NON REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN HOW TO
NON REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN SKIN

They all have at least some degree of white cast if you’re using enough to get full SPF coverage.

NON REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN SKIN

They all feel a bit heavier on the skin than chemical sunscreens, in a way that many describe as sticky or greasy. They all have good water and sweat resistance, but you’ll still need to reapply just as often as you would a regular sunscreen (every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating). Keep in mind: because all reef safe sunscreens have a mineral active ingredient (more on that below), they’re all going to be a bit more noticeable on the skin, both in look and feel, than their chemical counterparts. We also used them in non-water activities to gauge their sweat resistance, absorption, general persistence, and other user experience details. Next, we purchased the leading sunscreens that met these guidelines and tested them in a variety of locations (San Diego, Hawaii, the Maldives) and while doing a variety of activities (swimming in the kelp beds, surfing at the beach, snorkeling in coral reefs, etc).

NON REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN HOW TO

If you’re looking for a real-deal deep-dive (no pun intended) on the best reef safe sunscreens, you’re in the right place!Ĭompiling a guide to the best reef safe sunscreens involved two processes: first, extensive research into the state of science around sunscreens and coral reefs to generate a set of actual guidelines on how to choose a reef-safe sunscreen. If you’re looking for info on the best sunscreen for your body, the best sunscreen for your face, the best mineral sunscreens, or other overall sunscreen information, check out our articles on the Best Face Sunscreen and Best Sunscreen for Your Body. I am an ecologist, sun enthusiast, and ocean lover, and I had all these questions and more when I found myself headed on my honeymoon to the Maldives (a popular snorkeling destination in the Indian Ocean). If you’re headed out snorkeling, paddleboarding, or just to play in tidepools for the day and you want to make environmentally-conscious choices (we love to see it!), you might be wondering, “What sunscreen(s) can I wear that won’t harm my lovely ocean-dwelling friends?” So you start some online searching and discover that, WOW, there are a lot of lists out there, but strangely little actual information.ĭoes “reef friendly” mean the same thing as “reef safe”? Are there any reliable reef-safe certifications? Why are sunscreens on some “reef-safe” lists but not others? Is all of this fake news, since all these websites seem to be citing one another instead of actual research?

Non reef safe sunscreen