Choose a sunscreen that’s safe for you, the sea, & wildlife

How can a thin layer of sunscreen applied to your skin do damage to marine and wild life? Scientists studying the die-off of the world’s coral reefs—some 80% of Caribbean reefs are already lost—say the chemical oxybenzone is a big culprit.

Found in many sunscreens including popular brands such as Coppertone, Baby Blanket Faces, L’Oreal Paris, Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat, oxybenzone is leaching coral of its nutrients and bleaching it white.

An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions end up reaching our oceans around the world each year. It’s not just sunscreen from beach goers, but also the layers we apply everyday that eventually wash off in the shower and down the drain.

And if sunscreen lotions damage coral reefs, think what they can do to damage our marine and aquatic wildlife.

What are your options?
It’s important to protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun. To minimize the environmental impact of sunscreens, follow these tips from EWG (The Environmental Working Group):

- Coverup: Protect yourself with clothing, hats, and shade during peak sun times.
- Check labels: Don’t rely on that a product is safe, “biodegradable,” “natural” or “eco-friendly.” Check the ingredients list!
- Know your ingredients: Choose sunscreens without oxybenzone. Look instead for Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as the active ingredient.
- Avoid: Sunscreens with more than 50 SPF, aerosol sprays or powders, and sunscreens with retinyl palmitate or added insect repellents.

Best choices
Check out local brand BurnOut, based in Santa Cruz! Find them and others on the EWG list of 235 beach and sport sunscreens that meet their criteria for safety and effectiveness. We wish they also ranked by minimal packaging…maybe next year. EWG – Best Beach and Sport Sunscreen

Better yet. Make your own. Wellness Mama shares recipes for making your own Homemade Sunscreen Bars.

Image: “playing” by Jaume Escofet, Creative Commons

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