We use Alumina (aluminum oxide), not to be confused with the aluminum salts used in antiperspirants.

Alumina is an inert mineral and a constituent of many rocks and soils. Aluminum is the third most abundant element on earth, making up close to 8% of the earth’s crust, and small amounts are found in fruits, vegetables and ground water. It has been rated by the Environmental Working Group as ‘Good’ with a score of ‘2’, which means minimal risk to humans or the environment.

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700309/ALUMINA/

We use alumina to enhance water resistance, reduce oiliness and improve transparency on the skin. It is used in our Water Sport SPF 30.

One downside to mineral sunscreens is that they may whiten skin. Our sunscreens use non-nano titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both. These minerals are white, but we have optimized our formulas to reduce that whitening appearance and heavy feel. To further reduce the whitening effect, you can apply lotion or make sure your skin is hydrated prior to applying.

All mineral sunscreens will whiten to some degree. The particle size determines the intensity of the white appearance. The smaller the particle, the less white the appearance. The only way to achieve a truly clear appearance on the skin is to deliver the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in nanoparticle form, which we choose not to use. So when using our sunscreen, rub it in well. Our sunscreens are Formulated for You and Our Blue Planet.

We also offer tinted versions of our sunscreen. Our iron oxide tint reduces the whitening effect of mineral sunscreens, blending well with most skin tones.

Stream2Sea mineral sunscreen has a shelf life of 3 years.

Where do you find the expiration date? Stream2Sea’s sunscreen is regulated by the FDA and is considered an OTC (over-the-counter) drug. Therefore, we have a different method of lot coding and the lot number is considered the expiration date. It has nothing to do with when it is manufactured, as seen in the example image.

For the best sun protection, use Stream2Sea sunscreen before the stated expiration date and store it in a cool, dark place.

Mineral sunscreens are whitening and may discolor dark clothing or gear. It will easily wash out with soap and water in most cases, and using an enzyme-based stain remover will help. For gear, a little soap and water plus a scrub brush will usually remove any staining or whitening.

Our tinted sunscreens use iron oxides for color, and like most mineral make-ups or other sunscreens, they can discolor clothing or towels. The best way we have found to remove mineral stains is to pre-treat with a stain remover, citric acid or lemon juice and let sit overnight before washing in the hottest water your garment can safely handle, and then air dry.

Approved sunscreen ingredients come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters. Each works differently to protect your skin from UV rays. Chemical sunscreen filters like octinoxate, oxybenzone and avobenzone work by absorbing into your skin and absorbing the UV rays. We simply don’t like the idea of putting something on your body that is designed to be absorbed into it. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sit on top of your skin and work by absorbing, reflecting and scattering UV light… Make sense?

Yes, they do! Our sunscreens are formulated without oxybenzone and octinoxate, the two UV filters banned under Hawaii’s law.

For those who aren’t aware, Hawaii passed a law, effective in 2021, that prohibits the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two UV filters banned over concerns about coral reefs. All Stream2Sea sunscreens are formulated without both.

Sunscreen Ban

YES! All our sunscreens exceed the FDA’s requirements for broad spectrum claims, offering protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Unless your sunscreen is broad spectrum, it may only protect you from the UVB rays that cause sunburn. The problem is that the UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin – causing wrinkles and premature aging, as well as damage at the cellular level.

UVA1 light is in the range 340 – 400 nm; UVA2 light is in the range of 320 – 340 nm.

The FDA requires a critical wavelength of 370 nm or higher for a sunscreen to be labeled Broad Spectrum. All Stream2Sea sunscreens meet this requirement, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays.

When you choose a sunscreen labeled Broad Spectrum, you are purchasing a product that has passed the FDA’s broad spectrum test. Although some suppliers have said that titanium dioxide does not offer broad spectrum protection, all of our sunscreens exceed the FDA’s requirements.

Our highest SPF is 50, in our SPF 50 Sunstick and Sun Protect Lip Balm SPF 50, made for small areas. Sunscreens with very high SPFs offer only marginally better UVB protection (the rays that cause sunburn) than lower SPFs, yet consumers often believe they are getting double the protection. It would be logical to think that an SPF 30 would be twice as good as a 15, but that’s not how the ratings work. For example, an SPF 15 will block about 93% of the UVB rays, an SPF 30 will block about 97% and an SPF 50 will block about 98%. Moving beyond, the differences in protection are so minute yet give the users such a false sense of security that it may tempt people to stay in the sun longer than they should, while applying too little sunscreen. You may avoid sunburn but still leave yourself exposed to the UVA rays that cause other kinds of skin and cellular damage. Our preference is to offer sunscreens that feel good on your skin and encourage you to reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.

The main cause of sunscreen failure is not using enough product and not reapplying often enough. On the day of your fun in the sun, slop it on. Don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.

The answer to both these questions is YES. Sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, but you may still tan, and any tan is still a sign of UV damage. Remember that a tan is the body’s response to injury from UV rays. Darker and tanned skin has a higher melanin content which reduces the likelihood of burning, but it is still at risk for skin cancer. Those with darker skin especially need to use caution because skin cancer is less visible and often not diagnosed until it’s really bad. Our recommendation? Whatever your skin tone, if you are playing or working in the sun, please use a broad spectrum sunscreen.

There are several reasons. First, if you’re applying sunscreen on a moving boat or a windy day, much of the sunscreen may miss its intended target. Then there is the issue of coverage — exactly how much is getting on you, and how much is floating away? Finally, spray sunscreen is easy to breathe in, especially for kids, and the propellants in aerosol cans end up in the air rather than on your skin.

The FDA no longer allows the use of the term “waterproof” when labeling sunscreens. In 2011, the FDA changed the regulations regarding how sunscreens could be labeled. Water-proof, Sweat-proof and sunblock were all removed from (compliant) labels, as the FDA determined these were misleading claims. Some sunscreens are certainly more sweat and water resistant than others, but NONE are water proof!

Under the new regulations, sunscreens must now pass third party testing showing how long the consumer can expect the SPF protection to hold up while swimming or sweating.

How is this done?

Human volunteers apply the sunscreen and let it dry, then go through timed rounds of immersion in moving water, with rest periods in between. The SPF is measured AFTER the water immersion, and that is the SPF that can be printed on the tube. A sunscreen labeled Water Resistant (40 minutes) passes after 40 minutes of total immersion; Water Resistant (80 minutes) passes after 80 minutes.

Our sunscreens are Water Resistant (80 minutes), except our SPF 50 Sunstick and Sun Protect Lip Balm SPF 50, which are not water resistant. When you’re ready, you can easily remove our Reef-Safer™ sunscreens with your cleanser of choice and a warm washcloth. Reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.

Minerals look pretty much like chalk. When mixed into a lovely formula of antioxidants like you find in Stream2Sea, and when applied correctly, it can go on very nicely with minimal sheen. If you want it to blend better, we have two other options for you: our Water Sport SPF 30 Tint, and our Every Day Mineral SPF 45 made with EcoSafe Zinc™, which also comes in a tinted version.

So why the white sheen? Minerals sit on top of your skin. Chemical UV filters are absorbed into the skin: FDA studies published in JAMA (2019 and 2020) found several of them in the bloodstream above the level at which the FDA asks for further testing. If a mineral sunscreen goes on completely clear, it likely uses nanoparticles. Ours are non-nano, and Formulated for You and Our Blue Planet. Our Water Sport SPF 30 was Tested for Aquatic Safety (Eckerd College, 2015) on freshwater fish, saltwater fish and coral larvae.