Days spent basking in the sun are finally upon us but that also means that it is time to shift our skincare routines to the season and make sure you are protecting yourself from harmful UVA and UVB rays with sunscreen. 

Sunscreen! Everyone must wear sunscreen daily. It is the most important step in your skincare routine and can reduce your risk of skin cancer, protect you from sunburns, and prevent unwanted and premature wrinkles and fine lines. Picking the correct sunscreen can be overwhelming but we must emphasize the importance of choosing a sunscreen that is oxybenzone free! 

Oxybenzone is a common ingredient in sunscreen and can be very harmful to yourself and to our oceans. Why? Oxybenzone can seep into our body’s endocrine system and can cause health issues. It messes with the balance of our natural hormones and can produce an excess of estrogen, which is not ideal, and can be very harmful to fertility in men and women. It is also an irritant so if you have sensitive skin it can cause flare ups. It is also very harmful to the ecosystem of our oceans. It destroys our coral reefs and stops them from growing and flourishing, meaning that the homes of sea life are irreversibly suffering and dying because of something we have control over. We want to be able to snorkel and swim amongst the fish and other aquatic animals, see coral reefs and their beautiful colors, and we also want our children and future generations to see them one day too. 

So, what can we do? Go through your sunscreen and read the ingredients. If  the ingredients listed include oxybenzone or parabens, throw it out! Sunscreen also expires, so it is likely your sunscreen from last summer is old and not as effective. 

Don’t worry, we have you covered with a list of 2021’s best sunscreens that will not harm you or the sea.