It concerns a total of 10 substances that were banned at the turn of 2019/2020 in Palau. Palau became the first country in the world to ban chemical sunscreen filters in 2019/2020. It was about time since these substances are so toxic that they kill coral reefs. The substances in question are:
oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)
octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate)
octocrylene
4-methyl-benzylidene camphor
triclosan
methyl paraben
ethyl paraben
butyl paraben
benzyl paraben
phenoxyethanol
All these substances have of course been prohibited by us from the very beginning. We believe conventional sunscreens are completely unacceptable. Phenoxyethanol stands out to us because it's a common preservative found in many natural and organic cosmetic products. Phenoxyethanol is present in everything from hair care products to various skin care products. Many consider it a better alternative to parabens, but we firmly maintain that it's not good enough. We have already seen how mass tourism killed the coral reefs at "Leonardo DiCaprio's beach" (the movie The Beach which was filmed on a Thai beach).A mixture of chemicals from sunscreens, littering, and lack of respect for our nature quickly destroyed the paradise-like beach. It's time to ban all chemical sunscreen filters, as they eventually end up in our water through bathing, showering, and urination (the substances are absorbed into our bodies and some are excreted through urine). It may feel like a big step, but why wait until it's too late? Now we have the chance to prevent environmental damage, so we can preserve them in better condition for the next generation.
You can read more about the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens and what you should avoid. All our sunscreens are safe for coral reefs, without harmful ingredients and without nanoparticles. They are therefore gentle on our health and our water (coral reef safe). They are free from chemical sunscreen filters and harmful preservatives.
