WELL + GOOD (4.22.24) These Are the 10 Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens, According to Derms
- Tina Gomez
- May 16
- 1 min read
How does sunscreen impact the ocean?
When you get in the ocean, your sunscreen inevitably washes away into the water to some extent. The problem is that many sunscreens contain ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene. These chemical ingredients absorb UV radiation, Dr. Sartor says, but unfortunately, they may also bleach coral reefs, impair the growth and photosynthesis of algae, and harm the overall health and reproduction of ocean wildlife. Once a coral reef dies, it rarely comes back, and entire ecosystems depend on its vitality.
Studies are still underway to determine just how much damage these ingredients are doing to underwater ecosystems (and there are certainly other factors like climate change). Still, early lab-based research with these ingredients has been enough to raise environmentalists’ concerns.
