One of the most important things to pack for a day out on the water is sunscreen. But not every sunscreen is safe for the environment. The U.S. Virgin Islands are among a few places that have recently banned the sale and import of sunscreens with the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which are extremely damaging to coral reefs. The Florida Keys and Hawaii have also passed bills which will ban non-biodegradable sunscreens, starting in 2021. We want to provide a list of sunscreens that are reef-safe, so our Hulya babes can stay protected from harmful UV rays without contributing to the destruction of our ocean’s coral reefs!
Stream2Sea
Founded in 2015 in Wauchula, Florida, Stream2Sea offers a wide variety of products from hair care to hand sanitizer. Their sunscreens are lab tested to ensure that they don’t harm freshwater or saltwater marine life. You can find their products on their website (stream2sea.com) or at any of the marine supply retailers listed on their website. When you purchase their products, you are also able to choose from 1 of 50 different non-profit organizations to receive a donation from your purchase!
Manda
Manda cosmetics make the case for switching from a chemical sunscreen to a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens are the kind that you can see, think: Mark Zuckerberg face as pale as plaster, wakeboarding in Hawaii. Their sunscreen is made with the goal of not damaging your health or the environment by creating a physical mineral layer on your skin. Their products are made with the idea in mind that if you can’t eat it, you shouldn't put it on your skin. You can find their sun lotion, sun paste, and skin salve on their website, mandanaturals.com.
Wawai’s PH
Based in the Philippines, Wawai’s organic sunscreens are made with just five ingredients: virgin coconut oil, vitamin E, beeswax, shea butter, and zinc oxide. All of their products are locally sourced and handmade, so not only are their products ocean friendly, they also support their local communities. You can find their products on their Instagram and order through an order form in their bio. For in person shopping, check their Instagram for pop-up announcements!
Shop sustainable! Shop smart!
