5 SUN CREAMS THAT PROTECT YOUR SKIN AND THE OCEANS
The Importance of Ocean-Friendly Sunscreens
Tourism continues to grow year on year, with an average of 350,000 visitors per year since 2023, this is great news for the Seychelles tourism sector in general. However, with this growing influx of visitors, it is essential to raise their awareness before they arrive.
Seychelles is famous for its crystal-clear waters and spectacular coral reefs, which are home to incredible marine biodiversity. However, this natural wealth is now under threat from the chemicals found in many traditional sun creams. To preserve this fragile ecosystem, it's essential to adopt good practices from the start of your holiday. Among these, the use of an ocean-friendly sun cream plays an essential role.
When you're taking care of your skin in the bright sunshine, you may not realize the impact this can have on precious marine ecosystems. If your sunscreen is harming the ocean, you should know that it may also be harming your skin in some way.
In fact, in just 20 minutes, a significant proportion of the sun cream you have applied to your skin has already mixed with the water. This constant dilution leads to thousands of tonnes of sunscreen ingredients being dumped into the oceans every year, even reaching the coral reefs.
These components react with water, sunlight, and oxygen to form harmful chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, which destroy zooxanthellae, microalgae essential to the survival of corals, contributing to the bleaching and deterioration of reefs.
source: https://coralreefs.blogs.rice.edu/2016/02/18/third-global-coral-bleaching-event-threatens-recovering-seychelles/
http://blueeconomyseychelles.org/item/79-2016-coral-bleaching-event-one-year-later
To counter this problem, opt for an ocean-friendly sun cream formulated with natural ingredients and mineral filters. Not only will you protect your skin from UV rays, but you'll also be helping to preserve the coral reefs and marine life of the Seychelles.
It is essential to use a sun cream with a protection factor of SPF50, as exposure to UV rays is the main cause of skin cancer, a problem that is constantly on the increase.
In the Seychelles, UV levels peak between 10am and 4pm. During these critical periods, it's vital to protect yourself with a high SPF sun cream.
To help you choose, here is a selection of 5 sun creams that use natural ingredients and mineral filters that respect the oceans while providing effective UV protection:
https://www.acorelle.fr/soin-bebe/111-crème-solaire-bébé-spf50-bio-certifiée.html
By adopting a conscious routine as soon as you arrive in the Seychelles, you are actively helping to preserve this natural treasure for future generations.