Which sunscreens are reef-friendly?

It’s easy to determine whether a sunscreen is reef-friendly or not: look at the active ingredients. If the sunscreen is mineral-based, containing 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 .