEAR CONTINUOUS SPRAY, SPF 30
EWG SCORE: 7
HAWAIIAN TROPIC SUNSCREEN, SPF 30
EWG SCORE: 5
There’s a clear winner when it comes to safe sunscreens. The ones with all natural ingredients. They protect you and won’t harm the coral reefs. So now that you know how to protect yourself from the sun, go out and have some fun!
Learn More
Ban Toxic Sunscreens
American Cancer Society – “How Do I Protect Myself from UV Rays?”
Feature image credit of woman on the beach ViadGans @iStock
