The harmful effects of sunscreen
With summer in full swing now, everyone’s headed to the beach, the lake, camping, and they’re all doing the same thing: slathering on sunscreen. And if you’re not using a ref-safe sunscreen, you’re doing yourself and the planet a disservice.
The chemical runoff from sunscreen has been known to bleach coral reefs, and even if you’re not swimming in the ocean, it’s still harming other waterways.
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Mineral sunscreen vs Chemical sunscreen:
There are two types of sunscreens: mineral and chemical.
Mineral sunscreens use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which create a barrier to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Chemical sunscreens use harmful ingredients like oxybenzone, octisalate, homosalate, and more that can cause great harm to nature and our water systems.
Sunscreen and our coral reefs:
We already know about the impacts our waste and chemicals have on the environment and sunscreen, traditional sunscreen is no different.
Places like Hawaii have already banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone because of how damaging to the environment, namely the coral reefs.
Research has shown that this ingredient can cause deformities, DNA damage, and even death to the coral reefs. This is a HUGE problem with lasting consequences as coral reefs play an integral part in the ocean’s ecosystem. (source)
Nontoxic sunscreen options:
If you’re not as crafty or just short on time, you can purchase a non-toxic sunscreen! Here are some of the best:
ATTITUDE SPF 30 Frangrance free sunscreen
Green Beaver Natural sunscreen lotion with SPF 40
All Good sport sunscreen lotion with SPF 30
Australian Gold Botanical Mineral sunscreen with SPF 50
There are tons of resources and options out there to better protect ourselves.
Now go forth and have a safe and happy summer!
2 Comments
Maria
August 6, 2019 at 8:50 am
If you do end up with a sunburn (definitely not healthy or preferred…) you can drink green tea and the burn will fade to a tan with no to minimal peeling. I read it somewhere online. I ended up with a bad sunburn at one point, didn’t know if I believed this life hack, but it worked. They claimed it was the antioxisants stopping free radicals, and the hydration of the cells from the inside out. I made hot green tea and poured it over a big cup of ice. I now swear by it. I’ve also heard healthy eating helps immensely. Live the sunscreen recipe! Thank you!
Caity Rose
August 6, 2019 at 11:17 am
That’s amazing! I’ve never heard of that before! I’ll be sure to keep it in mind if I ever get a sunburn!