Visiting Disney’s Aulani Resort? You’ll Want To Know About the Sunscreen Law

Visiting Disney’s tropical destination in Hawaii? Before packing your bags for the Disney Resort, Aulani, you’ll want to know about the new sunscreen law. That’s right… effective January 1, 2021, Hawaii has banned sunscreen containing coral-harming chemicals.

As shared by Hawaii.com: “Hawaii is the first state in the US to ban the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, ushering in a new era of reef safe sunscreen. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2021.”

“Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two ingredients believed to contribute to coral bleaching. When coral bleaches, it is not dead, but under significant stress and subject to increased mortality levels.” According to the National Park Service, 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter coral reefs every year. These now banned chemicals are believed to be one of the contributing factors to the coral reef destruction. Most popular sunscreen brands are known to contain these dangerous chemicals. These brands include Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat, to name a few. However, we are starting to see a trend of these big brands creating new, less toxic sunscreen lines such as Banana Boat’s Simply Protect which is made without oxybenzone & parabens.”

 

Here is a list of sunscreens considered to be reef safe. Made in Hawaii sunscreens are marked with an *asterisks.

• *Kokua Sun Care Hawaiian SPF 50 Natural Zinc Sunscreen
• *Mama Kuleana Waterproof SPF 30 Reef-safe Sunscreen
• *Little Hands Hawaii SPF 35+ All-natural and Organic Sunscreen
• Manda Organic SPF 50 Sun Paste
• *Raw Love SPF 35 All-natural Mineral Sunscreen
• Thinksport SPF 50 Sunscreen
• All Good SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen Lotion
• Babo Botanicals SPF 30 Clear Zinc Lotion
• Suntegrity Natural Mineral Sunscreen
• Badger SPF 30 Unscented Sunscreen Cream
• Raw Elements SPF 30 Certified Natural Sunscreen
• Stream2Sea SPF 30 Mineral Sunblock
• Loving Naturals Clear Body SPF 30+ All-natural Sunscreen
• Banana Boat Simply Protect SPF 50+ Sunscreen (spray, not lotion)
• Olita Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Choosing the right sunscreen will be important not only for your vacation but for the ocean and marine life. Do a little research and take a look at your sunscreen ingredients before you take off to Disney’s tropical destination!

Source: Hawaii.com