I’m leaving on the Celebrity Edge this Saturday. I have been busy ordering online all of the last minute things I’ll need to pack, for my trip. One of those items is suntan lotion. The expectation in Mexico (and also in Hawaii, where I’ll be next month) is that one packs “Reef Safe” suntan products. In general, sun tan products that are not “Reef Safe” contain chemicals considered harmful to the environment; specifically, to the earth’s endangered reefs.
- Octinoxate
- Oxybenzone
- Octocrylene
- 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor
- Triclosan
- Methyl paraben
- Ethyl paraben
- Butyl paraben
- Benzyl paraben
- Phenoxyethanol
Many islands, countries and states have already banned the sale of sunscreens containing the chemicals listed above.
My search for the ultimate packable sunscreen was not as easy as it sounds. It turns out I’ve made many emotional connections with these chemicals, and giving them up is not an easy task. Close your eyes, and think of a hot white sandy beach, with the sound of waves crashing against the shoreline. Seagulls call out as they pass over. The salt air and the intoxicating smells of coconut oils being applied all around you is an iconic sensory experience.
Once upon a time, I befriended the owner of one of the most well-known skin care and sunscreen manufacturers. Since then, I have been an avid fan of that company’s offerings. His company used micro technology to deliver effective sun protection. My understanding of these micro sunscreens is that, within minutes of application, they can be found in your bloodstream. This is a problem. Our skin is a barrier, designed to protect us against harmful pollutants. Still, man has found a way to penetrate the skin and introduce chemicals through it. These are decidedly off my list.
In my search I found many people craving all natural products, without perfumes and dyes. These folks are in luck, because the newer sunscreens absent of the chemicals listed above use various versions of zinc and “natural” ingredients to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. According to the reviews, the zinc products smell very much “like a wet dog”. Other comments were that these zinc products, while delivering perhaps the most effective protections, left the skin shiny and white; “…similar to a clown” one reviewer wrote. Still another reviewer wrote, “… after hours of trying with soap and water, I cannot scrub the sticky residue off my skin!” (obviously referring to the product’s extremely successful waterproof attributes.) Of the Zinc aerosols one reviewer wrote, “It came out of the can like spray paint, only globbing in some areas and barely covering others”. The common complaint was that even though the product was applied as a spray, it still needed to be rubbed into the skin, leaving your fingers covered with the white shiny stuff that would not wash off and which “painted” everything you touched.
Everything else I found contained similar sounding chemicals to the banned ones. Yep, I looked them up and found that, while they were not specifically banned, they are currently on lists soon to be included in these bans.
What if I burned myself? Could I find some after burn products that smell like my favorite coconut beach memories? The answer is “yes” and “no”. Many of these products also contain the same chemicals!
Some people make their own sunscreen. Yes, it can be done. No, I won’t be making mine for my trip to Mexico on Friday.
On a side note: Apple Cider vinegar quickly alleviates pain associated with sunburn. It is one of my favorite go to’s.
Wanting to do my part for the endangered reefs, I will not be sneaking a harmful sunscreen into my bags. In the end, I was not able to come up with my ultimate sunscreen. So, I have chosen an aerosol type I can spray over my shoulders and onto my back, while I rub against a palm tree.
I am an avid fan of Pure Fiji products, and I highly recommend their AMAZING line of skincare for after sun. I have used them for years; 14 to be exact!
Carry-on Sunscreen:
A small but major change has been made to the Transportation Security Administration’s guidelines. As of April 7, 2021 sunscreens are now on TSA’s medically-approved list of items and therefore allowed in your carry-on bag in full size. This change is thanks to the department of dermatology at Brown University, which challenged TSA on the 3.4-ounce liquid limit because sunscreen is needed to protect against skin cancer.
On the TSA’s website, SPF products now sit alongside other medical items like inhalers, contact solution, and medications. But there is one disclaimer — while this change means your full-sized sunscreen will no longer be confiscated at security, you will need to alert officials that you have it.
“TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection,” says the website.