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When it comes time to pack for a beach vacation, sunscreen is at the top of the list along with your favorite swimsuit, sunglasses and hat. However, depending on where you’re headed, you’ll want to inspect that sunscreen label closely. Many island vacation destinations have sunscreen regulations in place to protect local oceans from ingredients that could potentially affect coral reefs and other marine life. To make sure you’re prepared to stay safe in the sun and comply with local laws, we’ve got the lowdown on everything you need to know, including:
In recent years, a number of island communities have passed laws to limit or ban the use of sunscreens with certain chemical UV blockers that could be potentially harmful to coral reefs and other marine life.
In 2019, the U.S. Virgin Islands banned the sale of sunscreens with octinoxate and oxybenzone, two popular UV filters used in many sunscreen formulas. In 2021, the state of Hawaii and Florida beach destination Key West banned both the use and sale of sunscreens containing octinoxate and oxybenzone. In response to these bans, many sunscreen brands started labeling their octinoxate- and oxybenzone-free formulas as “reef-safe sunscreen.”
In 2022, two counties in Hawaii went a step further by banning all sunscreens with chemical blockers—not only octinoxate and oxybenzone but also octocrylene, avobenzone and homosalate. These counties, Hawaii County and Maui County, together comprise the Big Island of Hawaii as well as Maui, Molokai and Lanai. In these areas, only mineral-based sunscreens (also called physical sunscreens) that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to filter UV rays can be used and sold.
What makes sunscreen reef-safe? To comply with local laws in Hawaii, Key West or the U.S. Virgin Islands, a reef-safe sunscreen is a physical sunscreen with mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that is also entirely free of chemical UV filters.
These ten mineral sunscreens below have formulas that comply with local regulations in all of the aforementioned island locations. “They also provide broad-spectrum coverage, meaning they will help protect your skin from the sun’s two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB, which can cause visible signs of aging and sunburn, respectively,” says board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Joel Schlessinger.
If you prefer to pack light on vacation, multitasking skin care products can be a lifesaver. This facial moisturizer combines the powerful protection of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with the anti-aging benefits of a day cream. It features 2% titanium dioxide and 15% zinc oxide for UV protection, squalane to boost moisture retention and ginger root extract to help improve uneven skin tone and dark spots. You can choose between tinted and untinted formulas depending on your preference.
One of Barcelona-based skin care brand ISDIN’s bestsellers, this face sunscreen has a silky, lightweight texture that absorbs quickly into skin and wears well under makeup. It provides broad-spectrum protection with 11% zinc oxide and is water-resistant up to forty minutes. It also provides anti-aging benefits as well by boosting your skin’s natural defenses with vitamin E and DNA Repairsomes, a patented ingredient that works to repair sun damage when exposed to light thanks to photolyase, an enzyme derived from marine plankton.
Another fantastic sunscreen for Hawaii if you prefer a tinted face sunscreen, this all-mineral formula disguises imperfections with a subtle universal tint made from translucent color spheres. With a lightweight fluid texture and broad-spectrum protection from 5% zinc oxide and 6% titanium dioxide, it dries to a natural finish without a white cast. It’s also free of fragrance and provides up to forty minutes of water resistance for your time in and around the water.
If you prefer a dewy finish with your face sunscreen, this formula from ALASTIN Skincare is a fantastic option. It offers effective sun protection with 8.9% titanium dioxide and 3.4% zinc oxide and features a radiant tint that dries to a soft, glowy finish. In addition to being fragrance-free and reef-safe, it also offers forty minutes of water resistance and contains antioxidants to help protect your skin from pollution, infrared rays and blue light as well.
Known for its tinted face sunscreens with finishes ranging from glowy to matte, Colorescience also makes this untinted formula with 10% zinc oxide and—as the name describes—a no-show, sheer finish on most skin tones. It provides forty minutes of water resistance and broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. The addition of chamomile extract and allantoin, two skin-soothing ingredients, also make it a great sunscreen for Hawaii if you have sensitive skin.
Looking for reef-safe sunscreen for Hawaii that you can wear on both your face and body? This formula from French brand Avene is suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. It’s even approved by the National Eczema Association. Zinc oxide (11%) provides broad-spectrum UV protection while chamomile extract and allantoin help soothe skin and minimize irritation.
If you love a good two-for-one product, you’ll want to pack this sunscreen for Hawaii. A combination sunscreen and face primer, this formula has a medium tint and a matte finish that you can wear alone or under makeup. Thanks to 3% zinc oxide and 8% titanium dioxide, it helps protect your skin from the sun’s aging UVA rays and burning UVB rays, so you can enjoy the beach without risking damage to your skin.
A great body sunscreen for Hawaii and Key West, this hydrating lotion formula provides broad-spectrum protection with a blend of two mineral filters, 7% zinc oxide and 3% titanium dioxide. With eighty-minute water resistance, it’s the perfect protection for a day of swimming, snorkeling or water sports at the beach. It’s with skin-nourishing organic ingredients such as aloe, coconut oil and jojoba seed oil and is entirely fragrance-free.
If you need sunscreen for Hawaii for a family trip with kiddos, this reef-safe sunscreen lotion belongs in your beach bag. “This mineral sunscreen does take a bit of effort to rub in and leaves a slight white cast on the skin, but that doesn’t bother most children, and it does a fantastic job providing broad-spectrum protection for young skin,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist as well as Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. It contains 10% zinc oxide and 5.5% titanium dioxide and offers up to eighty minutes of water resistance.
If you prefer a spray sunscreen to a traditional cream-based formula, this option from Sonrei is made with 15% zinc oxide and is Hawaii-approved. It has a continuous mist spray that goes on white and then rubs in clear, so you can easily see where you’ve applied it on your child’s body. It also contains skin-soothing ingredients, such as aloe leaf juice and shea butter, to protect against dryness during a day at the beach.
As an extra layer of sun safety, both Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger recommend bringing a supplement such as HELIOCARE on your vacation to Hawaii or other beach destinations. “HELIOCARE contains Polypodium leucotomos extract, an antioxidant-packed ingredient derived from tropical ferns that helps bolster your immune response and enhance UV protection,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. You can learn more about the sun safety benefits of HELIOCARE and other sun protection supplements on the LovelySkin Blog.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
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