Look for products labeled as “non-nano.” Studies have found particles less than 100 nanometers can be ingested by marine animals and coral reefs. Also, spray-on sunscreens are not recommended for children as the spray is more susceptible to getting in their eyes and mouth. The FDA recommends against using sprays on kids because of the likelihood of inhalation and respiratory problems like asthma. Also, sprays don’t cover as well as rub-on lotions. 5. Buy “Paraben-Free” Signs like this one on Maui list all sunscreen chemicals, not just banned ones. Research hasn’t been done to prove these chemicals damage reefs but environmental advocates recommend not using them.

Scientists are continuing to study other sunscreen ingredients to determine their impact on ocean life, like avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology stated that more research is required to comprehend the impact of sunscreens on coral. Here is another chemical to avoid. Lotions, skin-care products, and sunscreens use parabens as a preservative. Butylparaben has been shown to cause coral reef bleaching. Plus, there are some health concerns surrounding parabens in general.

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The more I research reef-safe sunscreens, the more complicated I find the problem. To make your search easier for Hawaii reef-safe sunscreens, here are 21 sunscreens that will protect you from the sun and are reef-safe (per current research). No sunscreen can withstand a towel so remember to reapply after you towel off. Or put on your sun-protecting clothing. 7. Best Practices for Applying Sunscreen Lotion Spray: Used for our Mineral Skin Nourishing Milk Spray. This non-aerosol and ultra-spreadable formula blends into the skin, leaving no white residue.

She adds that benzene is associated with the development of blood cancers like leukemia, as well as cancers of the lungs, GI tract, liver, ovaries and breasts, so if you spot your sunscreen on the lists of affected products, stop using it. And while the CDC notes that benzene is " widely distributed in the environment," that's not exactly cause for comfort. "Benzene is a well-studied and well-known carcinogen in humans. It has been shown to be linked to blood cancers even when its levels in products were in trace levels of parts per million," board-certified dermatologist Emily P. Gerson tells InStyle. All of our water-resistant SPF sprays are cruelty free and are oxtinoxate- and oxybenzone-free. Choose the Hawaiian Tropic spray that is right for you. For their part, a Neutrogena representative says: "Nothing is more important than the health and safety of the people who use our products. Benzene is not an ingredient in any of our personal care products and we are reviewing the findings presented in this petition. Every ingredient we use in our products is carefully selected to ensure safety and performance in line with our rigorous 5-step safety assurance process. We are committed to making high-quality, safe and effective sunscreens available to consumers." We want the snorkeling to be even better for Henry when he is older. 1. Wear Sun Protection Clothing Here is a list of sunscreens that are considered reef-safe in Hawaii as they do not contain chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate.

As a professionally licensed Chemical Engineer who also likes to write about Hawaii, sunscreen chemicals are near and dear to my heart. When Hawaii passed a law banning the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, that became the de facto definition of reef-safe or reef-friendly. The city of Key West Florida passed a similar law shortly after Hawaii. On January 1st, 2021, sunscreens containing chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate are no longer sold in Hawaii. These chemicals have been found to contribute to coral reef bleaching. The NIOSH sets benzene's recommended occupational exposure limit at .1 parts per million (ppm), which makes Valisure's findings of 2 ppm or higher in some sunscreens, from Neutrogena, Sun Bum, and CVS Health, concerning. Meanwhile, the FDA sets a recommended limit of 2 ppm per day — but according to board-certified dermatologist Heather Rogers, any exposure to benzene is worse than none, and there is an accumulative effect of being exposed to benzene, meaning multiple exposures leads to more DNA damage. If you are staying for more than a week or have a big family, Costco is your cheapest source of sunscreen in Hawaii.

Manufacturers of mineral-based sunscreens have made the minerals, zinc oxide and titanium oxide, nanoparticles so it applies smoother and is transparent. No one wants a white nose anymore. The study by the non-profit Haereticus Environmental Laboratories in partnership with NOAA found oxybenzone and octinoxate to cause coral bleaching. The authors found that baby coral exposed to oxybenzone and octinoxate showed signs of distress, including coral bleaching. The best thing you can do to protect Hawaii’s reefs is to reduce the amount of sunscreen you apply. Wear sun-protection clothing and use rub-on sunscreens. I’ll get off my soapbox now. Hawaii Sunscreen Law

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Hawaii reef-safe sunscreens do not contain chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, they both contribute to coral bleaching. Read the sunscreen’s ingredients before buying. Look for sunscreens that contain natural minerals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and are labeled as non-nano and paraben-free. There is no agreed term for reef-safe or reef-friendly sunscreen products. The terms are not regulated and the FDA has not weighed in on the issue by setting a standard. Our sunscreen spray and mist products make application fast and easy and come in a range of SPFs to fit your lifestyle and activity. From our suntan lotion sprays that help start or maintain your tan to our spray sunscreens for everyday activities, our skin-nourishing formulas offer sun protection wherever the day takes you. Intensifying her concern is the FDA's 2020 finding that six sunscreen ingredients — avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate — were absorbed through the skin and into the body, resulting in measurable blood levels. Given that and Valisure's discoveries, both Gerson and Rogers are in favor of the FDA recalling the affected products. Tanning Oil Pump Spray: Convenient non-aerosol pump spray dispenses our luxuriously hydrating SPF oil that moisturizes your skin and enhances your tan.