In 2021, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemical UV filters linked to coral bleaching, marine toxicity, and endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms.

The law (Hawaii Act 104) came after years of marine biology research showing that these chemicals can damage coral DNA at concentrations as low as 62 parts per trillion. To put that in perspective, that is roughly a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. A number so small it seems impossible. And yet the damage is real, measurable, and happening right now.

The big picture: An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter coral reef ecosystems each year. Chemical UV filters are a significant contributor to reef degradation worldwide, alongside rising ocean temperatures, agricultural runoff, and coastal development. The reef does not get to choose which stressor arrives first.

So what does the ban actually mean for you? How do you know if your sunscreen is truly reef-friendly? And why does the type of UV filter matter so much, not just for coral, but for your own skin?

What the Hawaii Ban Covers

Hawaii Act 104 specifically prohibits the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) and octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate) without a prescription. The law applies to all sunscreens sold in the state, not just those used at beaches, but any product on a retail shelf or available online with shipping to Hawaii.

The legislation was introduced by State Senator Mike Gabbard in 2018 and signed into law by Governor David Ige that same year, with a three-year phase-in period before the ban took full effect on January 1, 2021.

Other states, territories, and countries have since followed Hawaii's lead:

Location	Action	Year
Hawaii	Banned oxybenzone & octinoxate	2021
U.S. Virgin Islands	Banned oxybenzone, octinoxate & octocrylene	2020
Key West, FL	Banned oxybenzone & octinoxate	2021
Palau	Banned 10 reef-toxic sunscreen chemicals	2020
Aruba	Banned oxybenzone-containing sunscreens	2020
EU	Restricted oxybenzone concentration to 2.2% (from 6%)	2022

This is a global shift, not an isolated policy. For anyone who travels with sunscreen in their bag, the practical takeaway is worth knowing: if your sunscreen contains oxybenzone or octinoxate, it may not be legal to use, or even purchase, in a growing number of places around the world.

The Science: How Chemical Sunscreens Damage Coral

Coral reefs are living organisms: colonies of tiny animals called polyps that depend on a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae. These algae live inside coral tissue, photosynthesize sunlight into energy, and give coral its color. It is one of the most elegant partnerships in the ocean: the coral provides a home, and the algae provide food.

When chemical UV filters like oxybenzone enter the water, they disrupt this relationship in several ways:

• DNA damage: Oxybenzone has been shown to cause DNA lesions in coral cells, triggering coral bleaching even at concentrations far below what is typically found in popular swimming areas.
• Endocrine disruption: Chemical UV filters can mimic hormones in coral, disrupting reproductive cycles and making it harder for damaged reefs to recover.
• Viral activation: Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that oxybenzone promotes latent viral infections in coral, accelerating mortality in already-stressed reefs.
• Larval deformity: Exposure to oxybenzone causes coral larvae to encase themselves in their own skeleton prematurely, preventing normal settlement and growth on the reef.

These effects compound the stress that coral reefs already face from warming ocean temperatures. Roughly 75% of the world's coral reefs are currently classified as threatened, according to the World Resources Institute. Choosing a different sunscreen will not reverse all of that. But it is one of the most concrete, individual-level actions any of us can take. And sometimes, that is exactly where change begins.

Chemical vs. Mineral: Understanding the Difference

Chemical sunscreens (containing oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, or octocrylene) work by absorbing UV radiation through a chemical reaction that occurs within the skin. They typically need 15 to 30 minutes after application to become effective, and some break down in sunlight over time, which is why frequent reapplication matters even more with chemical formulas.

Mineral sunscreens take a different approach entirely. They use physical UV filters, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, that sit on the skin's surface and reflect UV rays away from the body. They work the moment you put them on. No waiting, no chemical reaction, no absorption into the skin.

FDA position: The FDA's 2019 proposed sunscreen monograph update recognized only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as Category I (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective) among 16 active ingredients reviewed. The remaining 14 chemical filters were classified as Category III, meaning the FDA determined there was insufficient data to confirm they are safe for daily use.

Nano vs. Non-Nano Zinc Oxide

Not all mineral sunscreens are formulated equally, and the particle size of zinc oxide matters, for your skin and for the ocean.

Nano zinc oxide uses particles smaller than 100 nanometers. These ultra-fine particles can penetrate deeper into skin and are small enough to potentially enter coral tissue and marine food chains. Some researchers have raised concerns about nano-particle absorption through damaged or sunburned skin.

Non-nano zinc oxide uses particles larger than 100 nanometers. They sit on the skin's surface, provide broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, and are too large to penetrate coral tissue or bioaccumulate in marine organisms. Non-nano formulations are the gold standard for reef-friendly sun protection.

When reading labels, look specifically for "non-nano zinc oxide" in the active ingredients panel. If the label says only "zinc oxide" without specifying particle size, the sunscreen may use nano-sized particles. That one word, "non-nano," matters more than most of the marketing on the front of the bottle.

How to Read a Sunscreen Label

Every sunscreen sold in the United States is required by the FDA to list its Active Ingredients on the front or back panel. That is where you find the UV filters, and it is the only part of the label that tells you the full truth about what is protecting your skin.

If you see zinc oxide or titanium dioxide listed, and nothing else under Active Ingredients, the sunscreen is mineral-based. If you see names like oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, or octinoxate, the product uses chemical UV filters. Some sunscreens use a combination of both, which still introduces the chemicals of concern.

