Best Reef Safe Sunscreens of 2024
Protect yourself and the environment with truly reef safe sunscreens Free from chemical active ingredients (including oxynenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate AND homosalate)
April 28th, 2024
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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.
Does “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?
Well let’s get into it. 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 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. 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!
Compiling 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.
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). We also used them in non-water activities to gauge their sweat resistance, absorption, general persistence, and other user experience details.
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. 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).
Reef safe sunscreens feel a bit heavier on the skin than chemical sunscreens, in a way that many describe as sticky or greasy. They all have at least some degree of white cast if you’re using enough to get full SPF coverage. They’re also a bit tougher to wash off (a loofah or washcloth is your friend here!). The tradeoff for our extra minute in the shower is, you know, doing our part to preserve fragile ecosystems and feeling good about our choices as consumers. So we feel like it’s worth it.
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Comparison Table
Compare Sunscreen features
| REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN | TREELINE AWARD | SPF | BROAD SPECTRUM | WATER RESISTANT | COST PER OZ* | OXYBENZONE-FREE** | HEL LIST CERTIFIED*** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger Reef Safe Sunscreen, SPF 40 Sport Mineral Sunscreen | Best overall Read why |
40 | Y | 80 min | $6.19 | Y | Y |
| Badger SPF 50 Adventure Sport Mineral Sunscreen | Best for sensitive skin Read why |
50 | Y | 80 min | $6.65 | Y | Y |
| Raw Elements SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Spray | Best spray sunscreen Read why |
50 | Y | 80 min | $12.48 | Y | Y |
| Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Baby Sunscreen | Best affordable Read why |
50+ | Y | 80 min | $5.16 | Y | Y |
| Thrive Natural Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 | Best face sunscreen Read why |
50 | Y | 80 min | $5.17 | Y | N |
*We often find these available below MSRP. See our Deals Page for more info.
** Note: It’s important to recognize that Oxybenzone is not the only ingredient of concern, though it’s the one most people know about. See our section below on ingredients of concern for all the ingredients we looked out for.
*** HEL certification is a more-reliable indicator of whether a sunscreen was free of all chemical UV filter active ingredients (including oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, etc.) that are damaging to ocean life. HEL certification also takes into account inactive ingredients (parabens, butyloctyl salicilate, etc) known to harm ocean life.
Compare ingredients
| REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN | TREELINE AWARD | ACTIVE INGREDIENTS | INACTIVE INGREDIENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badger Reef Safe Sunscreen, SPF 40 Sport Mineral Sunscreen | Best overall Read why |
Uncoated Non-nano Clear Zinc Oxide (22.5%) | Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Sunflower Vitamin E (98% Organic & Certified Non-GMO) |
| Badger SPF 50 Adventure Sport Mineral Sunscreen | Best for sensitive skin Read why |
Uncoated Non-nano Clear Zinc Oxide (25%) | Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, and Sunflower Vitamin E (98% Organic & Certified Non-GMO) |
| Raw Elements SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Spray | Best spray sunscreen Read why |
Non-nano zinc oxide 23% | Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, All Natural Mango Butter, Organic Beeswax, All Natural Rosemary Oil Extract, All Natural Vitamin E |
| Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Baby Sunscreen | Best affordable Read why |
Non-nano Zinc Oxide 23.4% | Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Methyl Abietate, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Hyaluronic Acid |
| Thrive Natural Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 | Best face sunscreen Read why |
Non-nano Zinc Oxide 20% | Purifed Water, Caprylic /Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycery-4, Isosterate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Methyl Abietate (Pine Wood Resin), Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), Caprylhdroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ribes Rubrum (Currant) Fruit, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Hyalurounic Acid (Plant Based), Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) |
The winners
Best reef safe sunscreen:
Badger Reef Safe Sunscreen, SPF 40 Sport Mineral Sunscreen
SPF: 40
Broad spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Uncoated, non nano zinc oxide 22.5% (clear)
Water resistant: 80 Min
Cost per ounce: $6.19/fl oz
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: yes
What we liked: safest option with only 4 ingredients (and no oxybenzone or HEL List problematic chemical filters), excellent water and sweat resistance, white cast is minimal, rubs in evenly, comes out easily from bottle, widely available, made in USA, company is woman-owned and B-Corp
What we didn’t like: other options are more affordable or more sheer
The Badger Reef Safe Sunscreen SPF 40 Sport Mineral Sunscreen is our overall winner for Best Reef Safe Sunscreen. It's a top-rated sunscreen across all sources–including our own testing– with excellent water and sweat-resistance. It comes easily out of the bottle, rubs in evenly, and its white cast is minimal. The Badger Reef Safe sunscreen has no added fragrance, and most testers and reviewers found it to be completely or nearly fragrance-free. Essentially, the user experience of this sunscreen is about what you can expect from a 100% mineral sunscreen: thicker than chemical sunscreen and with a white cast, but decently easy to rub in, waterproof, and non-irritating.
