Reef-safe and Ocean-friendly Sunscreens You Can Get in Singapore

There is a whole gamut of sunscreens available in the market so it's almost impossible to choose which type to get based on what best suits your needs. 

If you particularly love swimming at the beach and engaging in sea and water activities like surfing, diving, and kayaking, be apprised that there are proper sunscreens you can use that are both beneficial for your skin and the planet.

As bodies of water are home to aquatic animals and marine life, it's imperative to ensure we do not impose and harm them when we swim on the beach. Save the Reef recommends going for sunscreens that use physical UVA and UVB filters instead of chemical ones, which deteriorate coral reefs. "Reef-friendly" sunscreens apparently are not regulated, so it pays to be mindful and check the active ingredients label of your sunscreens.

It's recommended to use micro-sized (or non-nano mineral sunscreens and to go for lotions over mists or sprays. A good starting point is to go over this list of ingredients to avoid, as identified by the Haeretics Environmental Laboratory.

Singaporeans, here are some reef-safe and ocean-friendly sunscreens you can snap up for your next trip to the beach!

Sunscreen Mineral SPF 35 by Raw Love

This reef-safe sunscreen by Raw Love contains non-nano zinc oxide as its active ingredients, which is one out of the 17 active ingredients approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sunscreens. What makes zinc oxide unique compared to other ingredients is that it's broad-spectrum, which protects the skin from UVA, UVB, and UVC.

This sunscreen, which comes in an eco-friendly tin container, is mixed with natural oils like cold-pressed unrefined coconut oil, raw shea butter, sesame oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, carrot seed oil, and pure essential oils. You can snap a two-ounce tin of this sunscreen on Ninth Avenue Singapore for S$77.

Organic Sun Paste SPF 50 by MANDA

This physical sunscreen likewise uses non-nano zinc oxide as its active ingredient and is perfect for nature lovers like surfers, hikers, athletes, and adventurers. It is reef-safe, kid-friendly, cruelty-free, and chemical- free. Other natural and organic ingredients include coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, Thanaka, cacao powder, shea butter, and cinnamon oil.

It also comes in a cute bamboo tin which you can reuse or recycle once you've finished up your sunscreen. You can get a 1.4-ounce container of MANDA Organic Sun Paste on Ninth Avenue Singapore for S$99.

SPF 50+ Natural Clear Zinc Sunscreen by Ethical Zinc

This sunscreen by Ethical Zinc offers very high broad-spectrum protection with a sun protection factor of over 50. Water resistant for up to four hours, the Natural Clear Zinc Sunscreen is not just suitable for swimming but also for other activities such as hiking or running. It has a light vanilla scent and is reef- and ocean-safe, as well as preservative- and cruelty-free.

You can buy a 100-gram tube of this Australian-made sunscreen for S$25 on Ethical Zinc's website.

Full Spectrum 360° Mineral Sun Silk Crème Sunscreen SPF 30 by COOLA

If you have oily or sensitive skin, look no further than this lightweight, oil- and fragrance-free sunscreen by COOLA. It utilises non-nano zinc oxide for UVA/UVB protection while its "Full Spectrum 360° complex" aids in reducing the effects of High Energy Visible (HEV) light like blue light, infrared, and pollution.

This sunscreen boasts of more than 70 certified organic ingredients and is vegan, non-GMO, gluten- and paraben-free, and of course, reef-friendly! Since it's so lightweight, you may also use this sunscreen under your makeup without looking cakey.

A 44-millilitre bottle of this sunscreen is available on The Naturally Better Company's website for S$76.