Sunscreen might help to protect your skin, but most are deadly to coral. When you go for a dip in the sea, some of your suntan lotion rinses off. And that’s a big problem when it contains ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate or parabens (which most sun lotions do), because harsh chemicals can kill coral and other marine life.
Coral reefs are incredibly sensitive, so even minute traces of the chemicals mentioned above can have a real impact. One study found that just one drop of oxybenzone in enough water to fill six and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools, was enough to cause harm. Which is pretty worrying when you consider that up to 14,000 tonnes of suntan lotion is washed off into the sea each year.
Even if you don’t intend to swim in the sea this summer, the chemicals that get washed down the drain when you have a shower can eventually reach the open water.
Thankfully, you don’t need to choose between your conscience and your health. Our reef-friendly suntan lotions offer broad spectrum protection, are safer for the sea and also kinder to your skin. Our top reef-safe sunscreens include:
Badger sunscreens are 100% natural and specially formulated to be safe for coral. The active ingredient is zinc oxide (a natural mineral) and the sun lotions also contain organic plant oils and beeswax, so they’re great for your skin as well as the sea. They’re also water resistant for up to 40 minutes.
The unscented Badger sunscreen is gentle enough for the whole family to use, but there’s also a kids’ version with added tangerine and vanilla essential oils, and a natural, broad spectrum sunscreen for babies, which is enriched with chamomile and calendula.
Green People’s Organic Children Sun Lotion is suitable for sensitive skin, eczema-friendly and rich in antioxidants. It’s free from harsh chemicals and designed to be water-resistant, so it won’t harm coral and other marine life.
If you prefer a spray to a lotion, Alba Botanica’s Mineral Sunscreen is worth considering. It’s a broad spectrum sunscreen, so protects from both UVA and UVB, is suitable for sensitive skin, water resistant for up to 80 minutes, and won’t harm coral reefs.