Most Supergoop sunscreens are not reef safe. The majority of the brand’s lineup relies on chemical UV filters that research has linked to coral damage, and at least one product contains octinoxate, a chemical banned in Hawaii for its harm to marine ecosystems. Only Supergoop’s mineral formula avoids these ingredients entirely.
What’s in Most Supergoop Formulas
Supergoop (often shortened to “Goop” by shoppers) sells several popular sunscreens, and the active ingredients vary significantly between them. The bestselling Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 is a chemical formula containing avobenzone (3%), octocrylene (4%), and octisalate (5%). The Glow Screen SPF 40 uses the same three filters plus homosalate (4%), with octocrylene bumped up to 8%.
The Everyday Sunscreen SPF 50 goes a step further, containing octinoxate at 7.5% alongside avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate. Octinoxate is one of the two chemicals specifically banned under Hawaii’s landmark sunscreen law (Act 104), which also prohibits oxybenzone. So this particular product cannot legally be sold in Hawaii and would violate even the state’s baseline restrictions.
Which Ingredients Harm Reefs
NOAA maintains a list of sunscreen chemicals known to harm marine life. That list includes both octocrylene and octinoxate, two filters found across Supergoop’s chemical sunscreen range. These chemicals wash off skin during swimming and accumulate in coastal waters, where they affect organisms at multiple levels of the food chain.
In coral, these compounds accumulate in tissue and can induce bleaching, damage DNA, deform larvae, and in some cases kill the coral outright. Sea urchins exposed to these chemicals suffer damage to their immune and reproductive systems. Mussels can develop defects in their young. A 2022 review by the National Academy of Sciences confirmed that chemical UV filters in sunscreen can harm aquatic life, including corals, and called for more comprehensive ecological risk assessments.
None of Supergoop’s chemical formulas contain oxybenzone, which is the most widely discussed reef-damaging ingredient. But the presence of octocrylene in the Unseen Sunscreen and Glow Screen, and octinoxate in the Everyday Sunscreen, means these products still pose environmental concerns in marine settings.
The Mineral Exception
Supergoop does make one formula that avoids chemical filters altogether. The Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 uses zinc oxide (17.68%) and titanium dioxide (1.33%) as its only active ingredients. These mineral filters sit on top of the skin and physically block UV rays rather than absorbing them through a chemical reaction.
Mineral sunscreens are generally considered the safer choice for ocean environments. They don’t break down into the same byproducts that damage coral tissue. Maui County has gone as far as banning the sale, distribution, and use of all non-mineral sunscreens without a prescription, making mineral formulas the only legal option there. Supergoop’s Mineral Unseen would comply with that stricter standard.
One caveat: NOAA does list nano-sized titanium dioxide and nano-sized zinc oxide as potentially harmful to marine life. Whether Supergoop’s mineral formula uses nano or non-nano particles isn’t clearly disclosed on the label. If avoiding nano particles matters to you, look for sunscreens that explicitly state “non-nano” on their packaging.
How to Choose the Right Product
If you’re planning to swim in the ocean, snorkel, or spend time near coral reefs, the Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 is the only Supergoop product that qualifies as reef-conscious. The Unseen Sunscreen, Glow Screen, and Everyday Sunscreen all contain at least one chemical filter flagged by NOAA as harmful to marine life.
Keep in mind that “reef safe” is not a regulated term. Any brand can put it on a label without meeting a specific standard. What you can verify is the active ingredient list on the back of the product. A truly reef-friendly sunscreen will list only zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both as active ingredients, with no chemical filters alongside them.
For travel to Hawaii, check which island and county you’re visiting. The statewide law bans only oxybenzone and octinoxate, which means the Unseen Sunscreen and Glow Screen technically comply since they contain neither. But Maui County’s stricter ordinance requires mineral-only formulas, so only the Mineral Unseen would be legal there. If you’re visiting reefs anywhere in the world, the mineral formula is the safer bet regardless of local regulations.