The Best Reef Safe Sunscreens
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: sunscreen is an absolute must for Fiji! With high UV levels and long sunny days, you’re going to want to protect your skin. Many of us are now turning to sunscreen brands that not only protect our skin but also protect the places we are visiting. Fiji is blessed with beautiful and important coral reefs so wearing reef-safe sunscreen will ensure that your sunscreen is not releasing any nasty chemicals into the reef system. With that in mind, we have put together this list of environmentally-friendly sunscreens! All of the brands listed meet the following criteria:
- Reef-safe
- Better for your skin
- Biodegradable packaging.
Want an environmentally-friendly sunscreen that’s safe for the little ones? Take a look at our 5 Best Environmentally Friendly Sunscreen for Kids and Babies. You might also be interested in 12 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Fiji.
1. All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter and Lotion
A fantastic environmentally-friendly sunscreen brand is All Good. Coming in both sunscreen butter and lotions, you have a choice in how you want to protect yourself and the environment. What’s great about the butter is that it’s compact and great for on the go. However, the lotion is something more of us are used to. The sunscreens coming in SPF 30 and remains water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. The organic rosehips, green tea and buriti oil ingredients also help repair damaged skin. Being gluten-free, vegan, non-nano, biodegradable and coral reef-friendly is all but a big bonus!
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© Amazon2. Beauty by Earth Natural Mineral Sunscreen
Coming in a factor of SPF 25, Beauty by Earth Sunscreen a great option for both you and the kids. The fast-setting formula means you don’t need to hang around before jumping in the water, just apply and away you go! The mix of aloe vera, coconut oil and shea butter is great for your skin while the non-nano Zinc Oxide keeps the sun rays at bay. Plus, by coming in a 118ml/4fl.oz bottle, it is compact enough to pit in your day pack yet big enough to last most holidays in Fiji. For more tips on health and safety in Fiji, head to our How to Keep Safe in Fiji.
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© Amazon3. Sunblockz Baby and Kids Sunscreen Lotion
It’s never worth taking risks with the little ones, so high-SPF sunblock is a must! This SPF 50+ sunscreen is made with 100% natural ingredients with 24.5% zinc oxide for the ultimate sun protection. It’s safe to use on all skin types, but as will any sunscreen, make sure you reapply to the skin every one to two hours and immediately after swimming or towel-drying. The sunscreen is water-resistant too. For more tips on travelling with kids, take a look at our 29 Tips for Travelling to Fiji With Children.
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© Amazon4. Totlogic Natural Sunscreen
A particularly good hypoallergenic sunscreen, Totlogic Natural Sunscreen is great to use on both the body and the face. It’s tear-free, non-comedogenic and is safe to use on babies over six months old. It’s packed with all the good stuff: jojoba, hyaluronic acid, white tea, arnica, chamomile and lavender, as well as non-toxic chemicals. It’s eco-friendly, water-resistant and sweat-resistant and everything else packed into this 89ml/3fl.oz bottle!
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© Amazon5. Coconut Joe’s Natural & Organic Sunscreen
One of the more affordable reef-safe sunscreens on the list, Coconut Joe’s sunscreen is definitely worth getting if wanting to spend a little less – especially considering it comes in a whopping 237ml/8fl.oz bottle! The fragrance-free lotion gives the ultimate protection with non-nano zinc oxide with SPF 50. It ticks all the boxes for being eco-friendly, the only drawback is that it’s not water-resistant.
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© Amazon6. Beyond Coastal Face Stick Sunscreen
We all know that sunscreen needs to be applied to the face more often than the rest of the body, so these trusty face sticks will do just the job and are small enough to fit into your pocket. The Beyond Coastal Face Sticks also allow you to apply the sunscreen to your face without getting your hands messy. The simple formula only uses 12 ingredients making an SPF 30 sunscreen that protects from 97% of UVB rays. The sunscreen uses avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene to protect the skin; coconut oil, shea butter and ale vera to nourish the skin, natural vitamin E to hydrate the skin, and yerba mate leaf extract and beeswax to repair skin.
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© Amazon7. Tropical Seas Reef Safe Sunscreen
It might not look like much, but this cheap and cheerful 120ml/4fl.oz bottle of SPF 45+ sunscreen is a super environmentally-friendly sunscreen. The bottle will biodegrade in oceans, lakes and rivers and is non-toxic to marine life. The fragrance-free sunscreen is also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so is one that is super to protect both you and the ocean!
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© Amazon8. Tropical Sands SPF 30 Sunscreen
With the use of micronised minerals, Tropical Sands Sunscreen is less visible on the skin yet gives your skin the protection it needs. The sunscreen formula is 100% natural, using no harsh chemicals that will harm you or marine life. It’s also biodegradable and water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.
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© Amazon9. TropicSport Sunscreen
This SPF 30 sunscreen is gentle on the skin, free from harsh chemicals, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate and avobenzoe. If you’re looking for a reliable water-resistant sunscreen, then TropicSport has passed the FDA 80-minute and the Australian 4-hour water resistance test. What’s more, it’s reef-safe.
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© Amazon10. Sea Safe Marine Friendly Sunscreen
If you want something a little extra from your sunscreen, then consider getting Sea Safe Marine Friendly Sunscreen! Their sunscreen will leave your skin protected against harmful sunburns but also help prevent jellyfish and sea lice which is perfect for open water swimmers. The only downside that brings this to the bottom of our list is the inclusion of Octinoxate (not Oxybenzone) which could potentially be harmful to the health of reefs and may have impacts on humans with long-term use. This is why we chose to have it at number 10 on this list, good but not great. Check out more essentials to pack for Fiji here!
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© Safe SeaMore About the Best Environmentally Friendly Sunscreens and Other Health Tips
