Tell me more about this reef-friendly sunscreen?

This reef-friendly sunscreen from Green People is a medium factor SPF15, fragrance-free, broad-spectrum sun cream. This sunscreen has the added benefit of containing a higher concentration of edelweiss which is a natural tan accelerator meaning you can be sun safe whilst building up the natural, sun-kissed glow we all love! Rich in antioxidants and made using 86% certified organic ingredients, it is suitable to protect even the most delicate and sensitive skin, particularly skin that suffers from prickly heat. This physical sunscreen is also water repellent but is non-pore clogging, allowing your skin to breathe, whilst being cruelty-free and vegan. If you’d like a higher factor sunscreen, take a look at our reef-friendly SPF30 sunscreen.

We love this sunscreen because it is firstly, a great all-round sunscreen but is also reef-friendly (more on that below). In fact, The Independent named it one of their favourite eco-friendly sunscreens! It is quite a thick cream, due to it being a physical sunscreen versus a chemical sunscreen but we found that once you rub it in, it disappears on the skin without leaving a white cast or greasiness. Due to its gentle ingredients like aloe vera, green tea and edelweiss, we have found it to be moisturising and very gentle which means it has been great to use on all members of the family (although if you’d like an even gentler children’s sun cream then head over and have a look at our reef-friendly sunscreen for kids).

Green People supports the Marine Conservation Society, the UK charity protecting our seas, shores & wildlife. 20p will be donated to the Marine Conservation Society from each sale of this product, plus the usual 20% of the profit from all Chimney Sheep sales that go towards our Community Interest Company, Buy Land Plant Trees.

What are the ingredients in this sunscreen?

This reef-friendly sunscreen SPF15 is full of skin-loving ingredients. It is fragrance-free which means that it is fantastic for sensitive skin. Here are some of the key ingredients:

• Aloe Vera - nutrient-rich, Aloe Vera is great for naturally soothing and hydrating skin. Very important when protecting against the sun!
• Edelweiss - antioxidant-rich Edelweiss offers powerful protection against free radical damage (which means protection from pollution basically). Some studies have shown it to be more effective than the common antioxidant, vitamin C. This is also the ingredient that acts as a natural tan accelerator.
• Avocado oil - nutrient-rich Avocado oil protects skin from damaging free radicals.
• Green Tea – antioxidant-rich Green Tea can protect the skin from oxidative damage and collagen breakdown. It works brilliantly in conjunction with UV filters to help protect the skin.
• Chamomile Oil (German) - anti-inflammatory German Chamomile helps to calm skin, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

The full ingredient list for this reef-friendly sunscreen is:

AQUA (PURE WATER), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL*, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, CETEARYL ALCOHOL (EMULSIFYING PLANT WAX), ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) OIL*^, ISOAMYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE (NATURALLY OCCURRING UV-FILTER), DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), TITANIUM DIOXIDE [NANO] (MINERAL UV-FILTER), RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL CERA (BERRY WAX), LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM (EDELWEISS) LEAF EXTRACT*, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE POWDER*, FUCUS SERRATUS (SEAWEED) EXTRACT*, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (CHAMOMILE) FLOWER EXTRACT*, ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS (MARSHMALLOW) ROOT EXTRACT*, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL*, CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT*, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT*, INOSITOL (FROM CAROB FRUITS), COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (MYRRH) OIL^, AROMA [LAVANDULA HYBRIDA (LAVANDIN) HERB OIL*], CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), GLUCONOLACTONE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, GLYCERIN, STEARIC ACID, CALCIUM GLUCONATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, CITRIC ACID, PHYTIC ACID, LINALOOL*, LIMONENE*, GERANIOL*.  *86.4% CERTIFIED ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL INGREDIENTS, ^FAIRLY TRADED

What is the packaging made from?

The packaging for this reef-friendly sunscreen SPF15 is one of the many reasons we love it! The bottle is made with bioplastic made of sugar cane (which has been farmed sustainably) PE packaging. The cap is a PP plastic cap. Both parts of the bottle are fully recyclable via your normal recycling (just pop it in with the rest of your plastic recycling). Who knows, once you’ve recycled it, it might be repurposed into one of our products made of recycled plastic!

How do I use this sunscreen?

To use over your whole body, pour about 30ml sunscreen into your cupped palm then apply about 20 minutes before exposure to the sun. If you are just applying to your face and neck, use the two-finger rule to ensure you are using enough sun cream to give you the right amount of protection. Reapply every 2 to 4 hours depending on the intensity of sunlight. Always reapply after swimming.

How is this sunscreen reef-friendly?

This sunscreen is reef-friendly because it doesn’t contain the UV-blocking chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. For some context…in 2018, the Hawaii Reef Bill was passed, making Hawaii the first nation to ban sunscreens containing these two chemicals. This was due to a study, published in the journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 2015 that found the chemicals to have a range of effects on coral, including the survival rates of developing coral, the bleaching of coral and genetic damage to coral and other organisms. It also found both chemicals can induce feminisation in adult male fish and increase reproductive diseases in numerous sea creatures. In Hawaii, they saw that the chemicals were starting to induce neurological behavioural changes in fish, impacting other marine life such as sea turtles. Hawaii’s action caused many brands and consumers to take action, using and creating sunscreens that didn’t contain either oxybenzone or octinoxate to help protect coral reefs worldwide. Instead, many people started using what is called ‘physical’ or ‘mineral’ sunscreens versus chemical sunscreens. With tough regulations around sun protection, these sunscreens are just as effective as chemical sunscreens with this one meeting all European UVA protection standards. They sit on top of the skin, creating a ‘physical’ barrier, reflecting UV rays away and protecting you against both UVA and UVB rays.

Why is protecting coral reefs so important?

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 – they are basically like fantastic underwater trees! By protecting them, we are not only protecting vital underwater ecosystems but also helping to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. You can see why this sunscreen is so great now, right?