Tell me more about this reef-friendly sunscreen for children?
This reef-friendly sunscreen for children is essential for little ones on outdoor adventures (or for holidays!). Made by Green People, this super gentle, high factor SPF30 sun cream is fragrance-free to stop irritation and is broad-spectrum, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. Rich in antioxidants and made using 84% certified organic ingredients, it is suitable to protect even the most delicate and sensitive skin, particularly children that suffer from prickly heat or eczema. This physical sunscreen is also water repellent but is non-pore clogging, allowing the skin to breathe, whilst being cruelty-free and vegetarian.
We love this sunscreen because it is firstly, a great all-round, gentle sunscreen for children but is also reef-friendly (more on that below). 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. It is perfect for mini outdoor adventurers! Due to its gentle ingredients like aloe vera, avocado oil and olive oil, we have found it to be moisturising and very gentle so it is fantastic to use on the delicate skin of children. We do a grown-up version too which you can find here!
Tell me more about this reef-friendly sunscreen for children?
This reef-friendly sunscreen for children is essential for little ones on outdoor adventures (or for holidays!). Made by Green People, this super gentle, high factor SPF30 sun cream is fragrance-free to stop irritation and is broad-spectrum, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. Rich in antioxidants and made using 84% certified organic ingredients, it is suitable to protect even the most delicate and sensitive skin, particularly children that suffer from prickly heat or eczema. This physical sunscreen is also water repellent but is non-pore clogging, allowing the skin to breathe, whilst being cruelty-free and vegetarian.
We love this sunscreen because it is firstly, a great all-round, gentle sunscreen for children but is also reef-friendly (more on that below). 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. It is perfect for mini outdoor adventurers! Due to its gentle ingredients like aloe vera, avocado oil and olive oil, we have found it to be moisturising and very gentle so it is fantastic to use on the delicate skin of children. We do a grown-up version too which you can find here!
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 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!
- Avocado oil - nutrient-rich Avocado oil protects skin from damaging free radicals. Olive oil –
- Olive oil is a fantastic natural moisturiser and protector of the skin. It has been used for centuries!
- Rosemary extract - protective Rosemary helps to defend skin cells from free radical damage.
The full ingredient list for this reef-friendly sunscreen is:
AQUA (PURE WATER), ISOAMYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE (NATURALLY OCCURRING UV-FILTER), OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL*, CETEARYL ALCOHOL (EMULSIFYING PLANT WAX), DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE, ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) OIL*^, TITANIUM DIOXIDE [NANO] (MINERAL UV-FILTER), GLYCERYL STEARATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), CERA ALBA (BEESWAX)*, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE POWDER*, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL*, LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM (EDELWEISS) LEAF EXTRACT*, COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (MYRRH) OIL^, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT*, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), GLUCONOLACTONE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, STEARIC ACID, GLYCERIN, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM GLUCONATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, PHYTIC ACID. *84.6% CERTIFIED ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL INGREDIENTS, ^FAIRLY TRADED (PERIOD AFTER OPENING 6M)
What is the packaging made from?
The packaging for this reef-friendly sun cream 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 and 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?
