May 20, 2023

5 Tips for Plastic-Free Reef-Safe Sunscreens

Last Updated May 20, 2023

Summer is fast approaching and if you’ve finally used up last year’s bottle of sunscreen, why not replace it with some plastic-free reef-safe sunscreen? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Choose a Non-Nano Zinc Based Sunscreen

Choose a sunscreen with non-nano zinc oxide as its main active ingredient. Non-nano simply means that the zinc oxide particles are larger than 100 nanometers. Zinc based sunscreens are a physical sun barrier instead of a chemical sun barrier. These are generally better for you and the environment.

Avoid These Harmful Chemicals

When choosing a sunscreen you want to avoid a number of chemicals that are harmful to marine life and reefs. Check the label and make sure the sunscreen does not include these ingredients:

Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octocrylene
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
PABA
Parabens
Triclosan
Nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium
Any form of microplastic, such as “exfoliating beads”

Choose at Least SPF 30

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, you should use at least SPF 30 sunscreen, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays.

Also, note that a higher number SPF lasts the same amount of time as a lower number SPF. So, just because you choose a SPF 50, that doesn’t mean you can go longer without reapplying. It’s recommended you reapply every two hours.

Choose Broad-Spectrum to Protect From UVA and UVB Rays

Speaking of UV rays, sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays — UVA and UVB. Too much exposure to either can cause skin cancer. Here’s how the different rays affect our skin:

UVA rays can cause wrinkles, age spots, and aging and can pass through glass.
UVB rays cause sunburns and are are blocked by glass.

So, when choosing a sunscreen, choose a Broad-Spectrum sunscreen that blocks both rays.

Look for Metal, Glass, Wood or Paper Packaging

With more and more people concerned about plastic pollution, there are many brands that package in metal, glass, wood, or even paper tubes!

Raw elements is one of the top brands for plastic-free reef-friendly sunscreens. They pack their sunscreens in reusable metal tins and have a few different options including sunscreen for face and body with 95% organic ingredients:

And for the kids, sunscreen that won’t sting their eyes! (This is the one I use for my kids.)

EiR has an option in a cardboard tube. These sunscreen sticks make it easy to apply without getting your hands dirty. My kids and I use this to apply sunscreen to our faces.

Finally, we have Surf Durt which has a sunscreen that’s packaged in a bamboo container.

Bonus Tips: Cover Up!

The best reusable option is to cover up! Put on a rash guard or swim shirt and a hat! This saves you from having to apply and reapply sunscreen! I buy long sleeve bathing suits for my kids so I don’t have to put sunscreen on their arms and back!