Beyond the active ingredients, three other label elements are worth a look:

• SPF rating: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher for daily use. SPF 30 blocks approximately 97% of UVB rays; SPF 50 blocks about 98%.
• Broad spectrum: This means the sunscreen protects against both UVA rays (which cause premature aging) and UVB rays (which cause sunburn). Both contribute to skin cancer risk.
• Water resistance: The FDA allows two claims: 40 minutes or 80 minutes. No sunscreen is "waterproof." That term is not permitted on labels, and for good reason.

Worth knowing: There is currently no federal standard for the term "reef-friendly," which means any brand can put it on a bottle without meeting specific criteria. The most reliable approach is simpler than any marketing claim: flip the bottle over and read the active ingredients panel. That is where the real story is.

All Good's Role in the Hawaii Ban

All Good did not just comply with Hawaii Act 104, the brand helped make it happen.

In 2016, founder Caroline Duell traveled to Honolulu for the International Coral Reef Symposium. What she learned there about chemical sunscreen damage to marine ecosystems changed the direction of her advocacy. She reached out to a dozen like-minded mineral sunscreen brands and helped form the Safe Sunscreen Council, serving as a spokesperson for the coalition, not because All Good needed a platform, but because the reefs needed a voice.

All Good worked alongside marine biologist Dr. Craig Downs, whose peer-reviewed research on oxybenzone's effects on coral larvae became the scientific foundation of the legislation. The brand also partnered with grassroots organizations including Friends of Hanauma Bay, Kohala Foundation, and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, the people on the ground who understood what was at stake because they lived it every day.

Together, they hosted education events, set up sunscreen stations on beaches, and brought scientists, athletes, and everyday beachgoers into the conversation. All Good helped create the Reef Friendly Pledge and collected thousands of signatures that were submitted directly to Hawaiian legislators in support of the ban.

Beyond the reefs: All Good's River to Reef campaign expanded the conversation beyond ocean swimmers. Chemical sunscreens reach coral reefs through shower runoff, wastewater systems, and rivers that carry chemicals from landlocked communities to the coast. Your choice of sunscreen matters whether you live on an island or in a mountain town a thousand miles from the nearest reef.

What All Good Does Differently

Every All Good sunscreen has used non-nano zinc oxide as its primary mineral UV filter since the brand began making sunscreens in 2008, over a decade before the Hawaii ban took effect and long before regulatory pressure pushed the industry toward mineral formulations.

That was not a business decision. It was an ingredients decision. Caroline built the brand around a principle that still holds: if an ingredient is not safe enough for the people and places she cares about, it does not belong in the formula. Zinc oxide is effective, well-studied, and does not harm marine ecosystems. That was enough. It still is.

All Good sunscreens are also formulated with organic plant-based ingredients including coconut oil, beeswax, and jojoba oil, no petroleum derivatives, no synthetic fragrances, and no parabens. The kind of ingredient list where you recognize every name, because it reads more like a garden than a chemistry lab.

The full sunscreen lineup, SPF 30 Sport (80-minute water resistance for outdoor athletes), SPF 50 Kids Butter Stick (mess-free application for children), All Good Lips SPF 15, The Original (mineral protection for lips), and more, meets Hawaii Act 104 standards and goes further by using exclusively non-nano particles and avoiding additional chemicals of concern.

Explore our full sun care and body care lineup, or check out our kids camp packing list for a complete guide to clean sun protection for families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is oxybenzone banned in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii Act 104 (effective January 1, 2021) bans the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate without a prescription. The law applies to all sunscreens sold in the state, including those sold online with shipping to Hawaii.

What makes a sunscreen reef-friendly?

A reef-friendly sunscreen avoids UV filters linked to coral bleaching — most notably oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and homosalate. Mineral UV filters (non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) are the most widely recognized reef-friendly option, though some newer chemical filters like bemotrizinol show promising reef-safety profiles. Because there is no federal standard for the term "reef-friendly," the most reliable way to check is by reading the active ingredients panel rather than relying on front-of-package marketing claims.

Is non-nano zinc oxide safe for coral reefs?

Yes. Non-nano zinc oxide particles are larger than 100 nanometers, which makes them too large to penetrate coral tissue or bioaccumulate in marine organisms. Peer-reviewed research supports non-nano zinc oxide as the safest UV filter option for marine environments.

Are all mineral sunscreens reef-friendly?

Not necessarily. Mineral sunscreens using non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are the safest option for reefs. However, some mineral sunscreens use nano-sized particles (smaller than 100 nanometers), which may pose risks to marine life. Additionally, inactive ingredients in some formulas may include chemicals of concern. Look for "non-nano" on the label and review the full ingredient list.

What is the difference between nano and non-nano zinc oxide?

Nano zinc oxide uses particles smaller than 100 nanometers, which can potentially penetrate skin and coral tissue. Non-nano zinc oxide uses larger particles that sit on the skin's surface and are too large to enter marine organisms. Non-nano is the preferred choice for both reef-friendly protection and reduced skin absorption.

Do I still need sunscreen if I'm swimming in a pool?

Yes, UV rays penetrate water up to 3 feet deep, so sun exposure continues while swimming. While pool water does not contain coral, choosing mineral sunscreen is still worth considering for your own skin. Chemical UV filters like oxybenzone have been detected in human blood, urine, and breast milk after topical application, which is one reason the FDA reclassified most chemical filters as needing additional safety data.