TropicSport Pro Team: Jaden Reichl Professional Wakeboarder On the heals of a Junior Nationals Title in 2021, Jaden Reichl is beginning his professional wakeboarding career. As one of the most talented young riders out there, Jaden will be making waves in the competitive wakeboard scene and expanding an already impressive resume in 2022. Outside of competition, Jaden puts his endless talent and big personality to use in some wild highlight reels, concise how-to videos, and some plain ole' entertaining content. At 19 years old, Jaden's resume outside of watersports is equally impressive. He co ..read more

Surf Sunscreen Way to go! You are taking one large step toward protecting yourself from skin cancer by wearing sunscreen made for surfers. Being surfers, we naturally love being out in the elements. We crave the ocean, dream about the perfect left, and love the feeling of saltwater on our skin. We want to be out there as much as possible. However, the activities we love pose a serious risk. A study at the Southern Cross University found that us surfers are 6 times more susceptible to melanoma versus the general population. Melanoma is one of the most dangerous types of skin cancer because ..read more

Coral Reef Safe Sunscreen A coral reef safe sunscreen is free of chemical active ingredients and nanoparticles. Some sunscreen companies will put “Reef Friendly” or “Reef Safe” labels on products that contain toxic chemicals that harm coral reefs because this type of language is not regulated by government agencies. The only way to know for sure that a sunscreen is reef safe is to check its ingredients. The same chemicals that harm our environment are known to cause serious human health issues. Finding the right sunscreen for your skin and our environment can be complicated - th ..read more

This excerpt is taken directly from a December 10 joint press release of Councilmember Kelly Takaya King (Chair, Climate Action, Resilience, and Environment Committee, Maui County Council) and Dan Dennison (Senior Communications Manager Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources): Maui County Enacts Historic Bill Prohibiting Non-Mineral Sunscreens WAILUKU, Hawai`i–Maui County continues to lead efforts to protect the environment with the enactment of Ordinance 5306, prohibiting the sale, distribution, or use of non-mineral sunscreens, announced Maui County Councilmember Kelly Takaya King ..read more

The safest sunscreen for babies is one that only uses Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide as active ingredients. These are the only two sunscreen ingredients generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) by the FDA.  Make sure you stay away from using chemical sunscreens on your baby (and yourself!). The chemical sunscreens absorb into your baby's skin and enter their bloodstream. Many chemical sunscreen ingredients are known endocrine disruptors. Oxybenzone and octocrylene, for example, could have hormonal effects on your newborn baby. Some chemical ingredients are so damaging to coral ..read more

UV Index Meaning: What Does UV Index Mean? The UV Index measures  how much UV exposure is expected throughout a day. It is forecasted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) to give the public an idea of how damaging the sun will be during the day. The forecasted UV Index is usually reported  for the amount of UV radiation at solar noon, however, some organizations report it hourly.  The UV Index was created to help reduce sun exposure for the public. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It is  often  caused by over ..read more

What does SPF Stand For: What is SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and tells customers  the extent to which sunscreen protects them from UVB rays. The sun emits two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. UVA rays are longer wavelengths associated with skin aging. They make up 95% of the UV rays that reach the Earth's surface. Since they have a longer wavelength, they penetrate through clouds and glass. UVA rays are more consistent than UVB rays year round.  UVB rays have shorter wavelengths that are associated with sunburns. Again, an SPF value only specifies how much UVB protection ..read more

Key Points  A recent Oregon State University study found that mixtures of chemical UV filters and zinc oxide can lose efficacy within 2 hours of exposure to sunlight and exhibit toxicity to Zebrafish.  These findings do not pertain to pure mineral sunscreens. Mineral active ingredients, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, are safe and effective in isolation and in combination with each other.  This study adds to a body of evidence indicating that use of any sunscreen containing chemical UV filters poses human and environmental health risks. Media headlines and marketing claims wit ..read more

In recent months, there has been increasing coverage of unsafe levels of benzene in sunscreen products. Here's what you need to know. What is Benzene? Benzene is a chemical created by human activities and natural processes. Although benzene is a widely used industrial chemical, human exposure to it at a certain levels poses serious risk. Benzene exposure may lead to various cancers, as the chemical causes cells to stop working properly. Why is Benzene in Sunscreen? While benzene is not a listed ingredient in any sunscreen, high levels of this chemical have recently been found in sunscreens ..read more

"Do I need to wear sunscreen in the fall and winter?" Although you might experience the sun differently in the summer than you do in the fall, winter, or spring, exposure to the sun's UV radiation is always dangerous. In order to maintain healthy skin and overall well-being, you need to wear sunscreen year round.  UV Radiation: UVA and UVB In addition to visible light, the sun produces UV radiation that reaches the earth in a variety of wavelengths, the most dangerous of which are UVA and UVB rays. UVA radiation is a longer wavelength that penetrates deep into the skin is primarily associ ..read more