Photo Credit: UCR/Laura Rodriguez Click image to enlarge

Students of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) created a natural sunblock that protects marine life, contrary to regular or commercial sunblock that cause whitening of the corals which causes their death and the alteration of the marine ecosystem.

Five Pharmacy students, Mariana González, Mauricio Villegas, Catalina Ayón, Kimberly Barrantes and Andrés Solano, came up with a sunblock created from natural extracts. KapiScreen has a natural physical barrier that consists on a substance that facilitates the light rebound and at the same time prevents the absorption of radiation.

In addition to being environmentally friendly the sunblock also complies with the characteristics wanted on a daily use product, “most people commented that they choose not to use sunblock because of its dense consistency, or because of how white their skin ends up or the strong smell”, commented Mariana González.

The chemical products that harm marine life are octyl methoxycinnamate and oxybenzone; KapiScreen is free of these chemicals, it also has a soft smell and is not greasy.

The students are now in search of investors, for additional information contact: [email protected]