WHICH SUNSCREENS ARE CORAL
REEF FRIENDLY?
Biodegradable sunscreen, sun
block, and suntan oils are required for use in the
Caribbean Sea of Mexico, including at Cancun, Playa
del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and
at any local park like Xcaret, Xel Ha, Chankanaab
or Garrafon.
See our
Biodegradable Sunblock page for a full description
of what biodegradable sunscreen is, why it's important,
and where to buy it.
This page is an attempt to answer
your questions about what types of commonly found
sunscreens are safe for use on coral reefs and which
sunscreens are not. All the brands found in
the right column of this page are considered reef-friendly,
and are acceptable for use in the Mexican Caribbean,
as well as anywhere else in the world, particularly
near the reefs.
Things to Consider:
1) Does your brand say biodegradable
on the label? If not, then it's probably not.
Even if it is, it might not get past Xcaret or Xel
Ha. The usual brands like Coppertone, Banana
Boat, Panama Jack and No-AD are not biodegradable.
2) What is the active ingredient
of your brand? Does it contain PABA?
If so, then it's really bad. Does it contain
chemicals like Octinoxate or Oxybenzone? Those
have been shown to promote viral infection in coral
reefs. If it is Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide,
then it is probably okay if it's also biodegradable
and doesn't contain petroleum based oils.
Complete list of ingredients
to watch out for:
Sunscreen Ingredients
Shown to be Harmful to Coral Reefs
|
PABA |
Octocrylene |
Octinoxate |
Oxybenzone |
4-Methylbenzylidene |
Butylparaben |
Benzophenone |
Butyl-Methoxydibenzoylmethane |
Hexyldecanol |
Methylparaben |
Dimethyl Capramide |
Polyethylene |
Propylparaben |
Cetyl Dimethicone |
Butylcarbamate |
Most of these ingredients have been banned
at Xcaret and Xel Ha, as well as other areas
of the Riviera Maya. All have been
shown to be harmful to coral reefs.
Please check your sunscreen before going
into the water. The future of our
coral reefs may depend on it. |
NOT ALL
BIODEGRADABLE BRANDS ARE CREATED EQUAL!
BIODEGRADABLE BRAND |
WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT |
All Terrain AquaSport |
The SPF30
Version Contains Butylparaben,
Methylparaben, Dimethicone, Octinoxate
and Benzophenone. SPF15 Contains
Dimethicone but not the other chemicals
and parabens. |
Aloe Up Pro Sport |
Contains
Avobenzone |
Aubrey Organics Natural
Sun |
Contains
Padimate O (PABA Ester) |
Aveeno Naturals |
Contains
Cetyl Dimethicone, Oxybenzone,
Octisalate. Not Biodegradable. |
Beach Buff |
Contains
Octinoxate, Octisalate, and Oxybenzone
|
Burt's Bees |
Not Water
Resistant |
California Baby |
Contains
Propylparaben (Stick only). |
Eco-Lani |
Not Water
Resistant |
Hawaiian Tropic Biodegradable |
Contains
Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate. |
Heiko |
Not Water
Resistant. |
Jason Naturals Sunbrellas |
Contains
Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate and Octocrylene |
Nature's Gate Aquablock |
Contains
Octinoxate, Oxybenzone |
Newco |
Not Water
Resistant |
Reef Safe |
Contains
Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate,
Cetyl Dimethicone, Propylparaben,
Methylparaben |
Safe Sea |
Contains
Octinoxate, Octisalate |
Smartshield |
Contains
Octinoxate, Octisalate, Avobenzone, Octocrylene,
Padimate, Propylparaben |
Vanicream |
Contains
Octinoxate. |
Zinka |
Contains
Octinoxate |
Brands such
as Coppertone, No-AD, Banana Boat, etc.
are not biodegradable and contain petrochemicals
harmful to reefs.
We consider water resistant for 80
minutes
or more to be close enough to
waterproof, as you rarely are in the
water longer than that. |
Choose wisely and help preserve
the coral reefs for your kids to enjoy, and their
kids too!
Have a brand of natural or biodegradable
sunscreen that you don't see here? You can
ask us.
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