Happy Summer Solstice! Summer officially starts today, and so does my first ever cruelty-free series! I’ve created a 10-Part series called the Cruelty-Free Summer Series so you can live a cruelty-free lifestyle all summer long, starting TODAY. Welcome to Part 1: Reef Safe Sunscreens.
Any brand that is listed on the Free The Bunnies website is 100% cruelty-free and has zero ties to animal testing, whether that be by the brand, their ingredient suppliers, through a third party, in countries where animal testing is required, or their parent company.
I created a full list of cruelty-free sunscreens a few months ago, and you can check it out *here*. But I wanted to dedicate a list of specifically reef-safe sunscreens since I have been getting a lot of questions about it lately. Keep reading for a full list of cruelty-free sunscreens that are also REEF-SAFE.
What is reef-safe?
Reef-safe means that a certain product does not contain ingredients that can react with seawater and potentially harm sea life as it washes off your skin when you’re in the water. Typically, to find a reef-safe sunscreen, you want to avoid products that contain Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, which are chemical UV absorbents. These are two very harmful ingredients for coral reef and have been linked to coral bleaching. Sunscreens that contain these ingredients have been banned from being sold in Hawaii because of their threat to coral reef.
The Manual reports that there are eight ingredients you should avoid in sunscreen to be considered completely reef safe.
“You should also know that oxybenzone is only one of several sunscreen ingredients that are toxic to coral. Known as the Awful 8, these chemicals should be avoided at all cost: Oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, PABA (Aminobenzoic Acid), enzacamene, octisalate, homosalate, and avobenzone.” – Source: The Manual
However, Hawaii has only currently banned Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, and does not state in their article that the other six have been confirmed to be harmful to reef as well. If you scroll to the bottom of the article, there is a list of sunscreens that are considered safe, and not all of them avoid the Awful 8.
All of the brands listed below avoid Oxybenzone and Octinoxate that Hawaii has officially banned. If you consider sunscreen to only be reef-safe if it avoids all of the ingredients listed above, I have stated specifically which brands avoid the Awful 8.
Reef-safe Sunscreens
Below is a full list of cruelty-free brands that offer reef safe sunscreens so you can swim with a peace of mind this summer. Simply click on the brand and it will take you to a list of their reef-safe sunscreens. These brands do have vegan options, and I also note which brands are 100% vegan.
- Babo Botanicals – All sunscreens – Avoids the Awful 8
- Badger Balm – Avoids the Awful 8
- Pacifica Beauty – 100% Vegan – Avoids the Awful 8
For a list of all cruelty-free sunscreen brands, click here!
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XO, Stephanie
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