Many sunscreens nowadays are making sunscreen with does not contain Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. Both of these ingredients are believed to contribute to coral bleaching.
Coral Bleaching has been occurring in many reefs around the world due to the rising temperatures of the ocean as well as ocean acidification. When coral bleaches, it is not dead, but pretty close to it and leads to high levels of mortality. Both Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, as well as a few other ingredients contained in sunscreen are believed to contribute to the bleaching. The National Park Service estimates that in Hawaii alone, over 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter reefs each year.
Many of the most popular sunscreen brands such as Hawaiian Tropic and Coppertone contain these reef dangerous chemicals however we are beginning to see a trend to producing less toxic sun protection.
Choosing the right sunscreen for your holidays is not only important to protect your skin from burning and skin cancer, but also to protect the ocean and it's marine life that we all enjoy exploring.
Here are a few sunscreens to look out for when searching to protect both yourself and the ocean life around you as you snorkel around.
There are 4 main ingredients that you should avoid when picking your sunscreen:
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Petrolatum (commonly known as mineral oil),
- Titanium Dioxide
If you are looking for a selection of sunscreens that are reef safe, check out:
- Banana Boat Simply Protect SPF 50+ Sunscreen
- Thinksport SPF 50 Sunscreen
- Loving Naturals Clear Body SPF 30+ All-natural Sunscreen
- Stream2Sea SPF 30 Mineral Sunblock
- All Good SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen Lotion
While you can pick up your sunscreen in the Dominican Republic, you will find that it is 2-3 times the prices than back home. We recommend picking up your sunscreen before making your way to the beautiful Casa de Campo Luxury Resort in La Romana.