Did you know the sunscreen you apply doesn’t always stay on your skin? When we swim or shower, it can wash off and enter our waterways—impacting marine life in ways many people don’t realize. 🌊🪸 Some common sunscreen chemicals have been linked to harm across species: they can impair growth in green algae, accumulate in coral and trigger bleaching or deformities, cause defects in mussels and sea urchins, disrupt fish reproduction, and even build up in dolphins and transfer to their young. Ingredients of concern include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, certain benzophenones, and some nano-sized mineral particles. Coral reefs are already under pressure, so reducing these added stressors matters. Choosing reef-safe sunscreen, wearing UPF sun-protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak sun hours (10am–2pm) are simple ways to protect both your skin and the ocean. 🌞