Be reef safe
While protecting your face from the harmful effects of the sun, think about protecting our oceans and marine life
WHAT TO AVOID
It’s a mine-field out there in
terms of what is or what is not within sunscreens or just any beauty product, below you’ll find a list of what you really should avoid if you can
Any form of microplastic sphere or beads
Commonly found in many current day cosmetics
Any nanoparticles like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
Both insoluble in water and was often used in cosmetics
Oxybenzone W
hile we all know protecting ourselves from the sun is essential, it’s becoming
increasingly important to consider the impact our sunscreen is having on the environment. There’s now a substantial body of research suggesting that the sun-protection products we use are having an adverse effect on the environment. So, what’s the most sustainable (and safe) solution?
Reports suggest that 20,000 tons of sunscreen are ending up in our oceans each year. Many traditional formulas contain chemicals (namely oxybenzone and octinoxate) that are damaging marine life, from stunting the growth cycle of coral reefs to disrupting the endocrine system in our fish, reducing their growth and egg output. And let’s face it, this also ends up in the food chain, so it’s bad for marine life and us too.
Hawaii was the first to pass a bill banning sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate from its shores back in 2021 in an attempt to stop the widespread coral bleaching, with places including the Pacific archipelago of Palau, the U.S Virgin Islands, and Key West in Florida following suit. The good news is that brands are now seeking alternatives to these unsustainable sunscreen chemicals, and many of today’s best suncreams are certified ‘reef- safe’, so you can shield your skin while saving the shores.
These biodegradable sunscreens use non-toxic ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to physically block UV rays without the need for traditional chemicals, plus innovative and safe synthetic filters. A far cry from the chalky white creams that previously we used.
Known to cause genetic damage to marine life
Octinoxate
Often used in cosmetics, it is a disruptor that can affect oestrogen production
4-methylbenzylidene camphor Used in many sunscreens and ‘safe’ below 4% concentration
Octocrylene
Can penetrate the skin and may increase production of free radicals under illumination
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
Banned in the EU with possible thyroid disrupting activity
Methyl Paraben WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
Go ocean-friendly Ocean-friendly initiatives are growing by the day. A great way of limiting the destruction of a marine ecosystem. “Sunscreen-free” zones are popping up across the planet; Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, the Caribbean, Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica and we can only hope more destinations are on the way as brands create new innovative UV-formulas using mineral filters and
biodegradable vegetable oils, it’s getting easier to find the right products on the shelves.
Say no to chemicals Avoid chemical UV filters, and therefore their harmful components oxybenzone (used in two-thirds of sunscreen on the market) and octinoxate. You can also add octocrylene, parabens, and camphor derivatives to the list, as well as hormone disruptors, which are bad for health.
Try mineral filters Use filters such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) that are non-allergenic, UV-reflecting (don’t let them into the skin) and are efficient after applying. But make sure the minerals aren’t used as nanoparticles. Opt for biodegradable (without silicones in a marine environment) and non-water soluble ingredients so that marine wildlife do not digest them.
Exposure to the skin over time can be carcinogenic
Triclosan
Typically used to kill bacteria in various products, but certainly banned by many countries
Ethyl Paraben
Another paraben and only safe in low levels
4-hydroxybenzoic acid One of the parabens set to be banned in the EU
Butyl Paraben
Known to have endocrine/ hormone disrupting effects
104 | SUMMER 2022 | ONBOARD
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