Mineral sunscreens are your only real choice.

Pretty much. “Reef-safe” isn’t a regulated term, but the real villains are oxybenzone and octinoxate—common chemical filters that damage coral. Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are the only proven safe alternatives.

That said, they come with trade-offs. They’re thicker and can leave a white cast, especially on darker skin. Newer formulas like Supergoop!’s mineral line or Thinksport do a decent job minimizing the ghost effect. For beachwear, you want water-resistant—reapply every two hours, more if you’re in and out of the water.

Skip the spray cans entirely. They aerosolize the minerals (bad for your lungs) and the coverage is terrible. A lotion or stick is better.

If you’re buying at a drugstore, look for “mineral” or “non-nano zinc oxide.” Brand wise: Blue Lizard, Badger, or Sun Bum Mineral are all solid. Don’t overthink it.

Your skin and the reef will thank you—just don’t expect it to feel like a chemical sunscreen.