Compare Prices Of The Badger Reef Safe Sunscreen
A sun hat, sunglasses, and the Badger Sport sunscreen were our Must-Haves while snorkeling in the Maldives.
The main reasons we recommend this as the best overall reef-safe sunscreen are the points that suggest it’s the “safest” to be had. First, it’s the only widely-available sunscreen that has undergone intensive reef-safe testing by Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (or HEL, the nonprofit research organization that maintains the most well-regarded list of non-reef-safe ingredients, which also provides exhaustive testing for its own reef-safe certification). To get the certification, it isn't enough to be an oxybenzone free sunscreen and HEL maintains a list of active and inactive ingredients that do not qualify for reef-safe certification (see more on that below).
Only a few sunscreen brands have passed this certification process, and Badger is the only one that’s widely available. While it’s impossible to say that any sunscreen is completely 100% safe for all wildlife (more on that below), the fact that this brand has passed the HEL certification is a big plus, and moreover many Badger products contain only four ingredients (zinc oxide as the mineral sunscreen, plus sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, and beeswax). This short ingredient list helps us feel confident that even as more ingredients are found to be harmful to ocean life, the chance of this product containing one of those ingredients is quite low.
To round out our reasons for deeming this the winner: this product is available in drugstores, big-box stores, health food stores, in REI, and online. It’s one of the most ubiquitous brands around, so it’s very easy to get your hands on. As a bonus, the company is woman-owned, family-run, made in the USA, and a B-Corp (a highly respected designation for companies that strive to have beneficial impacts on society & the environment).
The drawback is that Badger Reef Safe SPF 40 Sport Mineral Sunscreen is not quite as inexpensive and not quite as sheer as our “Best Sheer Reef-Safe Sunscreen” pick, and like all reef-safe sunscreens, it remains noticeable on the skin in a way some people describe as heavy, oily, or greasy. Negative reviews also mention other common drawbacks of mineral sunscreens–that the product is thick, that it’s difficult to rub in, that it doesn’t absorb completely, etc. It can also, like all mineral sunscreens, be a bit tough to wash off.
The Badger was our winner for Best Reef Safe Sunscreen in our Best Sunscreen for Your Body article. We also considered the Thinksport SPF 50, which won Best Mineral Sunscreen in that story and we also tested for this article. Thinksport was a strong contender here as well (and as you’ll see below, its baby version with slightly fewer ingredients was our winner for Best Affordable Reef-Safe Sunscreen). However, due to the long ingredient list, lack of comprehensive testing, and sometimes polarizing fragrance, it was not as reef-safe as the Badger.
Best reef-safe sunscreen for sensitive skin:
Badger SPF 50 Adventure Sport Mineral Sunscreen
SPF: 50
Broad spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide 25%
Water resistant: 80 min
Cost per ounce: $6.65/oz
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: yes
What we liked: highest percentage of non nano zinc oxide, not many ingredients and many are organic ingredients, applies easily, minimal white cast, water resistant, reef safe certification, widely available, made in USA, company is woman-owned and B-Corp
What we didn’t like: would prefer a bottle to the tin it comes in (though the tin is recyclable), more solid than other sunscreens
While all of the sunscreens we tested are good for sensitive skin (one of the great fringe benefits of reef-safe sunscreen!), we’re deeming this the MOST ideal for sensitive skin because, like our overall winner, it only has four ingredients: Uncoated Clear Zinc Oxide, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, and Sunflower Vitamin E (98% Organic & Certified Non-GMO). It also has the highest percentage of zinc oxide of the sunscreens we tested, so when applied in proper quantities it provides some of the best protection on this list.
It applies easily, leaves a minimal white cast, and was water resistant in our tests. And of course, like many Badger products, this has been tested by HEL labs and bears their reef-safe certification. In addition to many online buying options, you can also get this in person at stores like REI, Sprouts, and others, which we like.
Compare Prices Of The Badger Spf 50 Adventure Sport Mineral Sunscreen
The Badger sunscreen is more solid than most sunscreens, which some testers liked and some testers didn’t like.
As with the other Badger sunscreens we tested, it has HEL Certification to be free of active and inactive ingredients known to harm wildlife. To get the certification, it isn't enough to be an oxybenzone free sunscreen. HEL maintains an extensive list of problematic active and inactive ingredients that do not qualify for reef-safe certification (see more on that below).
The Badger Adventure Sport Mineral sunscreen in a metal tin that is recyclable.
