Biodegradable Sunscreen

Coral Protection

Biodegradable sunscreen: Coral Protection

A special consideration for the vacation luggage to Mexico should be the right sunscreen. Because we have to protect our skin against the strong sun and dangerous UV rays. However, the chemicals used in traditional sunscreen destroy corals and are harmful to marine life. Therefore, sunscreen not allowed anymore in most natural parks of the Riviera Maya and also on Cozumel. Outside the parks, biological sun protection is recommended, which does not contain any chemical ingredients or harmful nano-particles and therefore do not destroy the corals.
The best Sun Protection for Mexico
Biodegradable Sunscreen Suntribe

Suntribe BIO Sunscreen

Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 30

Order here
Reef friendly sun protection ONeil

Sun Shirt O’Neill

Skin friendly Rash Guard

Order here
Even though many researches about the toxicity of sunscreen exist, many tourists still use conventional sunscreen. Most people are not aware of how much they harm the corals. Especially in popular areas, where many people like to swim, the concentration of the harmful substances from chemical sunscreens increases. According to the US Marine Agency NOAA, up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen ends up every year in seas with coral reefs. The result is coral bleaching and displacement of fish from their habitat.

In this article, we give some recommendations on what to consider when buying biodegradable sunscreen for your Mexican vacation. If you would like to buy biodegradable sunscreen, further down we have listet harmless sunscreens for Mexico.

Day Excursions in Mexico

>> All day excursions in Mexico
This might be also of interest:
-> The best Tequila from Mexico

-> The best Cozumel Excursions

-> Riviera Maya Excursions

Biodegradable sunscreen – What is that?

Biodegradable sunscreen: Environmentally friendly sun protection

Biodegradable sunscreen: Environmentally friendly sun protection

Environmentally friendly sunscreen is free of chemical ingredients that often occur in conventional sunscreen. Life in the water is not damaged if the sunscreen washes off while bathing, snorkeling or surfing. Biodegradable sunscreen uses no harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone, octocrylene and parabens, which protect against UV radiation but also harm the environment.

For these reasons, sunscreen has been banned in some areas of Mexico to protect the corals from further damage. It is not always clear which sunscreen is 100% environmentally friendly – the ingredients are too diverse for that. For example, in the freshwater cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula, strict attention is paid to water quality. Some of this water is still used as drinking water. Cozumel also takes great care to protect its coral reefs. Here you have to go without sun protection or put on a shirt to protect your skin (which offers the best protection from the strong sun anyway).

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Conventional sunscreen is one of the main reasons for coral death
The best Sun Protection for Mexico
Biodegradable Sun Protection Ey Sunspray

Suntribe BIO Sunscreen

Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 30

Order here
Biodegradable Sunscreen ECO

ECO Sunscreen

SPF 30+, waterproof, without Micro plastic

Order here

Biodegradable sun protection for Mexico – How do you recognize it?

Biodegradable Sun Protection Reef Friendly

Biodegradable sun protection is not so easy to identify.

Many manufacturers describe their sun protection as environmentally friendly, even as vegan. This sounds nice and there are pretty logos on the packages such as reef-friendly, fish-friendly etc. which symbolize the environmental compatibility of the sunscreen.

However, the logos are often designed by the companies themselves. Unfortunately, these marketing phrases cannot be trusted. Because the list of ingredients all too often contains chemical elements. In conventional drugstores, there are some sun protections that use fewer pollutants than others. However, these creams do not guarantee comprehensive protection for the underwater world.

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An environmentally friendly sunscreen does not contain any chemical ingredients.
The best Sun Protection for Mexico
Sun Protection Cressi Shirt

Cressi Woman Rash Guard

Shirt with UV Sun Protection 50+

Order here
Sun Protection Scubapro Men

Scubapro Men Rash Guard

Sun Protection Shirt for Men with SPF 50

Order here
This might be also of interest:
-> The best Tequila from Mexico

-> The best Cozumel Excursions

-> Riviera Maya Excursions

Which ingredients in sunscreens are harmful to the environment?

Environmental friendly sun protection for healthy coral reefs

Environmental friendly sun protection for healthy coral reefs

If it is not explicitly stated, sunscreen is not environmentally friendly. The following ingredients are harmful to corals and fish: PABA, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor and Butylparaben. These oils dissolve while swimming and settle on the corals like an invisible film. Harmful sunscreen is one of the main reasons for coral bleaching! We looked at different manufacturers of sunscreen and have checked the ingredients carefully.
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PABA, octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzene camphor and butyl parabens are environmentally harmful components in conventional sunscreens
If you would like take care of the corals while on vacation and still don’t want to go without sun protection, you should get a biodegradable sunscreen online. Below we give a few tips for good biodegradable sun creams with a high protection factor. We have supplemented this compilation with protective Lycras, from our point of view anyway the safest protection against harmful UV rays.

For your safety in the sun and happy fish.

How to enjoy the sun without harming the environment

Biodegradable sunscreen reef friendly

Environmental friendly sun protection: El Sombrero

On the packages of sunscreens, there are indications for carefree sunbathing. Sunscreen should always be applied one hour before enjoying the sun. Then the sun protection is completely absorbed into the skin and will no longer wash off in the water. The biggest problem for our corals are tourists, who apply sunscreen just before entering the water. This sunscreen can then be found very quickly on the water surface like a lubricating film. And the protection is gone anyway, nothing is left on the skin.

A wide-brimmed hat brings shadows to the face and thus protects the particularly sensitive skin on the face from the aggressive sun rays. That is why the sombreros, sun hats with a very wide brim, are so popular in Mexico. They do not only offer excellent sun protection, they are also a wonderful souvenir from Mexico.

Tour guides, diving instructors, snorkeling guides – they all do not use sunscreen but UV clothing. Rash guards and wetsuits are the best way to protect your skin from the sun. And whenever you can – seek out for shadows.

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Sunscreen should be applied at least one hour before swimming in the ocean. Then the sunscreen does not wash off in the water.
Biodegradable Sun Protection – our recommendations
Biodegradable sun protection Badger

Badger Sun Protection

Biodegradable with SPF 30

Order here
Biodegradable sun protection Badger

Sunscreen for Babys

For sensible skin with SPF 30

Order here
Reef friendly sun protection ONeil

O’Neill Sun Shirt

Woman Rash Guard

Order here
Feer Friendly O'Neill

O’Neill Sun Shirt

Men Rash Guard

Order here

Summary

  • Applying sunscreen is prohibited in many Mexican national parks
  • Biodegradable sun protection does not contain any chemical substances that damage the underwater world
  • The best sun protection in the water is sun protective clothing

AFFILIATE LINKS

This article contains product recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you buy something through these affiliate links, we get a small commission. This does not change the price for you.

Hello, my name is Birgit and I write about interesting topics around vacations in Mexico and traveling on the Yucatan peninsula. I would love to hear from you and I am always happy to receive ideas and recommendations for new articles.

Enjoy reading!!!

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