Beauty Journal
Sunscreen Bans Around the World: What's Happening and Why Certification Matters
Several countries have already banned certain sunscreen filters because they harm coral reefs. Where the bans apply, what the EcoSun Pass seal means, and what to check on your sunscreen before you travel.
You protect your skin from the sun. But what happens to that sunscreen when you go for a swim? It ends up in the water. Every day, around the world, thousands of tons of sunscreen filters are estimated to enter the oceans. And not all filters are equal: some damage coral reefs, kill coral larvae and disrupt marine ecosystems. That's why more and more countries are banning sunscreens with certain ingredients. And that's why certification makes the difference.
What happens to corals when you swim with the wrong sunscreen
The main culprits are two chemical filters found in most commercial sunscreens: oxybenzone and octinoxate. Scientific studies show that these substances, even at very low concentrations, cause coral bleaching, DNA damage, deformities and death in larvae. Oxybenzone in particular makes corals more vulnerable to heat bleaching, weakening the ability of reefs to regenerate. They're not the only ones: octocrylene also breaks down into benzophenone, a compound that's toxic to aquatic organisms.
Where regular sunscreens are already banned
The list of places that have introduced bans or restrictions on sunscreens with toxic chemical filters grows every year:
→ Palau: the first country in the world to ban sunscreens with toxic chemical filters nationwide (2020). Banned products are confiscated from tourists when they enter the country. Sellers of non-compliant products face fines of up to $1,000.
→ Hawaii: the first US state to ban the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate (in effect since 2021). Maui County and Hawaii County went further: since 2022 they allow only mineral sunscreens.
→ US Virgin Islands: oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene are banned. It's the strictest ban in the United States, covering sale, distribution and import.
→ Key West, Florida: a ban on the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate was voted in 2019, although the governor of Florida tried to overturn it at the state level.
→ Bonaire: oxybenzone and octinoxate banned since 2021. The Caribbean island, one of the most protected diving destinations in the world, charges divers a fee that goes to reef protection.
→ Aruba: oxybenzone banned since July 2020. The ban is part of a wider package that also includes a ban on single-use plastics.
→ Thailand: since 2021, sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and butylparaben have been banned in all national parks.
→ Mexico: there's no national ban, but many tourist areas require eco-friendly sunscreen for anyone getting in the water.
EcoSun Pass: what it really means
"Reef friendly" and "eco-friendly" are not regulated terms. Any brand can put them on a label without anyone checking. EcoSun Pass is different: it's a certification issued by a third-party body that tests formulas to verify they don't harm marine ecosystems and coral reefs.
Leaving out oxybenzone isn't enough: you have to prove the formula's UV filters are compatible with marine life. That's exactly what EcoSun Pass does.
Essere sunscreens and compliance
Every SPF product in the Be Sunny line is EcoSun Pass certified: Face Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50, Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ and Sunny Hair Mist SPF 15.
The formulas contain no oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene.
The line's complementary products (Marine Hair & Body Wash, Marine After-Sun Lotion and Blue Ocean Marine) are not EcoSun Pass certified (the certification specifically covers UV filters), but they're formulated with up to 96% natural origin ingredients, plus ingredients chosen for recovery and hydration during the summer months.
What to do before you travel
Before you plan a trip to a destination with marine protected areas, check the ingredients in your sunscreen. The filters to avoid are oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and octocrylene. If your sunscreen contains them, it won't comply in most destinations with restrictions.
An EcoSun Pass certified sunscreen gives you the certainty that the formula has been tested so it won't harm marine life. It's one more guarantee compared to a generic "reef friendly" on the label.
Essere Bio sunscreens are all EcoSun Pass certified. Ingredients from organic farming, vegan, cruelty-free, nickel tested < 0.0001%.
On essere.bio.
