The Facts About Reef Safe Sunscreen & Why Its Important

Did you know that all NIVEA sunscreen is reef safe? Find out more about what reef safe sunscreen really means.

Did You Know That All NIVEA Sunscreen Is Reef Safe?

Here at NIVEA, we care about protecting our coral reefs from extra unnecessary damage caused by sunscreens. That's why our formulas are reef safe. We want you to stay protected against the sun's harmful UV rays at the same time as reducing the impact on the environment. Sun safety doesn't have to be compromised in order to do your bit for the environment thanks to our reef safe sunscreen.

Why Is It Important To Protect Our Coral Reefs?

Coral reefs are large underwater structures, either soft or hard, that gradually grow to form large features of the marine environment. Coral reefs don't just look pretty, they're an important part of the Earth's ecosystem, and are relied upon for food by 25% of all known marine species for food, shelter, and breeding. Coral reefs also generate half of Earth's oxygen and absorb nearly one-third of the carbon dioxide we produce from burning fossil fuels. Therefore, it's important to protect the Earth's coral reefs, because they're vital to maintaining healthy oceans, which is vital to all life on Earth.

One way we can protect the coral reefs in our oceans is by using reef safe sunscreen or reef friendly sunscreen. At NIVEA, we understand the importance of protecting and reducing our impact on these coral reefs, which is why all of our sunscreen is free from oxybenzone and octinoxate, making it reef safe sunscreen.

What Does Reef Safe Sunscreen Mean?

A sunscreen can only be deemed reef safe or reef friendly if it does not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are two common UV-blocking chemicals that have been found to cause coral bleaching, meaning the once vibrant and beautiful coral reefs in our oceans have been turned white. This leaves the coral susceptible to disease and often leads to coral reefs dying.

What Can You Do To Help Protect Our Coral Reefs From Further Damage?

Use reef safe sunscreen that do not contain oxybenzone or octinoxate - all NIVEA sunscreen is reef safe and reef friendly sunscreen.
Look for water-resistant sunscreen - this will reduce the amount of sunscreen that gets left in the ocean as more will stay on your skin, not to mention this is much better for protecting your skin against sun overexposure while out in the ocean.
Try biodegradable sunscreen - this means the sunscreen will break down in the ocean.
Wear protective clothing - if you're not using NIVEA sunscreen and your sunscreen is not reef safe sunscreen, by wearing protective clothing, you'll need to reapply sunscreen less often which means less sunscreen will make its way into the ocean.

What is biodegradable sunscreen?

Biodegradable sunscreen means the materials will break down within a reasonably short period of time so that they don't linger in the surrounding environment. The NIVEA SUN Protect & Moisture sunscreen range is all biodegradable sunscreen, and is free from Octocrylene, Octinoxate and Oxybenzone. It breaks down to minimise impact on our precious coral reefs. Not only this but the NIVEA SUN Protect & Moisture Sunscreen provides long-lasting and intensive moisture that is water-resistant still, and so it will effectively protect your skin against sun overexposure. Try a 'Which? Best Buy' product of June 2024, the NIVEA SUN Protect & Moisture Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30.

Does Reef Safe Mean I'll Be Less Protected Against The Sun?

No, all NIVEA reef safe sunscreen provides you with highly effective and reliable immediate UVA/UVB protection.

This is important because UVA sun rays, which are responsible for your skin getting darker when exposed to the sun, penetrates the deepest layers of the skin and can cause some forms of skin cancer. Protection against UVB sun rays is important because these are responsible for early signs of aging such as wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, and dark spots. NIVEA reef safe sunscreen protects you from both UV rays, so you can be sure you're getting the right protection from the sun and staying safe in the sun. Not only will NIVEA reef safe sunscreen protect you from the sun, they're also hydrating and caring for your skin.

All our reef safe sunscreens are water-resistant, which helps to limit the amount of sunscreen that goes into the ocean from our bodies when swimming. The NIVEA SUN Protect & Dry Touch Sunscreen range is extra water-resistant and has a light, non-greasy & fast-absorbing formula. Try the NIVEA Protect & Dry Touch Invisible Sunscreen Spray SPF30 for a reef safe sunscreen that has easy application, is a 100% transparent formula meaning it will leave no white marks and is non-greasy on your skin.