How to Know if Sunscreen is Reef Safe?

Sunscreen is available in everyone’s skincare vanity nowadays. Sunscreen protects us from sun damage, hyperpigmentation, premature fine lines, aging, and wrinkles. But wait, which kind of sunscreen you use? What ingredients are in it? Is it reef safe or not? Here in this article, we will provide all of these questions.

What Does ‘Reef Safe’ Mean?

A lot of sunscreens claim that they are reef-safe but what does it really mean? Generally, reef-safe sunscreens mean that the active ingredients in sunscreens are non-toxic and safe for the coral reefs and marine life also. if you want to go scuba diving or any water activities, using reef-safe sunscreen can protect the beautiful marine life. According to the specialists, there are several ingredients that can be harmful to coral reefs or marine life:

Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, Octinoxate, Nano-zinc oxide, Nano-titanium dioxide, OD-PABA, 3- Benzylidene camphor, Benzophenon-1, Benzophenon-2, Benzophenon-8, Microplastics, Phthalates, Triclosan, and parabens are the ingredient which can be harmful to the coral reefs or marine life.

Impact on the Environment

You should choose a sunscreen that can protect your skin and also be safe for the environment. It is very important to preserve coral reefs and marine life. According to a few studies, some harmful ingredients of sunscreen can impact negatively the ecosystem of coral reefs and marine life. So make sure to buy sunscreen with non-toxic ingredients.

Impact on Human

Wearing a good sunscreen is very important for your healthier skin. Sunscreen protects us from sunburn, hyperpigmentation, immature fine lines, early aging, and wrinkles. You should choose mineral-based sunscreen which is reef safe and environmentally. Basically, mineral-based sunscreen with non-nano-sized particles helps reflect harmful UVA and UVB radiations away from your skin.

Conclusion

When you planning the swimming or surfing, you have to choose non-nano-sized mineral sunscreen in the form of lotion or cream instead of spray or mist. Before buying any sunscreen, pay attention to the ingredient list on the packaging to make sure you avoid toxic ingredients.

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