This product only comes in a small tin, which is environmentally friendly (the tin is recyclable) but may not be ideal if large amounts are needed (for example, you’ll need about 1oz to cover your whole body, and you’ll need to reapply after swimming).
The Badger Adventure Sport mineral sunscreen after being rubbed in.
The product itself is more solid than most creams (you have to scoop it out of the tin, more like a lip balm), which some people did not like. Some reviewers noted that this was a bit more sticky than other sunscreens tested.
Best reef-safe spray sunscreen:
Raw Elements SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Spray
SPF: 50
Broad spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide (9.52%), Titanium Dioxide (7.2%)
Water resistant: 80 min
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: No
Cost per ounce: $12.48/fl oz on Amazon
What we liked: non-nano zinc oxide, lightweight, non-greasy, with a minimal white cast, travel-friendly size, widely available in stores
What we didn’t like: spray sunscreens as a genre aren't as effective, only available in a 2 oz spray bottle
While a search for “reef safe sunscreen spray” turns up a number of mostly-mineral recommendations, a closer look reveals that all of these contain either nano-sized zinc oxide particles, butyloctyl salicylate, or both. No traditional spray we could find–including those by popular brands like Thinksport–was completely free of HEL List ingredients. The exception among these is the Raw Elements SPF 50 Mineral Spray, a reef safe sunscreen available in an easy-to-use spray bottle.
Compare Prices Of The Raw Elements Spf 50 Mineral Spray
As noted elsewhere in this article as well as in our Best Sunscreen for Your Body article, experts don’t recommend spray sunscreens as it’s much more difficult to ensure proper coverage with a spray.
However, if you require a spray sunscreen for accessibility or other reasons, the one viable reef-safe option is this non-aerosol spray made by Raw Elements. Our testers found it lightweight, non-greasy, with a minimal white cast, and they appreciated the travel-friendly size of the spray bottle. In addition to many online options, you can also get this in person at most REI stores.
The product is apparently only available in a 2 oz bottle, which isn’t ideal in many cases. Some testers noted that the spray does not come out in a fine mist, which is to be expected since it’s not a true aerosol, but still something to keep in mind. Many reviewers had to rub it in at least a bit to get even coverage, so it may not be a spray-and-go solution.
Best affordable reef-safe sunscreen
Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Baby Sunscreen
SPF: 50+
Broad spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Non-nano Zinc Oxide 23.4%
Water resistant: 80 Min
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: No
Cost per ounce: $5.16/oz
What we liked: value for the price, universally available
What we didn’t like: not HEL certified, longer ingredient list
ThinkBaby, as well as the brand’s regular and kids’ versions, frequently come up in “best of” lists and have great reviews. We didn’t find that this performed any better than the other sunscreens we tested–it prevented sunburn and was water resistant, and had a middle-of-the-pack white cast. But at $3.23/oz, it IS the most affordable, and it is about as universally available as Badger. We include the baby version here both because it was less expensive than regular Thinksport SPF 50 on some platforms, and because the ingredient list was very slightly shorter (18 vs. 20 ingredients for the regular–full ingredient lists for both are in the tables).
Compare Prices Of The Thinkbaby Spf 50+ Baby Sunscreen
It’s not an overall winner because it doesn’t have HEL certification, and it has a long ingredient list. That list includes some things that could be problematic depending on how they’re manufactured, and some things that haven’t been studied as widely as other ingredients.
The brand’s ingredient lists were also slightly different across the three sources we referenced (the brand’s website, Amazon, and the National Institute of Health website), which isn’t necessarily a red flag, but it was confusing and we didn’t like it. The brand’s products also have more of a sweet or fruity fragrance than other products we tested, which was problematic for some reviewers.
Best reef-safe sunscreen for face:
Thrive Natural Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF50
SPF: 50
Broad spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Non-nano Zinc oxide 23.5%
Water resistant: 80 Min
Cost per ounce: $5.17/oz
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: No
What we liked: most sheer, applies smoothly, easily, eveninly, not sticky, excellent water resistance, almost no fragrance, among the most affordable sunscreens
What we didn’t like: only available online, no HEL certification
The Thrive Natural Body Mineral Sunscreen is a well-reviewed sunscreen across the internet, and we can see why. Of the sunscreens we tested, this was the most sheer, leaving the least white cast on the skin. For this reason, despite "body" being in the name, we recommend it as the Best Reef-Safe Sunscreen for Face. We found that it applies smoothly, easily, and evenly, is not sticky, and provides excellent water resistance. Though it lists “fragrance” in the ingredients, the brand describes this as a “subtle citrus” scent, and most reviewers (including us) barely noticed any fragrance, or thought it was fragrance-free.
