Are you using mineral sunscreen?
Why does it matter?
Coral reefs in Hawai‘i are facing many threats. Laboratory tests confirm that chemicals found in most sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, are contributing to coral decline. These chemicals affect coral growth and reproduction, and also harm fish and other marine life—even if you don’t plan on swimming or snorkeling. (Find out how below.)
By wearing as much protective clothing as possible, then applying limited amounts of mineral sunscreens where needed, we can all help Hawai‘i’s coral and marine ecosystems flourish and remain healthy for generations to come.
What can I do?
Follow this guide to protecting yourself from the sun while reducing your impact on coral reefs.
Which sunscreens are safe for me and the reef?
It’s easy to determine whether a sunscreen is safe or not: look at the active ingredients. If the sunscreen lists only zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients, you’re good!
If the sunscreen lists oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and/or nanoparticles as active ingredients, it’s best to avoid them—even if you don’t plan on swimming or snorkeling. (These ingredients will wash off in the shower, and are even absorbed into your skin and passed through your urine, so they could eventually end up in the ocean!)
CAUTION: Many sunscreens claiming to be “reef-friendly” or “reef-safe” actually aren’t, and some manufacturers listed below sell reef-friendly and non-reef-friendly products, so always review the active ingredients to be sure!
The following companies sell only mineral-based, FDA-approved sunscreens. Hawai‘i-based companies are noted with a 
.
- All Good: All Sunscreen Lotions and Sticks
- Badger: All Sunscreen Lotions and Sticks
- Goddess Garden Organics: All Sunscreen Lotions, Sticks, and Lip Balms
- Kōkua Sun Care: Natural Zinc Sunscreen
- MyChelle Dermaceuticals: All Sunscreen Lotions, Sticks, and Liquids
- Raw Elements: All sunscreen products
- Raw Love: All Natural Mineral Sunscreen
- Stream2Sea: All sunscreen products
- TreeActiv: Safflower Oleosomes Daily Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30
Are mineral sunscreens safe and effective?
Yes! In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers only two commonly used active ingredients in sunscreens to be “generally recognized as safe and effective” (GRASE): zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. (The FDA does not have sufficient safety data to determine if ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, etc. are GRASE.) And, unlike chemical sunscreens that need to be applied 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure to be effective, mineral sunscreens provide immediate protection. To avoid mineral sunscreens from drying on your skin too thick or white, rub a little between your palms for several seconds, then pat onto your skin in small batches rather then applying in long strokes.
Where can I buy them?
Look for the mineral sunscreens listed above at these West Hawai‘i retailers:
Big Island Divers, 74-5467 Kaiwi St
Fair Wind Cruises, 78-7130 Kaleiopapa St
Hawaiian Island Creations, 74-5450 Makala Blvd
Hualālai Trading Company, Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
Island Naturals, 74-5487 Kaiwi St
Jack’s Diving Locker, 75-5813 Alii Dr
Kahalu‘u Bay Surf & Sea, 78-6685 Alii Dr
Kona Honu Divers, 74-5583 Luhia St. A12
KTA Super Stores, 74-5594 Palani Rd and 78-6831 Alii Dr
Longs Drugs, 75-5595 Palani Rd and 78-6831 Alii Dr Suite H
Pacific Vibrations, 75-5702 Likana Ln Ste B
Sack N Save, 75-5595 Palani Rd
Safeway, 75-1027 Henry St
Sea Quest, 78-7138 Kaleiopapa St
Target, 74-5455 Makala Blvd
Walmart, 75-1015 Henry St
What should I do with my old sunscreen?
The Kohala Center is working in partnership with the County of Hawai‘i to dispose of chemical-based sunscreens in an environmentally friendly manner, keeping them out of landfills and from potentially entering waterways. You can drop off your chemical-based sunscreens at these Hawai‘i Island locations:
Hale Hoʻokipa (Visitor Center at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park), ma kai side of the road at the stoplight between Kealakehe Parkway and Hina Lani stoplights (map)
Drop-off hours: Every day, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sea Quest, 78-7138 Kaleiopapa St (map)
Drop-off hours: Every day, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Don’t live on Hawai‘i Island? Call your local solid waste management provider and ask if they have a program for the safe disposal of chemical-based sunscreens. If they don’t, you might consider sending your old sunscreen back to the manufacturer with a request to dispose of it in a manner that doesn’t threaten the environment.
Learn more
Julia Calderone, “The Truth About ‘Reef Safe’ Sunscreen,” Consumer Reports, published online February 7, 2019 (updated).
Matthew Cimitile, “Nanoparticles in Sunscreen Damage Microbes,” Scientific American, published online March 24, 2009.
Sam De Coster and Nicolas van Larebeke, “Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Associated Disorders and Mechanisms of Action,” Journal of Environmental and Public Health 2012; 2012: 713696, published online September 6, 2012.
Craig A. Downs et al., “Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 70, no. 2 (February 2016): 265–288.
“The Trouble With Ingredients in Sunscreens,” EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens, Environmental Working Group (website).
“FDA advances new proposed regulation to make sure that sunscreens are safe and effective,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, February 21, 2019 (online).
Alice Park, “Sunscreen Ingredients Are Absorbed Into Your Blood. Here’s What That Could Mean,” TIME, published online May 6, 2019.
“Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs,” National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, published online April 2019 (updated May 20, 2019).
“Whole Foods Market Bans Two Common Ingredients Found in Sunscreen as Part of Its Rigorous Body Care Standards,” (press release), Whole Foods Market, published online March 26, 2019.