Rethinking ‘Reef Safe’ SPF with Mineral and Natural Sunscreen Innovation

Searches for reef safe sunscreen are up 86% in the past year, reflecting growing demand for sustainable sun care.

Meanwhile, mineral sunscreen, with more than 8,000 searches a month in the UK alone, has become a clear frontrunner in eco-conscious skincare formulation. But with misleading claims and unclear regulation, are formulators solving the right problem and how can natural ingredients lead the way?

Consumers are now scrutinising SPF products not only for their efficacy, but also for their environmental impact, biodegradability, and packaging choices. According to Trendalytics, not only have searches for ‘reef safe SPF’ gone up by 86% since 2024 but TikTok engagement around the term has skyrocketed by over 300%.

However, complications around what ‘reef safe’ actually means continue, with consumers asking, ‘what is reef safe sunscreen’? And formulators must navigate both the marketing buzz and the lack of scientific evidence, as consumers search for formulations featuring ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, and zinc oxide that promise both skin and environmental safety.

What does ‘reef safe sunscreen’ mean?

The term ‘reef safe’ is currently unregulated, leaving space for broad interpretation and potentially misleading claims. Most reef safe sunscreen brands using the label simply remove oxybenzone and octinoxate, two UV filters banned in many popular holiday destinations due to their potential link to coral bleaching. However, scientists and environmental analyst warn that early studies on sunscreen’s impact on coral were methodologically flawed and that climate change, not sunscreen, is the dominant driver of reef degradation.

Despite this, reef-related legislation has pushed brands to reformulate, fuelling a rapid rise in mineral-based sunscreen options and a new generation of anhydrous, plastic-free SPF formats.

For formulators, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity; how to meet consumer expectations for sustainability, regulatory pressure for environmental safety, reef-conscious formulations, and sensory performance that supports sales.

Why mineral sunscreen is leading the SPF evolution

In today’s climate of heightened scrutiny and eco-conscious consumer demand, formulators are leaning into zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as safer, biodegradable, and reef-friendlier UV filters. Compared to chemical filters, mineral sunscreen is less likely to irritate sensitive skin, and is more biodegradable, ticking boxes for both efficacy and sustainability.  But formulating with mineral filters can be challenging, as formulations can be more difficult to stabilise, hard to spread, and prone to white cast or drag on the skin. These common drawbacks help explain why consumers are also actively searching for solutions like the best mineral sunscreen for face or comparing mineral vs chemical sunscreen online.

This is where natural oils can offer both performance and eco-friendly benefits.

Why add natural oil ingredients to mineral sunscreen formulations?

Natural oils are sustainable formulation tools. For mineral SPFs, natural oils can play several roles:

• Improve dispersibility

Non-nano zinc and titanium dioxide require compatible carriers to distribute evenly and reduce white cast. Oils such as Meadowfoam Seed and Fractionated Coconut are ideal for keeping filters suspended and stable.

• Enhance texture

Mineral sunscreens can feel dry or chalky. Lightweight emollients like Jojoba Oil and Olive Squalane can soften the formula for better skin feel.

• Support oxidative stability

SPF products must resist rancidity over time. Oils such as Pomegranate Seed Oil and Buriti Oil offer antioxidant properties and excellent shelf-life stability.

• Enable solid format innovation

Stick, balm, and anhydrous formats need structure and glide. Natural butters such as Shea, Murumuru, and Tucuma deliver consistency without synthetics.

• Reinforce your sustainability story

Oils such as Hemp Seed Oil and High-Oleic Sunflower Oil are not only biodegradable and renewable but also align with rising consumer expectations for natural sunscreen without chemicals. Other trending queries like ‘natural sunscreen alternatives’, or ‘is jojoba oil a natural sunscreen?’, reflect this shift.

By choosing oils that are oxidation-resistant, correctly polarised for UV filter compatibility, and responsibly sourced, formulators can craft natural mineral sunscreens that meet today’s eco-expectations, without compromising on performance or sensorial quality.

O&3 Thoughts…

As consumer scrutiny intensifies and regulators begin examining eco-claims more closely, the path forward will require transparent marketing, science-backed formulations, and material choices that balance sustainability with performance. Searches for everything from ‘what is reef safe sunscreen’ to ‘best mineral sunscreen’ and ‘natural sunscreens’ show that demand is here—but so is confusion. We believe the answer lies in natural, reef safe ingredients, thoughtfully formulated to meet evolving regulatory, ethical, and sensory expectations.