View The Thrive Natural Body Mineral Sunscreen
This is also one of the most affordable of the sunscreens we tested, and the company’s mission is broadly eco-friendly, including regenerative farming techniques and a tube made of recycled plastic. This sunscreen is the one we’d be most likely to use interchangeably with our regular sunscreens (like the Sun Bum and Hawaiian Tropic featured in our other sunscreen guides) although it still leaves a white cast that transfers to things you touch.
The main downside of this sunscreen is that it’s only available online, so you can’t grab it at the last minute when you realize you forgot to pack sunscreen. As mentioned above, this sunscreen does have a bit of added fragrance, which can be polarizing to some users.
We’d also love to see it get the HEL labs certification! To get the HEL certification, it isn't enough to be an oxybenzone free sunscreen (as some marketers may have you believe) and HEL maintains a list of active and inactive ingredients that do not qualify for reef-safe certification (see more on that below).
That being said, the ingredient list on Thrive Mineral Sunscreen is long, and it includes ingredients that can sometimes be problematic depending on their manufacturing (like glycerin and fragrances–more on that below), so HEL certification would make us feel a lot more confident wearing it in the water.
Other reef safe sunscreens we tested
Raw Elements Face and Body All-Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF30+
SPF: 30+
Broad spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Non-nano Zinc Oxide 23%
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: No
Water resistant: 80 Min
Cost per ounce: $6.32/fl oz
Personally, Raw Elements Face and Body Sunscreen was my favorite sunscreen of the bunch. I wore it almost exclusively on my honeymoon–it felt moisturizing, I didn’t get sunburned, and it definitely stayed in place. The ingredient list is pretty short and contains mostly botanical extracts, and REI carries the tube version, a tin version, and a stick version at their stores.. Overall I’m a big fan and will buy again.
Compare Prices Of The Raw Elements Face And Body Sunscreen
However, though I enjoyed it, it was not universally preferred. It’s a bit tough to get out of the tube, as it is a bit thicker/more solid than some of our winners, and that was challenging.
It also has a distinctly nutty aroma (sunflower oil is the first inactive ingredient) which I enjoyed, but my wife did not. It also doesn’t have a HEL certification, and it’s not in as many stores as our winners, so it’s not quite as easy to get ahold of (although we did recently see it in Target, which is great).
SPF: 30
Broad Spectrum: Yes
Active Ingredients: Non-nano titanium dioxide 8.8%)
Water resistant: 80 Min
Cost per ounce: $6.32/fl oz
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: yes
HEL certified: Yes
This sunscreen performs basically like the others with regard to water resistance, ease of application, etc. What we really appreciate is that this sunscreen has undergone HEL testing and bears their certification. HOWEVER, this product does contain a microplastic ingredient called acrylates copolymer that early research suggests has negative effects on ocean life (more on microplastics below).
Compare Prices Of The Stream2Sea Sport Sunscree N
We enjoyed this product, and it gets good reviews for water resistance and sun protection, but it had more of a white cast than some of the other products we tested, which was also mentioned in many online reviews.
It also has a longer ingredient list than some of our winners, and it’s only available online and is on the more expensive side of the sunscreens we tested. Lastly, it contains a microplastic ingredient, which although not on the HEL list is a huge red flag for us.
SPF: 35
Broad Spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide 22.5%
Water resistant: 40 Min
Cost per ounce: $5.75/oz
HEL certified: No
We liked the short ingredient list of this sunscreen, as well as the scent, which was light and peppermint-y. We liked that it comes in a recyclable tin, although as always, this means you only get 4 oz of product at a time, which may not be enough for multiple people or a long trip.
The Raw Love sunscreen was on the lighter and less sticky side of the sunscreens we tested, which was pleasant, and we liked that we found it in our local Whole Foods and didn’t have to order it online. We also like that it’s made by a woman-owned small business in Hawaii. However, it's harder to find and also on the more expensive side.
View The Raw Love Sunscreen
The main downside of this sunscreen is that its water resistance is rated to 40 minutes, when the rest of our sunscreens are rated to 80 minutes. We found it to be water resistant in our testing, but we wouldn’t recommend putting that 40 minute limit to the test (always use sunscreens according to their directions!). Some reviewers also found the scent too strong, particularly for use on the face.
SPF: 50
Broad Spectrum: Yes
Active ingredients: 23.4% non-nano zinc oxide
Water resistant: 80 min
Cost per ounce: $5.17/oz
HEL certified: No
The Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is the highest-recommended fully mineral sunscreen lotion by dermatologists and customer reviews. It is also the winner in our Best Body Sunscreen guide. It's got a non-nano zinc oxide formulation. Thinksport was a strong contender here as well, especially at its relatively affordable price per ounce.
