New regulations. Which products are safest? Get ready for summer with our Hawaii sunscreen safety info.
113 thoughts on “Hawaii Sunscreen Safety Updates + Products You Picked”
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New regulations. Which products are safest? Get ready for summer with our Hawaii sunscreen safety info.
Comments are closed.
The best way to check for reef-friendly sunscreen is to look at the active ingredients. The reef-friendliest sunblocks are made from minerals and do NOT have any active chemical ingredients. So, look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Do NOT believe the stickers or marketing data – they are often wrong or misleading.
Better yet, cover up and use rash guards, hats, board shorts, and sunwear shirts.
Thanks for your help in protecting marine life and helping us preserve the marine ecosystem for future generations!
Thanks Jeanie.
Aloha.
I agree with Jeanie F. We have never been fans of sunscreen. We limit our exposure and wear sun hats, sunlasses and use umbrellas, etc. If I were a snorkeler I would wear sun blocking clothing. I would also use these on my kids/grand kids. They are smaller and who knows what toxic effects all those chemicals have on their small bodies. No long term testing has EVER been done. Shame on the sunscreen manufacturers. Money, money, money. They don’t worry about our health. We need to take responsibility. Sadly, not much info on this subject until lately. Enjoy the sun ‘responsibly’ – meaning limit exposure, and protect yourself with clothing, hats, sunglasses, etc.
Here is an interesting article on the sunscreen issue and the need humans have for the sun – the real thing – in moderation, of course. A very good ‘read.’
https://www.outsideonline.com/2380751/sunscreen-sun-exposure-skin-cancer-science
Thanks for the link to the article, I found it fascinating, had never heard any of this. Will keep it in mind while outside and allow some reasonable sun exposure, while protecting my face where I have had some basal cell cancers in the last few years. But grew up in California, and often sunburned as a kid.
Utter nonsense. Testing has been done. But in any case, mineral block sunscreens are safe.
The problem is that the testing was done in an aquarium with concentrations of millions or billions of times higher than seen in the ocean. It’s like worrying about second-hand smoke from one smoker taking one puff from a cigarette in the Washington Mall a mile away.
The real danger to coral is warming ocean water.
The ban on sunscreens will cause hundreds of cases of skin cancer over a long period of time. The effect on coral of unmeasurably small amounts of sunscreen is insignificant.
EXACTLY RIGHT
I just bought at Costco, sunscreen that has a sign saying “reef safe.” It is called Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen and it’s free of oxybenzone.
After dealing with a bout of sun allergy in Hawaii, I have since, successfully used a Hawaii made produce called Grab A Tan. Lets me get a wee bit of sun and still protects from burning. Would not use for extended time in the out doors as I am not certain of how it would work on me. Do not know where this one falls on your list.
Australian Gold mineral sunscreen is great protection, consistency, and disappears on skin. Available and well-reviewed on Amazon.
Is Thinksport Sunscreen (made by the same folks that make ThinkBaby Safe Sunscreen) also reef safe?
Hi there!
I was told to use “Maui Babe” sunscreen while on a snorkeling boat trip while visiting Maui. Do you know if that is still a recommended product?
Thank you!
Hi Shirley.
Here’s what EWG has to say about that: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Maui_Babe/
Aloha.
It’s expensive, but I love beautycounter CounterSun mineral sunscreen because it applies cleanly and easily without making you look like a white ghost. It has a 1 rating on EWG.
Hi readers, Beautycounter is also going to be offering tinted sunscreen coming later this month so you’ll have a little tan along with your chemical free reef safe sunscreen, safe enough for the whole family. Juli H
YEH! Have been waiting for more press on REEF-SAFE SUNSCREENS. Beat of Hawaii is a great source of guidance to help get the word out. I was given the free sample of Raw Essentials SPF 30 on one of my Hawaiin Airlines flights, but you did not mention this and I cannot find it in the stores. Any help? Mahalo, Jean
Hi Jean.
That is available on Amazon here, but we did not list it as it did not have very good reviews. We tried it as well.
Aloha.
Just got back from Oahu for a week. Used Raw Elements SPF 30 (the one in the can, 79 reviews at 4.1 stars out of 5). Most sunscreen, if I get it near my eyes, stings a bit, but this stuff was awesome. No discomfort anywhere. I used it all over my face with no irritation at all. It worked well for me, did not burn, but my wife, who is a bit sensitive to the Sun, did get a little red, still no burn. We picked up a SPF 50 at Sea Life Park while there and it seemed to work well for her, can not recall the name, but it was toted as a safe for the environment as well. I think you could go with Raw Elements and odds would be in your favor. Just follow Beats link above, should be just a click away. Good luck.
Thanks Travis.
Aloha.
good for Hawaii! I have always gotten a bad itchy rash if I use anything that says “Sport” or water proof etc. Especially bad reaction from Banana Boat Sport…I like the new zinc based sunscreen. They are not like the old white paste anymore. Don’t forget some great sun is healthy for you with all that natural Vitamin D we get from it. I like a nice healthy tan too, without burning. Interesting and helpful article.
Yes, sun is a healthy source of Vitamin D. Lack of vitamin D is associated with all sorts of ailments, including cancer. We NEED it and for years and years, people have slathered themselves with products to prevent/avoid getting it.
I do not advocate going to Hawaii (or anywhere else) and spending an entire day in the sun and getting badly burned. Use common sense. But we have never been a fan of chemicals. We take to the sun carefully and in moderation – as we do all things in life. This has worked well for our entire life.
Hi Colleen!
Thank you.
Aloha.
And it will continue to work well until it doesn’t and you develop skin cancer. You don’t NEED sun produced ultraviolet light to produce Vitamin D. You can buy supplements for a few pennies a day.
ALL SUN EXPOSURE INCREASES YOUR RISK OF SKIN CANCER. Moderation merely adds years to the time until you develop skin cancer. There is more skin cancer than ALL OTHER KINDS OF CANCER ADDED TOGETHER!!
There is NO HEALTHY TAN. ALL UV EXPOSURE ADDS TO YOUR LIFETIME RISK OF SKIN CANCER.