What do you mean by "reef free"? | Fox Beauty Etiquette

Well, there is no surprise that the sun is an integral part of our lives and the sun’s rays give us Vitamin D, which is a super imperative element for our body. It helps us from numerous skin-related problems. When it gets the right amount of vitamin D, our skin glows and remains radiant forever. Having said this, there is something called UV rays, whose radiation is now friendly to our skin. Moreover, with the advent of ozone layer depletion and climate change, these UV rays are creating huge skin issues and health problems. What are the solutions? There are many to start with, but this article is not about the solutions to implement for climate change or ozone layer depletion; maybe we can talk about them later. However, in this article, I would like you all to know that “REEF” is used widely in sunscreens and related skin care products.

What do you mean by REEF free?

The term reef safe typically means sunscreen contains only mineral UV-blocking ingredients like oxide and titanium dioxide. Both nanoparticles (tiny small particles) and traditional zinc oxide sunscreens are safe and convincing to the skin. So, with these two elements, your sunscreen will be considered safe for reefs. The only difference is the cosmetic feel on the skin; hence, you are pretty good to go with a mineral-based option.
Let me tell you a blurb from a study conducted by scientists to understand the impact of sunscreens on ocean life. Over the past decade, many experimenters have examined the possible implications of sunscreen components on coral reefs, aquatic plants, fish, and other marine life. This body of investigation—while still not definitive—has raised anxieties that some sunscreen ingredients may be causing harm.
To keep ocean life joyful and healthy, the key is to find an SPF that utilises physical UVA and UVB filters (as objected to the chemical ones that have been linked to coral reef deterioration). You’ll be able to find them by skimming the SPF tube over and looking for the active ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients form an actual physical block to shield skin from absorbing any rays (whereas chemical filters absorb UV and turn it into heat released from the skin).
What Does ”Reef Safe” Really Mean?
There’s no benchmark or regulated meaning behind “reef safe” or “reef-friendly.” Some sunscreens with those claims don’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate. Others have only minerals (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) or include a mix of mineral and chemical ingredients. The definition of what the manufacturer might mean by ”reef safe” keeps broadening and fooling customers. Researchers suggest blindly relying on manufacturers can also give you a false sense of protection. We still don’t know if products labelled as ”reef safe” are safe for skin and our oceans.
Protecting Your Skin and the Ocean
While we wait for science to assemble more accurate data, the solution isn’t to disregard the potential damage to oceans or skip sunscreen. Instead, you can find a harmony that will shield your skin and conceivably help the environment. The first thing is to identify that sun protection is a total package, not just applying sunscreen. For example, we can wear high-necked, long-sleeve clothing instead of just a bathing suit. It can significantly cut down the amount of sunscreen you would need to apply. This can be helpful from an environmental perspective rest there’s a guide to check while buying your sunscreen and what all it should have or not. I will share the details in the following article – until then, stay radiant and healthy.

DO WE EVEN NEED A CREAM OR A SERUM OR BOTH ?

Well, many people ask me what is difference between the two or if there is even any. Well …there is and a BIG one!

The biggest difference between a serum and a cream is the formulation and what they are meant for – the Creams are meant to treat the skin type whereas serums are to treat the skin concern.

Creams, lotions and emulsion basically composed of WATER +FATS +ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ( and a bunch of others ingredients that most of the times are REALLY bad for your skin and heath but let’s leave for another blog )dispersed in a solution . The are made of bigger molecules compare to serums and their the main goal of creams is to replenish the skin barrier to protect the outer layer of the skin, which is the upper layer of the epidermis.