Sunscreen Secrets
“Found in more than 3,500 chemical sunscreen products, oxybenzone [is] a chemical compound that may disrupt the body’s hormone system, [and] what isn’t absorbed, washes off into our oceans and contributes to coral reef bleaching.”
Photo credit: @jennleezy, 2020
With summer almost here, that can only mean one thing—sunscreen, sunscreen, and even more sunscreen.
Like many, I've been wearing sunscreen before I could walk. But why do I have so many questions about it? What is SPF, UVA, UVB? What's the difference between mineral (aka physical) and chemical sunscreen? What's reef-safe sunscreen? And, how do we apply it correctly? I’m diving into everything sunscreen, and sharing with you what your sunscreen bottle doesn't tell you so you can fully equip yourself for a day under the sun.
The sun, our beautiful source of life, also causes unwanted signs of aging and health concerns because of its UV (ultraviolet) rays. UVB (ultraviolet B) rays are the reason you get a little or a lot of sunburn. While UVA (ultraviolet A) rays penetrate deep into your skin, causing early signs of aging—like wrinkles, sagging, and sunspots. Together, they both increase your risk of skin cancer. Beloved sunscreen works to either block, reflect, deactivate, or absorb the rays and release them as heat.
Sun Protective Factor (SPF) is the first thing many of us turn to when trying to pick the perfect sunblock to protect us from harmful rays. For the most part, SPF standardizes how much a product is blocking harmful UVB rays. However, the same can't be said for UVA rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation says, "the number tells you how long the sun's UVB rays would take to redden your skin if you apply the sunscreen exactly as directed compared with the amount of time without sunscreen… if you use an SPF 30 product properly, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you used no sunscreen."
The truth is, a higher SPF is not always the best bet. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment (otherwise known as my personal eco-friendly, clean product guru), is concerned with high-SPF claims—anything above SPF 50+. EWG has found that the ratio of UVA protection decreases as SPF increases. Many aren't aware that SPF doesn't accurately define how much UVA protection they're getting. Thus, misleading users to believe that they are better protected when, in reality, they may be risking higher, damaging exposure. SPF 100 users typically think they can stay out in the sun longer, don't need shade, or can skip reapplying—all of which are false. Broad-spectrum sunscreens with avobenzone (in chemical sunscreen), and zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (in mineral sunscreen) filter UVA rays the best.
What’s the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen? Mineral sunscreen uses a mixture of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These ingredients act as a physical barrier between the sun's UV radiation and your skin. On the other spectrum, chemical sunscreen is formulated with ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octisalate. These chemicals absorb and deactivate the UV rays. Which explains why mineral and chemical sunscreen look, feel, and rub into your skin differently.
When it comes to choosing between mineral and chemical formulas, I like to shop mineral-based brands for two reasons—one, to protect my health, and two, to protect the last thriving reefs on our planet.
Healthy coral reef vs bleached coral reef. Photo credit: Reef Repair
Found in more than 3,500 chemical sunscreen products, oxybenzone, a chemical compound that was first approved by the FDA in the early 1980’s, may disrupt the body's natural harmony and throw the hormone system off balance. Countless studies have found that oxybenzone easily trickles through the skin, leaving behind traces of its remnants in breast milk, urine, and blood. High-SPF products pose a greater risk as they have higher concentrations of oxybenzone.
Oxybenzone doesn't just stop at confusing our bodies and our body’s natural flow. What isn't absorbed, washes off into our oceans and contributes to coral reef bleaching—think of it as the microplastic of chemicals. Oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate, and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) have all been proven to harm coral at extremely low concentrations—as little as one drop in an Olympic-sized swimming pool to be exact. During peak summer seasons, when most of us can't deny a dip in the ocean, 14,000 tons or 6 Olympic-size swimming pools worth of these four chemicals are washed into the environment. That's way beyond the bleaching point. It’s no wonder that Hawaii banned oxybenzone and octinoxate altogether.
Why should we protect our ocean's reefs, and buy mineral sunscreens without these four toxic chemicals? Coral reefs prevent shore erosion by minimizing wave impacts from hurricanes and other devastating storms and supporting biodiversity by providing for an estimated 25% of all marine life. Beautiful reefs bring us natural, healing medicines, and it’s a major part of our planet’s natural ecosystem.
Things to be mindful of when choosing your perfect sunscreen:
Stick with a lotion. Sunscreen, when sprayed, doesn't just hit your skin, it blows onto the sand, sea, and others breathe it in like second-hand smoke
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50
Regardless of the SPF, reapply every two hours. Apply a nickel to a quarter-size amount on your face and a shot glass amount on your body
Reef-friendly symbols are not regulated. Always check the active and inactive ingredients labels for oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate, and 4MBC
Use a water-resistant sunscreen, which will be more likely to stay on your skin and out of the water
We’ve vetted and found a few mineral, reef-friendly brands to add to your sunscreen list:
If you truly want to protect yourself and our reefs, don't rely solely on sunscreen. Seek shade, grab your favorite pair of UV-blocking sunnies, cover up with clothes, and consider adding a cute hat into your beach garb!
To my fellow eco-friendly, self-care enthusiasts, spread the word to other sun-lovers, and together we can protect our skin, bodies, and our planet’s reefs!
Jade Feliciano is a freelance writer with a mission to scale sustainability by promoting conscious business trends, clean beauty, and mindful lifestyles. When Jade is not writing, she enjoys working out, reading her horoscope, and propagating plants. Follow her @jade_fel to see what she’s up to.