Sarah Lahbati has once given us a sneak peek of her skincare routine when she shared her five-step regimen on her IG stories. And then last year, we found out how she deals with acne and sensitive skin. Recently, however, she covered a skincare topic on her blog that's a little more specific for the summer season—and it's something we think everyone has to know about!
As someone who frequents the beach, Sarah talked about the importance of protecting our skin from the sun. "Climate change is real; we are feeling temperatures rising each year along with extremes in weather patterns," she writes in the post. "Sunblock is a must for each member of the family, not just during the summer season, but any time you go out."
But simply wearing sunscreen isn't enough. Sarah says that looking for sunscreens that are safe for both our skin and our environment is just as crucial. "Some chemical sunscreens have been known to be absorbed by your body and cause problems like infertility and allergies," explains the actress. "Moreover, sunscreen does come off and seep into the sea water. Some sunblocks have too harsh chemicals that they poison coral reefs and degrade ocean life."
These harmful chemicals include oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are chemical filters that are commonly found in sunscreen. These have both been linked to the bleaching of coral reefs. As an alternative, you may opt for products with mineral-based filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (that are non-nano particles) for sun protection instead. Looking for products that are marked "reef-safe" can help make the search easier, too! Click here to view more ingredients that are harmful to the environment.
To further help you out, Sarah mentioned a few of her favorite sunscreens and other reef-safe recommendations in her blog post. See them below!
SUPERGOOP! 100% Mineral Matte Screen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40, P2240, Sephora.ph; ORIGINS Mega-Defense Advanced daily UV defender SPF 45, P2100, Lazada; HUMAN NATURE SafeProtect SPF30 Sunscreen, P299.75, SM North Edsa The Block
Wrapping up the entry, Sarah says, "I wanted to bring attention to this, because we have to be reminded that the earth is not just for us humans. There are many living beings who share our big, beautiful planet, and they are also affected by the choices we make as consumers."
Got any more reef-safe sunscreen recommendations? Let us know in the comments below!
