REEF-SAFE SUNSCREENS FOR YOUR MALDIVES TRIP

Before our first Maldives trip, I did a little bit of research and purchased bottles and bottles of Sun Bum sunscreen.  After all, it’s worked well for our family through hot summers at the beach, lakes, and theme parks in Italy and the United States.

We’ve recently returned and I’m even more in awe of the incredible underwater world of the Maldives and want to do anything I can to help preserve it for future generations.  Part of this is making sure the sunscreens we use in the Maldives aren’t harming the delicate coral reefs. And I’ve learned that the sunscreens we’ve been using aren’t the best choice for protecting coral reefs.

You may have heard of ‘reef-safe’ sunscreens or ‘reef-friendly’ sunscreens.  

There’s not much agreement on the exact definitions of these two terms, and  many places have their own definitions and regulations.  

Important:  There is no official or authorised definition of what a reef-safe or reef-friendly sunscreen is.

For example, in Hawaii it’s against the law to sell sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate.  Some places in Hawaii have even stricter laws, like the Big Island’s requirement that sunscreen for sale’s only active ingredient is titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.  So, reef-safe sunscreens in Hawaii are those with the only active ingredient being titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.  

While the Maldives doesn’t have its own laws (yet), it’s still respectful to the area’s incredible coral reefs to choose a sunscreen that won’t cause any damage (like coral bleaching).

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So, Which Sunscreen Ingredients Should Be Avoided?

Currently the two agreed upon ingredients to avoid are:

• Octinoxate
• Oxibenzone

If a sunscreen doesn’t have either of these, it’s usually marketed as ‘reef-friendly.’  However, there are other chemicals to avoid in order to be ‘reef-safe.’

Reef-Safe vs. Reef-Friendly Sunscreens

These other sunscreen ingredients (chemicals) that are known to damage coral reefs are put out by the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, and the list has come to be called the HEL List:

• Octinoxate (mentioned above)
• Oxibenzone (mentioned above)
• Any form of microplastic sphere or beads.
• Any nanoparticles like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
• 4-methylbenzylidene camphor
• Octocrylene
• Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
• Methyl Paraben
• Ethyl Paraben
• Propyl Paraben
• Butyl Paraben
• Benzyl Paraben
• Triclosan
• Homosalate
• Octisalate
• Butyloctyl salicylic acid
• Propylparaben
• “Any of the nylon powders used in cosmetics and personal care products, such as Nylon-6 (polyamide 6), Nylon-10 (polyamide 10), Nylon-11 (polyamide 11), Nylon-12 (polyamide-12), all of the Orgasol polyamide product lines, any of the polyester plastic powders such as polyester-8, polyester-25, nylon glitters, polyester glitters, HDI/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymers, any of the polycarolactones, and any of the polyethylene powders or fibers.”

Sunscreens that don’t contain any of the above ingredients are said to be reef-safe.  But again, it’s worth repeating that there is no accredited test to confirm that sunscreens without these chemicals are reef-safe.

So, what types of sunscreens should you use to best protect the Maldives’ coral reefs?  Use mineral sunscreens – those with active ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – that don’t contain any of the ingredients on the HEL list above. 

Reef-Safe Sunscreens for Your Maldives Family Trip

Here are some ideas for reef-safe sunscreens for the Maldives.  

Good To Know:  I’ve included the cost per ounce at the time of writing, but keep in mind the prices can change.  Do your own price comparisons before you make a purchase.  And look for sales.  For example, I see Costco’s website has a special on ThinkBaby sunscreens – 2 x 6oz tubes plus a sunscreen stick for only $19.99.  Or, some of these sunscreens may be discounted during Prime Day sales on Amazon.

ThinkBaby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen ($3.04/oz)- Good value for a reef-safe sunscreen, especially the larger tube (6oz).

ThinkBaby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Stick ($13.75/oz) – Perfect for the face, doesn’t leave thick white residue (but there is some white film), small container means it’s easy to keep with you always; lasts a long time

All Good Sunscreen Stick ($6.18/oz) – Another good stick option; leaves white film

ThinkKids Zinc Oxide Sunscreen ($2.74/oz) – Good value for a reef-safe sunscreen; less cakey application than many other mineral sunscreens

California Baby Everyday Sunscreen ($8.96/oz)- I’ve used this on my kids when they were babies and it worked well; cakey white on application but no sunburns!

