What Are the Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens?
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If you’re traveling anywhere tropical this summer, it’s likely you’ve Googled “reef-safe sunscreen.” These formulas largely refer to mineral formulas that don’t contain chemicals like oxybenzone and octisalate, which dissolve in water. In huge quantities (like many people swimming at the beach), they can bleach and eventually kill coral reefs and disrupt the reproductive cycle of marine animals. This is bad. Coral reefs help to nurture biodiversity — Nemo lived in an anemone on a reef, for example — and control carbon and nitrogen levels, which contribute to climate change.
So what makes a sunscreen reef-safe? There is no good definition, as there’s no federal standard that determines its safety or impact on the environment. That said, the term refers to mineral formulas, which use ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which don’t dissolve in water and have less of an impact on marine life. It’s also important that these are non-nano-size. Nano-size formulas have very small particles, making them easier to rub in but also increasing the chances of their dissolving, which you want to avoid. You’ll also want to pick a formula without parabens, which can contribute to coral bleaching. To make sure you have a range of options, we’ve rounded up our favorite reef-safe formulas, ranging from a mineral sunscreen that rubs in clear to the tinted formula that doesn’t pill under makeup.
Bodysunscreens
Best overall reef-safe sunscreen
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A few months ago, I sang the praises of this One Skin mineral sunscreen, which kept my skin protected during a recent trip to Antigua. As mineral formulas go, this is the most cosmetically elegant sunscreen I’ve tried and feels like Banana Boat with better ingredients. It also contains a blend of antioxidants like green tea extract, cherry, and safflower seed oil, which help with hyperpigmentation and protect skin from environmental stressors.
A tinted mineral with little white cast
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The brand’s body sunscreen is a great option too. This one is tinted, which helps to combat the white cast that mineral sunscreens tend to have. It also has hyaluronic acid, which helps with hydration and also contains antioxidants that help to reduce sun damage.
Best reef-safe SPF moisturizer
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Many Strategist staffers use this mineral SPF, including senior editors Winnie Yang and Simone Kitchens, who also uses it on her kids. “It applies smoothly and evenly,” says Yang. “It leaves a whitish cast, but I kind of appreciate that you can tell then where it has been applied correctly.”
A spray sunscreen with a creamy feel
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For easy application, a spray sunscreen is ideal. It’s also good for applying sunscreen to hard-to-reach spots like your back. Writer Amelia Jerden is a fan of this one from Freaks of Nature, which she says feels like a cream sunscreen in a spray bottle and isn’t sticky or greasy.
Facesunscreens
A sunscreen that doesn’t come off in the water
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When beauty writer Arielle Avila went on a trip to Puerto Rico and looked up reef-safe sunscreens, she surfaced this formula from Babo. We’ve previously recommended the brand’s mineral tinted body sunscreen, so Avila tried out the face version. “I surfed, snorkeled, and sunbathed in this sunscreen, and I never felt like I was sweating it off,” she said, noting that it also doesn’t pill under foundation.
Our favorite mineral formula
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Our favorite mineral sunscreen is an oft-recommended dermatologist pick. It has a whisper-light consistency, is moisturizing, and contains hyperpigmentation-fading ingredients like vitamin E.
A lightweight sunscreen with skin-care benefits
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Another solid option: this one from Dune, which contains peptides, collagen, and vitamin E. It has a velvety, thin texture that blends in and doesn’t leave a whitish residue behind. It also has micro-dispersion technology, which sheers it out and also helps it to blend in easier.
An acne-safe option
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If you’re acne-prone, dermatologists have recommended this one from Tizo, which is gentle on sensitive skin. It contains vitamin C to reduce inflammation and brighten skin over time. And if you’re concerned about a white cast, there’s a tinted version too.
An SPF that reduces redness
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And if you’re dealing with redness, this Innisfree sunscreen comes recommended by writer Brenley Goertzen, who learned about it from her aesthetician. “The zinc-based formula goes on super-smooth, and because it’s noncomedogenic, I don’t have to worry about breakouts,” she says. The green tint also allows her to go concealer-free in red areas.
A serum sunscreen that adds a little glow
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For a tinted option with a bit of glow, this one has a coppery tone that blends nicely into Strategist contributor Mbiye Kasonga’s brown skin. “This is the first mineral sunscreen I’ve found that I can wear with confidence,” she says.
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