Are you aware of the potentially permanent damage that’s being caused by chemical sunscreen to coral reefs around the world? As many as 60% of these global natural wonders are being threatened by chemicals like octinoxate and oxybenzone, bleaching these important environments, resulting in many countries banning their sale and use in favor of a gentler option – mineral sunscreen.
Mineral products don’t have this effect on nature, as their active ingredient, which is typically zinc oxide, occurs naturally on the planet. As such, when it enters the world’s oceans, the marine life there gets to stay happy and healthy.
Mineral Sunscreen Is the Only Option in Many Nations
The first of those countries was the US Virgin Islands which made chemical sunscreens illegal to import and sell back in the Summer of ‘19. Hawaii is a US state that voted to do the same, as it was known that only around 50% of the reefs that existed 50-60 years ago are still alive and kicking today.
Then there’s Mexico and Thailand, who have been mandating the use of mineral sunscreen only for the past few years or so. The first indications that this needed to happen appeared around twenty years ago, in the early 2000s.
Fast forward to today, and there’s major evidence that chemical sunscreens are greatly impacting the reefs, with serious consequences being endured. Whether washed off the bodies of those who wear it in the sea or in the shower, the same problem occurs, as it simply makes its way into the sea through our water system.
It’s Actually Bad For All Types of Sea Life
While it’s clearly a problem for the coral reefs, chemical sunscreens are also known to cause problems for many different species of sea creatures. Whether talking about dolphins, manta rays or plankton, none fare particularly well when ingesting these harmful chemicals.
Not only that but human beings, according to the US FDA, have also been shown to experience certain issues when wearing it on their skin. That’s because it needs to be absorbed to be able to convert UV rays into heat, and that can cause the chemicals even to enter the bloodstream.
Mineral Sunscreen Is Superior In a Variety of Ways
Clearly, zinc oxide-based sunscreen products are the only eco-friendly option. The loss of marine life is always a tragedy, particularly when their very existence comes under threat. As such, you should have no hesitation in choosing mineral products – which are also called physical sunscreen products.
On top of all this, it’s actually a more effective way to protect yourself from the sun, offering as it does, a range of benefits, such as being super gentle to the skin and working from the instant that it’s applied.
It’s also better value for money, as most often, you’ll use less mineral product than chemical sunscreen by volume, meaning you use much less and lasts longer. Sure, you do have to get used to a slightly different way of applying it, but once it’s on, it acts as a barrier, reflecting UV rays away with ease.
Parents everywhere want to pass on the same rich and abundant world they inherited to their children, but if chemical brands keep getting used at the same volume for much longer, that might not be possible. For the sake of marine life across the planet, switch today.
