Protecting the Ocean and Our Skin
By: Madison Mossman
Tags: Oceans, Sustainability, Summer, Beauty Products, Great Barrier Reef

Image by Marius Graf via Hakai Magazine

Ah, it’s finally March! As my twin sister and I brave the last few rainy days of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and make our way into spring and summer, we thought this week would be a perfect time to toss our crusty SPF toxic-laden bottles out the door and purchase an effective product that is safe-to-body and safe-to-planet. With summer fast approaching, many of us are already looking forward to spending countless days on the beach and getting in some much-need vitamin D after the pandemic. So, before you unknowingly slather conventional sunscreen on your ever-so-sensitive skin, I want to give you the lowdown on the harmful ingredients within a majority of sun care products and provide some of my favorite alternative ‘reef safe’ sunscreens that will benefit your skin and contribute to a healthier marine environment.

First and foremost, whether you are jet-setting to a tropical vacation or drinking up the glorious UV rays at your local beach break, sunscreen is a vital part in saving your skin from premature signs of aging like melasma and reducing the risk of more serious conditions (e.g., melanoma). However, recent reports have found that the chemicals in many popular sunscreen products may be harmful to the environment and the human body. In fact, research conducted by the Environmental Working Group found that oxybenzone and octinoxate, two UV-blocking chemicals found in 96% of sunscreens, can systemically enter the human bloodstream and cause allergic skin reactions while further disrupting the hormones of both children and adults. Similarly, the same compounds being absorbed into our bodies are also entering our marine environment and harming coral reefs (e.g., The Great Barrier Reef), increasing abnormal growth and deformities in sea urchins and disrupting the reproduction systems of many marine animals.

Taking a closer look, if we were to combine the 14,000 tons of sunscreen deposited in our oceans every year from swimmers, divers, and tourists with other pollutants and rising water temperature, you could get a dreary picture of coral health across the globe. With the annual global sun care market predicted to reach nearly $25 billion by 2024, it comes to no surprise that lawmakers in destinations such as Hawaii have passed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Nevertheless, with sunscreen being an additional stressor making coral reefs susceptible to disease, it has prompted manufacturers and many islanders to create a mineral-based, reef-safe alternative to sunscreen that is free from chemical components.

Photo by NOAA via the National Park Service

Albeit, while Banana Boat and Coppertone elicit feelings of summertime nostalgia for many of us, there are some reef-friendly moves that every person can take in order to protect the marine environment and themselves. Although no sunscreen has been proven to be completely safe for aquatic wildlife, recent studies suggest that wearing a rash guard or other protective clothing is the best choice for the health of coral as well as your skin. However, if you are going to use sunscreen, I have found that Sun Bum’s Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, Manda’s Sunscreen SPF 50 and Raw Elements Sunscreen SPF 30 works best for my skin and is also widely available throughout the United States.

By all means, with coral reefs being one of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth providing a home to a quarter of marine species and supporting jobs and businesses throughout the tourism and fishing industry, it will be crucial to adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to protect the marine environment during COVID-19 and for years to come. Through civil and political engagement, we can help reshape our community in ways that reduce the negative impacts on coastal ecosystems while further advocating for bans on reef-harming sunscreens. Thus, my aspiration in sharing this blog is that you will learn more about how day-to-day human activities can severely impact the ocean in hopes that you will be motivated to switch to a chemical-free sunscreen on your next tropical vacation or outdoor adventure.

(Before purchasing your next sunblock, check out the HEL List for a comprehensive overview of the toxic chemicals loaded in suncare products that you should avoid!)