It was the first sunscreen to pass Whole Foods Premium Care requirements. It also contains no PABA, parabens, phthalates, BPA, oxybenzone, avobenzone, or petroleum.
However, as we mention above, the baby version has slightly fewer ingredients. It also has a lack of comprehensive testing and a sometimes polarizing fragrance. As a result, although we like it as a mineral sunscreen, it wasn't a winner for reef safety.
Compare Prices Of The Thinksport Sunscreen Spf 50
The author testing reef safe sunscreen in the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. A sun hat is also a crucial piece of sun protection.
What do we mean by reef-safe sunscreen?
As detailed below, this is actually kind of a complicated question! But in general, these are mineral sunscreens (also called “physical sunscreens”) that have non-nano zinc oxide and/or non-nano titanium dioxide as their only active ingredients (see more below on what non-nano means!).
They don’t contain any chemical UV filters or other ingredients known to be harmful to ocean life. According to the Haereticus Environmental Laboratories (HEL), oxybenzone isn't the only ingredient that can be harmful to reefs.
There are many sunscreens that market themselves as Reef-friendly because they are "sunscreen without Oxybenzone and Octinoxate." However, there is substantial evidence that other active and inactive ingredients also cause harm.
The full list of these harmful ingredients is below, but the non-reef-safe chemical UV filters you tend to see most are oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate.
The author snorkeling in the Maldives, where she tested these reef-safe sunscreens.
Why should I use a reef-safe sunscreen? What’s the impact of sunscreen on coral reefs?
As you probably know from our Best Sunscreen for Your Body article, the keys to sunscreen’s power are ingredients that either absorb (in chemical sunscreens) or repel (in mineral sunscreens) the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Starting in the early 2000s, coral scientists started noticing high concentrations of sunscreen chemical filters, often called “UV filters,” in popular swimming and snorkeling areas. The most well known of these is oxybenzone, but it is far from the only ingredient to of concern.
The first study linking these chemicals to coral bleaching (a type of sickness that often leads to coral death) came out in 2008. Since then, studies have continued to link the most common sunscreen chemicals to harmful effects in coral, anemones, fish, and other marine life. These fragile ecosystems are also stressed by coastline development, extreme weather events, changing water temperatures, and other human-caused disruptions, which together have accounted for massive reef losses. Some areas in the Caribbean, for example, have lost more than 90% of their coral reefs since the 1980s.
Motivated by these findings, places like Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands, Aruba, Key West, Palau, Mexico and others have banned the sale and/or use of most chemical sunscreens. In addition, although chemical sunscreens have been less studied in freshwater ecosystems as of today, it’s no surprise that early studies show these chemicals are damaging there too.
Seems straightforward, right? Unfortunately, it’s anything but. It turns out that determining the effects of a bunch of different chemicals, alone and together, in the short-term and long-term, on widely varying animals and ecosystems across the globe, all experiencing a variety of different stressors at the same time, is really tough. While a nonprofit called Haereticus Environmental Labs (HEL) maintains the gold standard list of sunscreen ingredients that harm wildlife, new research is emerging every day that links supposedly “safe” chemicals to damaging effects.
Inactive ingredients
For example, all sunscreens contain “inactive ingredients” that do things like make them more water resistant, more transparent, smoother, easier to rub in, etc. Many of these ingredients have little to no research as to their effects on wildlife and sensitive marine ecosystems, and some of them aren’t typically harmful but could contain harmful chemicals added during manufacturing.
For example, glycerin, also called glycerol, is a moisturizing agent and one of the most common ingredients in skincare products worldwide. Glycerin isn’t a harmful ingredient, but according to HEL Labs’ testing, glycerol that companies purchase from commercial suppliers can contain as much as 15% parabens, and ingredients listed as “fragrances” can contain as much as 5% 4MB-camphor. Both of these chemical groups are on the HEL List.
TL;DR: With new research on chemical effects on marine ecosystems emerging all the time (and some “safe” chemicals being sneaky bad actors due to their manufacturing), it’s impossible to say that any sunscreen is completely safe for ocean life. So….
What makes a sunscreen reef safe? Is the term "reef safe" regulated? Is “reef friendly” regulated?
Great question. The terms “reef safe sunscreen” and “reef friendly sunscreen” are literally not regulated at all, so be wary of these claims. In practice, both of these terms can mean anything from “rigorously tested and proven to be free of all chemicals known to be harmful to sea life” (as in HEL-certified products) to “this product leaves out at least one of the many ingredients damaging to ocean life,” so this claim can be completely meaningless. Again, these labels aren’t regulated, so pay close attention to the ingredient list.
Are there any reef-safe certifications I can look for?
