![]() Oxybenzone is one of the most common ingredients in FDA approved sunscreen as it’s one of the most effective in protecting us from UV exposure. This is different to physical sunscreen that sits on top of the skin and acts as a physical shield to reflect UV rays for sun protection (I’ll talk a bit more about this type of sunscreen later). It is a chemical reaction that occurs inside of our bodies, not just on our skin. These ingredients are found in what is called a chemical sunscreen.Ĭhemical sunscreen protects your skin by absorbing into your body and chemically converting UV rays into heat which then leaves the body. Well, the big two active ingredients to avoid are oxybenzone and octinoxate. So, what are these chemical nasties I’m talking about? ![]() The unfortunate truth is there is still a lot we don’t know about protecting our reef, but what we do know is that making the switch to reef safe sunscreen is a step-change in the right direction. Non-nano sunscreen, on the other hand, means that the particles in the lotion can’t be absorbed by the reef, preventing long term damage. If a sunscreen contains nanoparticles (particles that are under 100 nanometres in diameter) it can be easily absorbed by the reef, causing damage. Outside of chemical nasties, the particle size of the components in sunscreen also have an impact. Having these active ingredients can result in damage like coral bleaching, and coral death. While some of the harmful ingredients are safe for us humans to use for sun protection, our reef can struggle. It’s a sunscreen that doesn’t contain some key chemical nasties that have been proven to have a detrimental impact on coral reefs. Well, it’s more than a marketing buzzword. If you live by the beach like me, the term reef safe sunscreen is thrown around everywhere, but what does it actually mean? What Exactly is the Meaning of Reef Safe Sunscreen? So, what is this switch? It’s simple, just by making the move to reef safe sunscreen you can support the longevity of our oceans, while still protecting your skin from sunburn and nourishing your body–all at the same time. We all want to learn how to travel more sustainably, be more mindful with our choices and reduce our impact, and a great way to start is by making the switch. This is important, because around 4000-6000 tons of sunscreen enter our oceans each year and if we aren’t careful with the products we use, there won’t be a reef for much longer. Hawaii recently banned some key ingredients in sunscreen that are known to damage coral reefs (despite being FDA approved). And unfortunately, with a lot of products out there, it can be pretty hard to do. Studies have shown that 85% of Aussies don’t apply enough sunscreen, they don’t wait the 20 minutes before going out in the sun and they don’t believe it’s safe to wear every day due to harsh chemicals.Īnother reason why us Aussies are struggling to protect our skin, is because we want to protect our reef and marine life as well. The reason why we are having major issues with our skin health is because we don’t know how to protect it properly. There are a bunch of reasons why this is, and a lot of it has to do with how misinformed we are. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, placing Australia on the world leader board for skin cancer rates (not really something we want a trophy for). ![]() You know, the place that’s close to the equator, has astronomical skin cancer rates and resides under a giant hole in the ozone? Yeah, that place.Ĭancer rates in Australia are f*cked. But I am here to tell you about reef safe sunscreen and about how making just one small switch can make a world of difference.īut first, a little bit about my background. I’m here to tell you about how you can save the planet and cure climate change without any superpowers. Hi, I’m Michelle, but you can call me Mosh.
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