You might have heard this bummer of a fact: An ingredient in chemical sunscreens — oxybenzone — is believed to contribute to the death of coral reefs. That’s no small matter when an estimated 5,000 tons of sunscreen end up in the water near coral reefs worldwide.
The problem is bad enough that Hawaii is considering banning so-called reef-unfriendly sunscreens. Though there are probably many reasons, not just oxybenzone, that reefs are dying, it’s probably good for their sake — and your skin’s — to avoid it.
Hence this list of totally reef-safe face sunscreens, all of which have non-nano (that means healthier for your body) zinc oxide, offer protection from UVA and UVB rays, and are made with surfers in mind.
Being physical sunscreens (that work by forming a physical barrier from the sun, not by chemical reactions) they only work when they go on thick and stay put. That’s why we put each of these all-natural products to the test in the sun and surf of Southern California. Here’s what we found:
Manda Organic Sun Paste
What Is It? As earth-friendly as all of these sunscreens are, they each rely on zinc oxide — whose component mineral must be mined from the earth — for solar protection. This offering from California-based Manda, a company started by surfer and filmmaker Cyrus Sutton, seeks to alleviate that impact by using very little zinc. As a supplement, it contains thanaka, a paste made from the ground bark of a tree native to Myanmar. The other ingredients are coconut oil, beeswax, cacao, cocao butter, shea butter, and cinnamon oil.
Does It Work? Even though it’s distracting to have cinnamon rolls on your mind while you surf, the cinnamon scent is nice. Manda recommends letting the paste warm in the sun before application. Even when you do that, this product has a slightly less even consistency than others, so it’s a bit harder to get a thick, even coat. At $18 per 15-gram container, Manda’s Organic Sun Paste is the most expensive product on this list, but possibly the most sustainable as well.
Surf Mud
What Is It? This Australian-made stuff is more than a quarter zinc, with the remainder of the formula made up by organic bees wax, mineral oil, natural lanolin, coconut oil, Australia clay and iron oxides. A 50-gram container will run you $19.95.
Does It Work? This stuff has a very thick, smooth consistency that almost feels more like make-up than sunscreen; the word “mud” in the product name is well-deserved — a greasy mud. If you want to be seriously protected from heavy sun exposure, you might really like it. If you don’t want to go around looking like an aging TV-anchor caked with nearly-bronze makeup, maybe not.
Surfscreen
What Is It? The face stick from this San Diego-based company is 20 percent zinc, plus beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter, cacao, and shea Butter. Its texture is slightly waxier than other suncreens on this list, with very little of the greasy-feeling residue. Thirty-one dollars buys you a 14-gram face stick and 28-gram tube (sold together).
Does It Work? Science says yes! Surfscreen publishes on their website the slightly confusing results of FDA tests apparently showing that their products work. We’ll take their word for it. We do know that their face stick goes on nicely, though owing to its waxy consistency it is harder to apply in a thick, even coat. In the harshest environments, where you want an impenetrable armor against the sun, you might consider using something else. For lighter applications, knock yourself out.
Surfyogis
What is it? You could probably scoop this into your morning coffee and make a nice mocha, because along with the zinc, it’s got cocoa powder, coffee extract, vanilla bean, beeswax and castor oil. There’s free shipping to the U.S. if you buy five 60-gram containers at $25 each.
Does it work? Made in Bali, this stuff is apparently meant for tropical climes. It has a bit of a sticky consistency, so working it onto the skin can be a bit of a chore but it goes on thick and stays in place. Be advised that the color is an earthy purple, which might give people one more reason to call you a “Barney.”
Raw Elements
What is it? This non-GMO verified, cruelty-free certified, natural products association certified sunblock has a familiar list of beeswax and plant extracts: tea leaf, cannabis seed oil, coffee bean extract, sunflower oil, mango butter, and cocoa butter. At $16 for a 17-gram face stick, it’s one of the spendier options here.
Does it work? It goes on easily, though it’s on the greasy side and hard to get a thick coat. It also contains rosemary, so if you roast in the sun while wearing it, you might end up smelling like a medium-rare pork chop.
Banx Block
What is it? Made by a plastic surgeon on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, this stuff is made from shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil, aloe vera juice, and plant extracts like chamomile flowers and tea leaves. $10 per 14-gram face stick.
Does it work? It goes on without feeling greasy but seems a bit thin. Probably not the best choice for blistering sun.
Fonte: We Tested 6 Reef-Safe Face Sunscreens | The Inertia
We Tested 6 Reef-Safe Face Sunscreens | The Inertia
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