Protect Our Oceans; Why Our Sunscreens Need to be Reef-Safe
@aconsciouscuration
The majority of us have learned about the benefits of sunscreen use by now— from our elders feverishly insisting we wear it from a young age, to the a-few-to-many-to-admit sunburns we’ve acquired when we stubbornly didn’t heed their advice. Turns out, they weren’t just nagging and were in fact, correct that sunscreen is a necessity that shouldn’t be ignored. By blocking the harmful UV light, sunscreen drastically reduces the chance of acquiring skin cancer and even premature aging.
However, though sunscreen effectively protects us from the sun’s harmful rays, this same product doesn’t do a great job when it comes to protecting our oceans. For something that does such good, the wrong sunscreen also causes a lot of hurt— to an ecosystem that needs our help and protection the most.
the issue
To further explain the current problem with our world’s oceans, it’s best to know what exactly sunscreen is made of. Some inactive ingredients include moisturizers, antioxidants, and antimicrobials, but those aren’t the main problem here. The active ingredients, however, are UV filters—the job of which is to effectively absorb or reflect UV light, and in turn the harmful rays that contribute to skin cancer. So, what’s the kicker? The most common absorbers found in today’s sunscreens are the chemical filters Oxybenzone and Octinoxate; with the main culprit, Oxybenzone being nasty in several different ways. For one, it causes significant damage to the DNA that may lead to cancer and secondly, acts as an endocrine disrupter in the human body, which can cause a whole heap of problems such as birth defects, cancerous tumors, and other developmental disorders. It’s also named one of the biggest offenders of allergic skin reactions, but despite that fact, it is still found in 80% of chemical sunscreens, according to the EWG. As if that wasn’t disturbing enough, a number of studies have also concluded that this toxic UV filter also causes irreversible damage to our coral reefs & sea life.
It’s estimated that nearly 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in oceans every year, either directly as a consequence of going into the water with sunscreen slathered on, or indirectly from wastewater discharges. Several studies have found that the following negative effects are a result of the chemical UV filter oxybenzone:
bleaching of coral fragments
the deformation of young corals
and damage to the coral growth and reproductive systems
Simply put, the chemicals found in most sunscreens are poisoning an essential ecosystem that sustains both marine and human life. Just by diving in for a quick dip with our sunscreen on, the toxin is powerful enough to cause irreversible damage— by bleaching the coral, stunting it’s growth and deforming the particularly-susceptible young coral. For being one of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, we HAVE to do better in protecting it. We’ve discovered that an ingredient that causes incredible damage to our bodies as well as bodies of water is still widely used in chemical sunscreens and remains FDA approved. Hawaii effectively banned the use of Oxybenzone in skincare products- why isn’t the rest of the world following suit?
the Solution
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. There’s some great companies that acknowledge the harm of chemical absorbers in our oceans and instead turn to the non-toxic alternative. See, the filters used in sunscreens come in two forms, organic (chemical) and inorganic (mineral). Inorganic UV filters, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are just as effective in providing UVA & UVB protection, yet don’t harm our sea life like the chemical counterpart. More and more brands are thankfully using this ingredient to develop reef-friendly SPFs, while other companies continue to fight for the safety of our oceans by raising awareness of these negative effects on the daily.
the brand
One of the brands at the forefront of both of these things is Australia’s own Sukin; a natural skincare brand with a strong ethos of sustainability. Their latest highly-anticipated launch was that of their Sheer Touch Facial Sunscreen. With a strict NO LIST, the brand stayed true to its values with its new launch, adding Oxybenzone and Octinoxate to that list. Their reef-friendly SPF utilizes the inorganic filter Zinc Oxide as the active ingredient, even adding a nourishing blend of rosehip oil, green tea, and cucumber for added benefit. Designed for daily use, the SPF is naturally non-greasy & sheer to the touch; it feels as amazing on the skin as you’ll feel about keeping your body and our oceans safe.
Considering the many stresses already faced by reefs, it’s encouraging to see such big brands take such a proactive approach by formulating their sunscreens to be reef-friendly, while educating audiences as to why the use of eco-friendly sunscreens is necessary. As Australia’s biggest natural skincare brand, Sukin is setting a standard that doesn’t go unnoticed— unlike their incredible sunscreen which leaves virtually no trace on the skin.
This post is sponsored by Sukin. As always, all opinions, concepts and ideas are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make my blog possible!
