As was expected, Hawaii last week banned certain sunscreens that can damage our marine environment and coral reefs. In the first such move in the U.S., the state will prevent the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals are found in literally thousands of sunscreens. The new law becomes effective January 1, 2021.
“Our natural environment is fragile, and our own interaction with the earth can have lasting impacts…. This new law is just one step toward protecting the health and resiliency of Hawaii’s coral reefs.” — Governor David Ige.
Oxybenzone and coral reefs
One of the issues is that a significant amount of sunscreen applied to your skin is released into the water. Over time, with Hawaii’s millions of visitors, voluminous amounts of sunscreen end up in our coral reefs. This causes coral damage including bleaching, DNA injury, starvation and reproductive and development issues. Reefs are an integral part of our marine ecosystem and are essential to the environment. According to NOAA, “coral reefs buffer adjacent shorelines from wave action and prevent erosion, property damage and loss of life.”
There are many other excellent choices for sunscreens that are safer both for you and for our precious environment. These are based on physical rather than chemical sun barriers.
Now, let’s see just how effective is your Hawaiian sunscreen at protecting both your skin and our environment?
Oxybenzone and humans
Oxybenzone may also cause hormonal disruptions and cell damage itself, and could be cancer causing. More on this is likely to come to the forefront based on research soon.
Regarding Oxybenzone, the Environmental Working Group says:
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected oxybenzone in more than 96 percent of the American population…. Participants who reported using sunscreen have higher oxybenzone exposures…. Oxybenzone can cause allergic skin reactions and may disrupt hormones.”
Just how effective is your Hawaiian sunscreen at protecting both your skin and our environment?
We’ve been writing about staying safe under the Hawaii sun for more than 10 years. As always, your best protection is a shirt, hat and proper sunglasses. But beyond that, here’s how to stay covered in the islands and elsewhere.
Safer and effective alternatives in Hawaiian sunscreen
Many new safer products are available compared with even a couple of years ago. Read on for some of the highest rated sunscreen products that also feature low toxicity to you and the environment. These products still provide great sunburn (and questionable skin-cancer) prevention caused by UVA and UVB exposure, while not injuring Hawaii’s coral reefs.
The following families of products are among the safest and most effective (according to EWG), and the highest rated by consumers:
Tru-Kid Sunscreens (various SPF)
Kiss My Face Organics Sunscreens
Badger Sunscreens (various SPF) (Used by Beat of Hawaii editors)
What products have worked best for you?
Article updated 7/13/18
Jim says
I don’t understand, if it’s so bad for the ecosystem in Hawaii’s ocean waters, why allow it to continue for 2 and a half more years?! I could see 6 months to allow retailers to sell out product, or send it back to the manufacturer, but 2 more years on top of that??? It’s rediculous, and makes no sense to wait that long. That’s government at its finest for you…
Yasmin says
Please encourage people to forego the sunscreen and just wear SPF rated long sleeve rashguards or water shirts.
Cynthia says
Before we visited Hawaii we researched what sunscreen to bring. We wanted to make sure whatever we got was environmentally safe.
I also burn very easily and wanted to make sure I was protected. I also bought a beach cover up and hat.
We bought Kiss My Face spf 30. It was wonderful. It may be pricey but worth it. We were there for 10 days and in the sun a lot and I never burned.
I hope more people will buy environmentally safe sunscreens sooner then when the law takes effect, as we noticed significant bleaching of the coral while snorkeling in spots all over the Big Island.
Lauren says
How does Sun Bum brand compare?
Patrick D. says
On inbound flights and cruise ship shore excursions, the carriers should offer informative flyers to tourists in many languages. Tourists might be bringing in banned sunscreens. Airport lobbies could have surrender bins – bin attendants (volunteers) could perhaps provide coupons to save money on Safe Sunscreen brands supplied by the manufacturers.
KIM says
The Kiss My Face Organics sunscreen that you have linked to contains 7.5% Octinoxate so would not work for the new Hawaiian sunscreen law.
John A says
Hi and Mahalo for the story, I love you guy’s!
I use and always have used Hawaiian Tropic dark tanning oil, it does not contain either of those ingredients, however the Hawaiian Tropic oil spray 4 spf uva/uvb contains the Oxybenzone 2.0% along with Avobenzone 2.8% and Octocrylene 2.2% all under medicinal ingredients …Mahalo Rhonda I will look for Planet Sun up here in Calgary and if I can’t find it here, well I’m just gonna have to move back home to the Islands…
Mahalo’s and Aloha to everyone
Beat of Hawaii says
Best aloha and mahalo John!
SF says
“Oxybenzone may also cause hormonal disruptions and cell damage itself, and could be cancer causing. More on this is likely to come to the forefront based on research soon.” Hmmm, well, what that says is there is no evidence yet of those results. But we DO know that sun exposure does cause skin cancer, do effective protection is crucial.
Lynn says
You basically want to look for a sunscreen that is zinc oxide based. There is some question as to the safety of titanium dioxide.
Sue says
What’s happening with the floods on Kauai?
Gene says
A few years ago, I ran out of sunscreen on a trip to Oahu and I bought a bottle of Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive, SPF 30+ at Longs after reading EWG reviews. It turned my skin white and I looked like a Kabuki actor until it was absorbed but it worked very well. Since then, I buy two of the 8.75 oz bottles at the start of every year to protect my skin on my almost-daily 3 hour bike rides here in Tennessee.
Janie says
Bravo for Hawaiian Airlines!!! Just FYI, some of the sunscreens listed in the article above, although highly rated by EWG, contain octinoxate which is not reef-safe.
Glenn W says
I have used Coppertone’s Pure and Simple Kids lotion for a few years. It is Zinc Oxide based and works well.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Glenn.
EWG says that there are some issues with that product. That a reason we did not list it.
Aloha.
Jay says
Hello,
I noticed all the sunsceens you have listed are spf 30. We live on the east coast and use 70 and above. We will be in Hawaii in May and am wondering about which sunscreen to buy. Is there a difference in these brands verses regular brands ratings?
I have learned many things from your emails.
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jay.
You might want to research SPF as the numbers may mean very little above a certain point. We just wanted to present brands that had multiple products with the best ratings from purchasers and the highest safety.
Aloha.
Mary M says
ANy dermatologist will tell you to use a product with zinc oxide. There are now products with an invisible form of it. I lived in Florida for 26 years and you do what you have to do. I put on sunscreen every morning before I go out, and repeat it every three or four hours.
Renj says
So Coppertone Banana Boat and Neutrogena are all bad?
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Renj.
Those all scored worse on the EWG list of sunscreens. The ones we listed all had the highest ratings.
Aloha.
shep says
I’m a big fan of Planet Sun sunscreen… Buy Hawaiian!
Rhonda says
I have always loved Planet Sun sunscreen and suncare, which I learned about from the owner who started the company on Oahu. They are a small company that cares about people’s health and the environment. Their products have never contained Oxybenzone, and the products are geared towards active lifestyles…triathletes, swimmers, cyclists, surfers. Great product that works and is safe for our reefs. It is available online and at just about any bike/running/swimming/surf shop on all the Hawaiian islands.
Rich303 says
I see no mention of rash guards in this posting. While playing in the water or snorkeling, they are more effective than the best sunscreen and have zero impact on the marine environment.
Always take at least two with you so you’ll always have a dry one available
Renee says
How about a summary of 10 to buy, 10 to avoid of commonly available sunscreens? Must use sunscreen in Hawaii always myself. Thanks much
Brad says
Mahalo for the useful article. I have been using Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen 50 spf with 4% titanium dioxide and 4% zinc oxide for the last week to good effect.