Well, sort of. Since there’s no universal agreement on what’s definitely reef safe, there’s no universal methodology for testing and assuring reef safety. Of the seven reef-safe sunscreens I currently have in front of me, each has a different logo assuring me it’s “tested & proven reef safe” or something similar. Again, these generally indicate that none of the ingredients are on the HEL LIST. The single best independent certification out there is HEL's own certification, supported by a rigorous testing process that includes follow-up testing over 18+ months.
Hot tip: as far as I’ve seen, it’s the only one of these logos with a turtle on it (the rest have some version of coral or waves). As of April 2024, though, only a handful of companies have passed this intensive and expensive testing process, and of those companies, only Badger is widely and readily available in most stores (a big part of the reason it won our Best Reef-Safe Sunscreen title!).
Some of the “reef safe” sunscreens we tested. Because “reef safe” and “reef friendly” are not regulated, some of these sunscreens contain non-reef safe ingredients.
Buying advice
Well, after doing all this research, I’ll tell you what I look for:
Certification
A “reef-safe” or “reef-friendly” label as a first line of elimination
Reef-safe non-nano active ingredients
Active ingredients including ONLY non-nano zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide (infuriatingly, sometimes the “non-nano” specification is on the company’s website but not the product itself,so dig deeper if you’re not sure). Avoid anything with oxybenzone in sunscreen. See below on why non-nano matters.
Concentration of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in concentrations of at least 10%, ideally in the 15-20% range, for sufficient SPF
Reef safe inactive ingredients
No butyloctyl salicylate in the inactive ingredient list (a more recent addition to the HEL List , and still in some of the products on other “Best reef-safe sunscreens” lists). To be reef safe, it isn't enough to just be an oxybenzone free sunscreen. The inactive ingredients need to be reef safe, too.
No microplastics
No acrylates copolymer (if that’s a long thing to remember, you can look for anything called “polymer” or “copolymer” which are generally in the microplastics arena. As we mention below re: microplastics, this is not currently on the HEL List but early research suggests it’s harmful for ocean life, so we’ll stay away from it just to be safe).
Check the ingredient list
We prefer sunscreens with a short ingredient list. The fewer things in there, the fewer chances something *might* be harmful!
Understanding Sunscreen Terminology
To briefly cover the basics (check out our Best Sunscreen for Your Body article for more info):
SPF (Sun Protection Factor)
SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the kind of radiation that causes sunburn, damages skin, and can contribute to skin cancer. A "broad spectrum" label assures you that it also protects against UVA. Apply more than you think you need (most people only use 25-50% of the recommended amount!), and re-apply every two hours and immediately after swimming or sweating.
Broad Spectrum Protection
Broad spectrum sunscreen is a type of sunscreen that protects your skin from both types of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun:
UVA rays have a longer wavelength, penetrate deeply into the skin, contribute to skin cancer, and are associated with skin aging and wrinkling. UVA can penetrate cloud cover and windows.
UVB rays have a shorter wavelength, are the primary cause of sunburn, and play a significant role in developing skin cancer. UVB does not penetrate windows.
Physical vs. Chemical Sunscreens:
Chemical sunscreens use chemical ingredients to absorb the sun’s harmful UV rays like a sponge. These tend to be easier to rub in without leaving a residue. Physical sunscreens use ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to act as a shield, deflecting the sun’s UV rays. Often called mineral sunscreens as a nod to their main ingredients, these tend to leave a white residue but can be easier on sensitive skin (and sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs). According to our research, physical sunscreens need to be present in concentrations above 10%, but ideally closer to 20%, to reach the level of UVA and UVB protection listed on the package.
Water Resistance
Most sunscreens will list a Water Resistance in minutes. This reflects how long the sunscreen will stay on wet skin. So a label of “Water Resistant: 40 Min” means the sunscreen stays effective for 40 minutes in the water. If you’re going to be in the water, be sure you’re re-applying at least this often!
General guidelines for buying & using sunscreen
While looking for a reef-safe sunscreen means giving much greater consideration to the ingredient list, the other guidelines for choosing, applying, and re-applying a sunscreen that will protect you from the sun remain the same:
Look for an SPF of 30 or higher
Look for water resistance if you'll be swimming or sweating
Look for broad spectrum (UVA & UVB) protection
Lotions, creams, and gels tend to offer greater protection than sprays because you generally get better coverage when you apply them. While we don’t recommend sprays for this reason, sprays are fine protection-wise as long as you apply until an even sheen appears on the skin (and apply away from other humans, pets, wildlife, and water sources).
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, to achieve the SPF listed on your sunscreen, you should apply the equivalent of a shot glass (two tablespoons) of lotion/cream/gel sunscreen to the exposed areas of the face and body, with a nickel-sized amount to just the face. Re-apply every two hours, or immediately after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Other Reef-Safe Sunscreen FAQs
Which sunscreen ingredients are not reef safe?
