Mexico- Biodegradable sunscreen?

cas209

FI and I leave for our honeymoon soon.  We are going to PDC in Mexico and plan on doing a few trips while we are there- probably seeing Chichen Itza and some type of snorkeling trip.  Many of the trip descriptions that are organized through tour groups have reminders to "wear biodegradable sunscreen."   The snorkeling trips in the cenotes make a very big deal of this.

My question to you- Do they really check your sunscreen bottles?  Is this just a way for them to get you to buy the overpriced sunscreen that they sell on the trip?

I am a bit nervous about this because I burn very easily and have already had precancerous cells removed at the age of 24, even though I hardly go out in the sun!  I want to make sure that I have what I need to keep from getting burned.

Any advice/insight you have would be appreciated.

thegreeneyedkri

You can find biodegradable sunscreen online, but I'm not sure how soon you leave.  You might not have time for it to get to you before you leave.  It is very important for the environment.  Remember that the cenotes you will be swimming in also generally feed into waters that are used for drinking by people, thus not wanting extra chemicals in them.  On top  of that, going into the ocean without the biodegradable sunscreen can seriously harm/kill the reef (and thereby, all marine life concentrated around the reef).

I am very fair skinned and burn VERY easily, but I never had a problem with the biodegradable sunscreen.  Just make sure to reapply like you would with any other sunscreen.

Kiss My Face is a natural mineral sunscreen that is biodegradable and can usually be found in most pharmacy stores.  Other biodegradable brands include: Soleo Organics, UV Natural, Caribbean Sol.  If you have enough time, trying buying them online before you go.  It is much cheaper.

cas209

Thank you!  I will check the stores here.

alithebride

the reason they ask you to do that is so the coral reefs there dont end up like most others. if they check or not isn't the issue.
australian gold makes an awesome one. they're available at the OXO markets there (there's one in playa) and in most hotels.
dont worry about it not working-it works better than most main-stream ones that i buyl. dh and i are in mexico every december and i always buy it there or at one of ony a few stores here that sell it.
i can get it at harmon drugs if you have that near you. it's not really that much more down there-maybe a few dollars. no big deal.

butterflyjumper1

thank you guys for the detailed info about this - very much appreciated!! I will order some now while we still have time :-D

gymchick05

Whole Foods sells this too:)