Recently the Maui County Council unanimously passed a bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, and use of ALL chemical sunscreens – making it the most aggressive ban on chemical sunscreens in America. This ban was an effort by Maui to protect its island and marine environment. Don’t worry mineral sunscreens will still be allowed and in fact the only type of sunscreen you can use on the island. [More]

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand you might want to reconsider the sunscreen you pack. Thailand recently banned sunscreens containing any combination of four chemical UV filters that are considered harmful to coral reefs. [More]

Hawaii’s sunscreen ban officially took effect at the start of 2021. It’s not a ban on all sunscreens (that would be dangerous to our skin!) but it is a ban on certain chemical sunscreens. Of course mineral sunscreens (like ours) are still considered safe by Hawaii and excluded from the ban. But now Hawaii is considering adding even more chemical sunscreens to its ban list. [More]

In case you missed it, we did at first, the March 2020 CARES Act - also known widely as the stimulus package - gave some love to sunscreen. Surprised? We were too. Plus it’s buried in a 300 plus page document! It’s a bit surprising but also important because it effects the type of sunscreens you’ll be able to buy. Here is a summary of the new rules around sunscreen. [More]

Back in 2019 the local government of Key West, Florida voted to ban the sale of sunscreens containing the chemical UV filters oxybenzone and octinoxate. The law would go into effect in January 2021, if signed by the governor. But now the Florida state legislature approved a bill to prevent local governments from regulating any over-the-counter drugs or cosmetics – which include sunscreens as sunscreens are considered over-the-counter drugs by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). [More]

Hawaii legislators recently introduced bills to ban the sale of ALL chemical sunscreens in the state. These bills expand upon a bill Hawaii’s legislature passed in 2018 that bans the sale of chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate (without a prescription issued by a licensed healthcare provider). [More]

Chemical sunscreens are making it into the headlines again. A new study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that six chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the bloodstream at high levels. While here at Block Island Organics we sell mineral ONLY sunscreens, we feel it’s important to update consumers on all types of sunscreen news and trends. The more informed you are the better decisions you can make for your skin. [More]

Not all mineral sunscreens are created equal. What we mean is that many mineral sunscreens marketed as mineral are not mineral only and do in fact contain chemical sunscreens in them. Yeah, we agree, it can be a little confusing and concerning if you want a mineral only product. But don’t worry we’re here to help you separate fact from marketing when it comes to your sunscreen purchases. [More]

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently conducted a study around four chemical sunscreen ingredients to determine their safety. The results are complicated and while at Block Island Organics we make mineral only sunscreens – we feel it’s important to keep people up on the latest news in sun protection. It’s part of our mission to educate and keep consumers in the know. [More]

More and more concern is growing over chemical sunscreens and the danger they pose to coral reefs. Hawaii recently became the first state to ban the sale of chemical sunscreens. This law will go into effect January 2021. Now the Florida legislature is considering a similar ban on chemical sunscreens. [More]