If you are a regular on my blog, you’ll know I am writing a quick series on coral reefs. (See blog links at end of this blog).
My criteria for selecting coral reef safe sunscreen is this graph:
The only viable criteria for this, is option 2, namely non-micronised, non-nano Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide.
It is extremely rare to find a mineral sunscreen that just has Titanium Dioxide. I have only encountered it once with Clinique (and they soon changed their formulation).
Therefore, my list is principally a Zinc Oxide sunscreen list.
Its important that you appreciate that a normal Zinc Oxide sunscreen will leave a whitecast (especially the higher the % of Zinc Oxide). Some sunscreens mask the “whiteness” by adding colouring pigments (e.g.) iron oxide, to give the appearance of a tinted sunscreen.
I would encourage you to read this blog on how to recognise a nano/micronised mineral sunscreen from a non-nano/micronised one.
Products that I would buy
Note that the principal criteria here is CORAL REEF SAFETY and not the aesthetically pleasing value of the sunscreen OR the SPF protection offered.
I have written reviews on each one of them: they are not my favourite sunscreens, but they reef safe and that’s the critical hurdle to overcome
REN mineral sunscreen
Available for sale at cultbeauty. Current price is £3 for 30ml.
The Inkey List
Available for sale at this link. Current price is £15 for 50ml
Erbavria
Available for sale at this link. Current price is US$ 23 for 75ml. This sunscreen is not at all readily available, although it is one of the easiest to blend in.
Closing
There are many other mineral sunscreens in the USA that I have never used – when I go next summer to the US, I’ll update this blog. IN the meantime, if there are other sunscreens that folks use, then I am all ears and happy to test them. This brings us to the end of the coral reef safe sunscreen series. Any feedback is always welcome.