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PROTECT YOUR SKIN WHILE
PROTECTING OUR OCEANS Sunscreen selection can be a nightmare – with so many to choose from and so much sun care jargon to decipher. By Tess De Klerk
The stark reality is that your choices are crucial for the protection of our oceans and reefs. When most people think of ocean pollution, they refer to plastic waste that finds its way into our seas and oceans, overlooking the estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen which enter the world’s reefs annually, according to the journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Fortunately, it is possible to protect your skin without destroying marine life and polluting our waters, so whether you are searching for sunscreen without health-harming chemicals or advocate for the environment at large, keep reading and find our selection of great ocean-friendly and reef-safe sunscreens.
NANOTISED VS. NON-NANO Wondering whether you should be avoiding physical, mineral or chemical SPFs? I would go for mineral every time but the main concern should be the size of the particles within the formulations. The vast majority of SPFs are formulated with nanotised particles
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(meaning they’re less than 100 nanometres) whereas “non-nano” means the particles are larger than 100 nanometres. But what’s so important about nanotised or “non-nano” particles? Nanoparticles tend to break down and dissolve in the ocean where they can be toxic to marine life, nonnano particles sink and become part of ocean sediment, posing less risk to marine life. Nanoparticles can also cause allergic reactions in humans and it is still unclear if these formulations end up in the bloodstream -yikes!
REN CLEAN SCREEN MINERAL SPF 30 Mattifying face sunscreen free of silicone. A nice consistency with ample protection without feeling heavy. Works well under make-up too. Our tester struggles with sunscreens anywhere near her sensitive eyes but had no issues with this REN screen. Cruelty-free and vegan with the added plus of the recyclable tube. ◗ www.renskincare.com/products/ clean-screen-mineral-spf-30mattifying-face-sunscreen