Fresh Monster Mineral Sunscreen ($5.66/oz) – More expensive than the Think sunscreen products, but one of the best as far as rubbing in cleanly and avoiding the white film on your skin

Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream ($5.17/oz) – Cheaper if you buy a multi-pack; unscented; only 4 ingredients(!)

Thrive Reef Safe Sunscreen SPF 50 ($5.16/oz) – Rubs in well but it’s quite expensive

Baby Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion ($5.50/oz) – We’ve used this as well and like all of the other mineral sunscreens, it has a white tint to it (unless you really work hard to rub it in); we prefer the other SunBum sunscreens that rub in better, but this one’s our choice now because it’s better for the reefs!

Weleda Edelweiss Sunscreen Lotion – We use this in Europe; cakey white film on the skin but it stays on well, especially on little kids who are playing in the sand and rubbing against things

Good To Know:  Sunscreens that are reef-friendly (but not-reef safe) include many by SunBum, CeraVe, and Nivea.

Tips for Choosing and Using Sunscreen for the Maldives

If you choose a new sunscreen for your family because you want to use one that’s reef-safe, make sure you test it on everyone in your family before you arrive.  It would be a bummer to arrive and use it and find one of your kids has sensitive skin or gets a rash from it.  

Purchase rash guards or swim shirts for your family.  This was my best purchase for our last trip.  Not only did it save tons of sunscreen, my kids liked them because they weren’t having to constantly apply and re-apply sunscreen on their backs, bellies, and shoulders.  Instead, it was a quick application on their faces, necks, arms, legs, and feet – much easier! They didn’t wear them 100% of the time, but putting them on started to become routine by the end of the trip. I used this one from Roxy, and all three of my boys used these Hurley rash guards (they chose their colors).

Reef-safe sunscreens can be eye-watering expensive.  Look for sales!  For example, if you’re traveling over the winter holidays, see if any reef safe sunscreens go on sale for Black Friday.  It’s February as I write this and I see some reef-safe sunscreens on sale (like Think sunscreens on Amazon for 25-33% off).

Don’t shun a sunscreen that stays white on the skin with small children.  It’s actually really helpful to see where the sunscreen has been applied.  

Use a washcloth or loofah to help remove the sunscreen in the shower.  Reef-safe sunscreen is a little more sticky and difficult to remove, so it will require some extra effort in the shower.  But, it’s worth it in order to protect our coral reefs!

Remember that mineral sunscreens need to be reapplied just like chemical sunscreens do.  

Other Ways to Protect Yourself From the Sun in the Maldives

As I mentioned above, wear a rash guard.  We’ve got short-sleeve rash guards but I’ll probably get a long-sleeve for me to try for our next trip.  Our boys didn’t love wearing rash guards until they realised they wouldn’t have me stopping to slather them in sunscreen constantly.

Wear a hat on the beach. I still struggle to get my boys to keep their sun hats on, but I wear this one from Wallaroo. I adore it because it packs flat and it has a cinch cord inside the hat that goes around the head (vs a cord that goes under the chin).

Do most of your beach play in the morning and later in the afternoon.  Take midday for a relaxed lunch at the buffet, followed by time playing games, hanging out in the kids club, or reading.

Coral Reef Conservation and Reef-Safe Sunscreen Resources

If you like ‘going down the rabbit hole’ like I do and you want to learn more about sunscreens and coral reefs, here are some more resources for you to check out:

Haereticus Lab – Organisation that keeps the updated HEL List of chemicals to avoid in sunscreens in order to protect coral reefs

Chasing Coral (Netflix) – documentary

Save the Reef – Project designed to help oceans and marine life around the globe

Maui Ocean Center – Info on reef-safe sunscreens on the Hawaiian island with the strictest sunscreen rules. 

Green Fins – Initiative to ‘drive environmentally friendly diving and snorkelling practives.’

The Reef-World Foundation – Charity that works globally to ‘support governments and communities in sustainable consumption of coastal resources and marine life.’

“Coral reefs are for the oceans what rainforests are for the land. Similar to trees in forests, they provide the 3D structure and food to countless species of molluscs, crustaceans, fish and more, that either live within or feed on corals. These in turn constitute the diet for bigger fish, and so on. Coral reefs are the foundation of an entire ecosystem. In other words, without corals the reef ecosystem collapses.” – Louisa Laing, marine biologist

Note:  Please message me if you have a sunscreen to add to the list or if you disagree with any of the sunscreens listed above.  I want to make sure this list is accurate and up-to-date so we can keep our reefs alive and thriving!