The HEL List, a list of ingredients maintained by the nonprofit research organization Haereticus Environmental Laboratories (HEL), is widely regarded as the gold standard of ingredients that aren’t reef safe.
All chemical UV filter active ingredients (including oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, etc.) are damaging to ocean life, in addition to a number of inactive ingredients (parabens, butyloctyl salicilate, etc).
The full HEL List includes:
Any form of microplastic sphere or beads
Any nanoparticles like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (more details on nanoparticles below)
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
Octocrylene
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
Methyl Paraben
Ethyl Paraben
Propyl Paraben
Butyl Paraben
Benzyl Paraben
Triclosan
Homosalate
Octisalate
Butyloctyl salicylic acid (aka butyloctyl salicylate)
Propylparaben
“Any of the nylon powders used in cosmetics and personal care products, such as Nylon-6 (polyamide 6), Nylon-10 (polyamide 10), Nylon-11 (polyamide 11), Nylon-12 (polyamide-12), all of the Orgasol polyamide product lines, any of the polyester plastic powders such as polyester-8, polyester-25, nylon glitters, polyester glitters, HDI/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymers, any of the polycarolactones, and any of the polyethylene powders or fibers.”
One trick to evenly apply mineral sunscreen onto children is to use a make-up brush. Here, our testers are applying the Thinksport Baby reef safe sunscreen on our niece.
Why do the mineral ingredients in reef-safe sunscreens have to be “non-nano”?
Not all mineral sunscreens are alike! “Non-nano” refers to the size of the mineral particles in the sunscreen. Non-nano, also called micro-sized, particles are larger than their nano-sized counterparts. Nano-sized particles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are used in some mineral sunscreens because the small size of the molecules makes the sunscreen more transparent and easier to rub in. However, in addition to having some controversial potential effects on human health, multiple studies have found nano-sized molecules of these minerals to be significantly more toxic to ocean life than the larger, non-nano versions. Short version: non-nano = bigger = less toxic to ocean life = better.
Where should I wear reef-safe sunscreen? Should I wear reef-safe sunscreen if I'm not near a coral reef?
First let me say that there are no official guidelines here. But as a scientist, based on existing research I can tell you: chemicals on the HEL List, particularly chemical UV filters (like oxybenzone) and nano-sized particles, have been proven over and over to be harmful to organisms that live in both fresh and salt water. If you want to cause as little harm as possible to wildlife, you should wear reef-safe sunscreen anytime you’re in or near a natural body of water, - including all beaches, lakes, streams, tidepools, waterfalls, etc. This isn’t a universal practice now, but it very likely will be in the next decade as more research is conducted and more harmful effects come to light. “Better safe than sorry” is a good approach here.
Also, many people enjoy the side benefits of reef-safe sunscreens: they’re much easier on sensitive skin, allergy-prone skin, acne-prone skin, the skin of pregnant people, and the skin of babies and children than chemical sunscreens. They tend to stay more visible on the skin, so you’re much more aware of where you are and aren’t getting full SPF coverage. If you made some poor decisions and got sunburned (it happens to the best of us), reef-safe sunscreen will provide a non-irritating physical barrier to prevent further burns on anything not covered by sun protective clothes and sun hats. So why not, right?
Can I just wear less of my normal sunscreen?
Nope. Any amount of harmful ingredients from sunscreens with oxybenzone or other chemical filters can cause damage to these fragile ecosystems. If you use less, you’ll get super sunburned too (heads-up that being in or near water actually magnifies the intensity of UV rays, so you’ll get EXTRA super sunburned). Lose/lose.
Can I bring non reef-safe sunscreen to Hawaii?
Yes–Hawaii law bans the sale of non-reef-safe sunscreens, so you won’t find any in stores, but they’re not going to confiscate yours from your suitcase or anything. Bear in mind, though, even if you’re not planning on going in the water, sunscreen cream and especially sunscreen spray can end up in the air, in the sand, and ultimately in the ocean,so please opt for reef-safe sunscreen if you can!
Do reef-safe sunscreens contain microplastics?
There has been a lot of visibility lately around the issue of microplastics, so we wanted to briefly touch on it here. If you’re not familiar, microplastics are extremely small pieces of plastic debris (often smaller than can be seen with the naked eye) in the environment. These can be either particles from the breakdown of larger plastics or manufactured ingredients used in all kinds of products (including cleaning products, beauty & personal care products, makeup, and - you guessed it - sunscreen).
