Is your reef-safe sunscreen truly reef-safe?

Coral reefs, those incredibly beautiful and vital living structures, are under increasing threat all over the world, owing primarily to climate change. We are learning that sunscreen, by causing and exacerbating coral bleaching, can also contribute to the loss of coral reefs. The government does not strictly regulate the term "reef safe" because there is no agreed-upon definition. This means that sunscreen manufacturers are not required to test and demonstrate that their products are not harmful to aquatic life.

What ingredients to look for in a truly reef-safe sunscreen?

It is recommended to avoid chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals and can be found in sunscreens. Instead, look for non-nano, mineral-based formulas that contain ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide which aren’t associated with coral bleaching. Mineral-based sunscreen means that the particles in the sunscreen are larger than 100 nanometers and, as a result, appear to be safer for coral reefs than chemical sunscreens.

Looking for the right sunscreen that prevents sunburn while protecting the coral reefs can be difficult. But don't worry, we've got you covered! The MAGWAI Reef-Safe Sunscreen is an all-naturalphysical sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients. It is specially formulated to be coral reef safe while also caring for your skin and providing broad-spectrum protection. 

Although coral bleaching is also caused by rising temperatures and acidification. We can do our part in preventing this by simply taking precautions with our sunscreen.

References:

https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/coral-reef-safe-friendly-sunscreen
https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/the-truth-about-reef-safe-sunscreen/