Let's talk about your sunscreen

Did you know that up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers, scuba divers, and snorkelers into coral reef environments each year?

That’s a BIG problem because common chemical sunscreen ingredients such as Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3), Butylparaben and Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) can bleach and seriously damage coral reefs. (*Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. October 2015.)

So why is that a big deal?

Coral reefs are incredibly important because they protect coastlines from storm surge and spawn fish that keep our ocean environments healthy and diverse. Damage to our coral reefs poses a serious threat to marine life and is responsible for dangerous coastal erosion.

Help keep coral reefs safe:

• Choose sunscreens that avoid ingredients such as Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3), Butylparaben and Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate)

• Use FDA approved water resistant sunscreen which will stay on your skin and out of the water

• Use sunscreen that has been tested biodegradable and is proven to break down in the environment

*Free of ingredients identified to have potential adverse impact to coral reefs.

Here are a couple options to keep your skin protected and the reefs safe!

***Links are not from sponsors but are Affiliate Links that we may receive referral incentives that help support our site and our adventures. I only recommend products that i have tried before and absolutely LOVE! Thank you for helping keep us out there so we can share things with you here!