56% of popular sunscreens contain a chemical that is so toxic - it's banned in Hawaii. 

The chemical found in standard sunscreen is called oxybenzone. 

Studies show that it is killing our reefs and potentially increasing our chances of developing a life-threatening disease.

Although studies are not yet conclusive on oxybenzone’s negative affect on humans... 

The Environmental Working Group and other toxicology experts believe that oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption which may lead to skin cancer. 

But here's one thing we know for certain - sunscreen containing oxybenzone is killing our reefs. 

When coral is contaminated by oxybenzone it suffers DNA damage. It rejects symbiosis with other organisms (like algae) - then it becomes bleached - and then, well, then it dies.

But it's not only marine life that depend on the reef.

It’s estimated that hundreds-of-millions  of people around the globe, depend on the reef as a major food source. 

The Reef also provides income to local economies through tourism and fishing. It protects our shores from storms, waves and floods. And it's a vital source for new medicine. 

The major factors are not only sunscreen contamination, but also changing water temperatures, overfishing and pollution.

But with somewhere between 4000 and 6000 tonnes of sunscreen entering coral reef areas each year... it’s no wonder that Hawaii and other places in the United States are banning sunscreens with oxybenzone.  

Perhaps the scariest part about this is the micro-dose of chemicals needed for contamination… 

In most cases, contamination occurs at one part per 63 trillion... 

In other words, it only takes is one drop of liquid in an olympic sized pool to contaminate and potentially kill the coral.  

How You Can Save The Reef And Protect Your Skin.

Many natural sunscreens have become available recently. However, as we've learned - they’re not all created equal. 

Some are too runny or cloggy. Some feel too oily on the skin. Some wash off in the water. And many don’t provide adequate UV protection. 

But protecting the reef is something we feel strongly about. And we wanted to offer you a natural, oxybenzone-free sunscreen in time for summer. But not if it meant sacrificing quality.

So after months of searching for the perfect fit, we discoveredRaw Elements. 

At first, we thought it was too good to be true... 

Raw Elements is made in Hawaii, from certified-organic and natural ingredients. Every ingredient is harvested sustainably and with extreme care. 

Even cooler... the sunscreen comes packed in an eco-friendly reusable tin. 

When applied to your face, the sunscreen feels more like a top of the range moisturizer than a sunscreen.

The next thing we had to question was Raw Elements’ ability to provide adequate UV sun protection. 

We soon learned that it contains Certified Natural Zinc Oxide, the safest and most effective protection against UV rays.  

Unlike chemical sunscreens, zinc forms a physical barrier on the skin, reflecting the sun's rays rather than absorbing them. 

The sunscreen was developed Brian Guadagno, a former Hawaiian lifeguard on a mission to create a natural and reef-safe sunscreen.

Designed with activities in mind, you can apply this SPF-30 for everyday use, swimming, surfing, running or doing cartwheels on the front lawn. 

It never runs or stings your eyes, and the natural minerals continue to hydrate your skin long after sun exposure.  

It stays water resistant for up to 80-minutes, which is better than most chemical sunscreens.  

You can take a little browse at our three favourites here... 

note: the pump is made of plastic but the rest is recyclable metal. We felt it was worth the sacrifice.

100% Natural Sunscreen by Raw Elements