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More areas in Hawaii are banning certain sunscreens when a new law goes into effect later this year.

Hawaii County passed a law banning the sale of non-mineral sunscreens. This means sunscreens containing any active ingredient other than titanium dioxide and zinc oxide will be banned from sale on Hawaii Island starting December 1.

In 2018, Hawaii became the first state to pass a law prohibiting the sale of over-the-counter sunscreens with the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Lawmakers say these ingredients are contributing to the destruction of the state’s coral reefs and other ocean life. The law went into effect on January 1, 2021.

Starting on October 1, 2022, only mineral sunscreens will be allowed in Maui County. The county made this decision because chemicals in some sunscreens can wash off bodies and harm coral and other marine life. The sale, distribution, and use of non-mineral sunscreens are banned without a prescription.

SaveTheReef is a project dedicated to saving the world’s oceans and marine life through several initiatives. 

It says “these ingredients form an actual physical block to shield skin from absorbing any rays (whereas chemical filters absorb UV and turn it into heat that’s released from the skin.) They come in a couple of different options. Both nanoparticles — a smaller particle size — and traditional zinc oxide sunscreens are both safe and effective, and both will be considered safe for reefs,” explains Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City for SavetheReef.org. “The only difference is the cosmetic feel on the skin.”

Reef-friendly SPF uses physical UVA and UVB filters instead of chemical ones. To find reef-safe sunscreen, look for these active ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  Hawaii.com put together this list you can find at most retailers. 

To make sure your sunscreen is “reef friendly,” SaveTheReef.org says to make sure it does not have these ingredients:

Other beach-focused destinations have taken similar steps to protect coral reefs.

Island nations including Palau, Bonaire, and Aruba have also banned oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens. The Florida Keys also passed a similar ban in Key West. 

When you visit the U.S. Virgin Islands you are asked to only use mineral sunscreen. Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene have been prohibited since July 2019.

To read more about the sunscreen ban, check out Hawaii Is Now Banning Certain Types Of Sunscreen, Here’s Why. For more on Hawaii, explore these articles:

Allison loves learning about new people and places and always jumps at the chance to take a trip. Whether it's visiting a town in her area or traveling across the country, she's up to explore!

She has traveled outside the U.S. several times including trips to London, Switzerland, and a cruise through the Western Caribbean. Her favorite travel memory is visiting Sundsvall, Sweden, her great grandfather's birthplace. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with him, so it was special to see where he was born. It looked very similar to the town where she grew up in New York. Within the U.S., she continues to check states off the list, most recently making a trip to Alaska for her honeymoon.

Allison spent almost 20 years of her career as a TV news anchor. She’s covered everything from political conventions to Super Bowl LV to hurricanes and, most recently, the pandemic. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She's been recognized for her work nationally and regionally by organizations including the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.