While these ingredients are considered safe to use on your body and in your home (ie. they are unlikely to poison you or cause cancer), there is still very little understanding of their long-term effects on the environment and wildlife. This is a concern because these tiny particles easily pass through our water treatment systems (which are not set up to filter out particles this small) and end up in the ocean and other bodies of water, posing a potential threat to marine & aquatic life.
While some types of microplastic are now banned in Europe & the US (like the “microbeads” once included in many exfoliating products), many, many types of microplastics are still being studied for their short- and long-term effects on the environment (and by extension, human health).
While microbeads and all types of nylon/polyester fibers (like glitter) are on the HEL List, the majority of the still-being-studied microplastics are not. Upon reviewing our tested sunscreens for the microplastics of highest concern by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Plastic Soup Foundation, we found that Stream2Sea products contain an ingredient called acrylates copolymer that early research indicates has negative effects on ocean life. It wasn’t one of our winners, and we’ve called out this point in our description - but it just shows you what a tricky and evolving business it is to adhere to reef-safe guidelines!
Reef safe sunscreen is just one line of sun protection. While testing reef safe sunscreen while snorkeling in the Maldives, we also wore sun protective shirts.
Additional Sun Protection Measures
Physical barriers: hats, sunglasses, clothes
As always, we recommend supplementing your sunscreen SPF coverage with physical barriers like sun shirts, sun hats, and sunglasses, when possible.
While this advice is true for any and all situations, it’s extra true for adventures among marine and aquatic wildlife: since we can’t 100% guarantee that any sunscreen is completely safe for wildlife, the less you’re able to use, the better!
This doesn’t mean applying less to exposed areas, though; this means having less exposed area. See our guide to Sun Protection for all our SPF and UPF-rated products.
UPF Clothes and Water
One thing to keep in mind if you’re on or near water is that being wet can decrease the protection that sun-protective clothing offers. If you’re joining a paddleboarding club or going on a long snorkeling vacation, it may be worth it to invest in UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor, a designation used to rate the sun protectiveness of apparel) clothing specific for water activities.
These pieces are likely to be a bit thicker than their made-for-land-activities counterparts, which ensures they’ll be effective even when wet. Searching for “UPF swimwear” is a good place to start–these days there are a good number of options for all body types (my wife is obsessed with a brand called Okanui - she basically didn’t take off their “rashie” swim shirt for our entire honeymoon).
Testing reef-safe and reef-friendly sunscreens while snorkeling in the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean.
How we tested
We tested these sunscreens in variety of locations from San Diego, to Hawaii, and the Maldives. We did this while doing a variety activities, from hanging out at the beach to swimming in the kelp beds, to surfing at the beach, to snorkeling in coral reefs.
We also tested reef safe sunscreens in non-water activities to gauge their sweat resistance, absorption, and general persistence.
As noted above, while all 100% mineral sunscreens are going to be thicker, heavier, more visible, and greasier/stickier than chemical sunscreens, we noted relative differences in user experiences. For example, we paid attention to how the products smelled, how easy they were to get out of the container, how easy they were to apply, how much of a white cast they left, etc.
The author testing the Thrive mineral sunscreen, the winner for best face sunscreen.
About the author / why you should trust us
In addition to being a sun lover, near-the-ocean-dweller, and extreme sunscreen enthusiast with a family history of skin cancer, I also have a Masters in Environmental Science and an absolute intolerance for vague and/or poorly cited information. When I started looking into reef-safe sunscreens, I was massively frustrated by the lack of definitive information on how to make good decisions, the lack of referencing for the information that was out there, and the fact that much of that information only exists on biased websites (i.e., websites belonging to brands). Obviously the only answer was to dive into the nitty gritty of information-gathering myself–and here’s the result!
To see all of Katie's stories, check out her author page.
Sources
https://haereticus-lab.org/ - Haereticus Environmental Laboratories site, including lots of info about reef safety, non-reef-safe ingredients, and their testing protocols
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website on skincare chemicals and coral reefs, with a good infographic summarizing current research on impacts, plus links to NOAA research on the topic.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ - this is the National Institute of Health’s chemical site where we looked up sunscreen ingredients, paying attention to section 7 “Safety and Hazards” for each chemical.
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search/ - this is the Environmental Working Group’s site, which is primarily focused on highlighting effects of chemicals on human health, but their site is a good place to understand how much research has gone into studying skincare ingredients (and where research just doesn’t exist yet).
https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html - this nonprofit site seems to be the most commonly visited resource on reef-safe sunscreens, but it doesn’t actually have a lot of information, the charts of reef-safe sunscreens are misleading (are the safe ones above or below the lines??), and we’re not totally sure how they made their sunscreen safety designations. That said, it’s a fine place to start, the information isn’t wrong, just incomplete.
