Is Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 Reef Safe?
Not everywhere. Allowed in 4 of 9 places we track. See why
- Allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Not allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Not allowed: Guam
- Allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Allowed: Thailand
Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Aruba, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam. It uses four chemical UV filters: octisalate 5%, avobenzone 3%, octocrylene 2.75% and homosalate 10%. It is a broad-spectrum body sunscreen lotion made by Black Girl Sunscreen and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Sizes: 3 fl oz
Where Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and phenoxyethanol: banned by name. |
| Guam | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Hawaii (statewide) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Aruba | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Thailand (all national parks) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
Guidance and repealed rules (4)
| Mexico: federal marine protected areas (e.g., Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún & Punta Nizuc) | Against guidance | Octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate: not mineral actives. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Meets guidance | |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Avobenzone: on the avoid list. Octisalate, octocrylene and homosalate: not mineral actives. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force |
Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Octisalate | 5% | Chemical |
| Avobenzone | 3% | Chemical |
| Octocrylene | 2.75% | Chemical |
| Homosalate | 10% | Chemical |
Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 inactive ingredients
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Rhizome/Root, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Lecithin, Menthol, Panthenol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Rose Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, Xylitol
Highlighted ingredients are regulated somewhere; red ones are restricted in at least one location we track. Dotted ones are listed below.
Fragrance allergens, essential oils and alcohol
- Fragrance allergens on the EU list: Menthol
The EU requires these allergens to be named on cosmetic labels above 0.001% in leave-on products (Regulation 1223/2009, Annex III). They can cause skin reactions in people who are sensitized; they don’t affect whether a sunscreen is legal anywhere we track.
Note: Ingredients and Broad Spectrum SPF 30 from the brand page; size from the page FAQ ('already at a travel size at 3 fl oz'). Directions say to reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating. The brand page prints 'T ocopheryl Acetate' and 'Daucus Carota Sativa(Carrot) Seed Oil' (whitespace artifacts); corrected to match the DailyMed label (NDC 84204-0010, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2bc4e22d-6265-9c0b-e063-6394a90a1541), which is otherwise identical.
Common questions about Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30
Is Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 reef safe?
“Reef safe” isn’t a regulated label claim, so we answer by law instead. It is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, Aruba, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam. Labels like “Hawaii Act 104 compliant” only mean a product has no oxybenzone or octinoxate; they don’t make a chemical sunscreen legal on Maui or the Big Island.
Is Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 legal in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s statewide law (Act 104, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate) it is allowed. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi), which allows only mineral sunscreens, it is not allowed because it contains octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, and Maui’s rule covers using it there, not just selling it. In Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island), which has a mineral-only rule for sales, it is not allowed. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have no county rule, so only the statewide law applies there.
Where is Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 not allowed?
Maui County: it contains octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, which are not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, which are not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there. Palau: it contains octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and phenoxyethanol, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there.
Does Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 contain oxybenzone?
No. It contains neither oxybenzone nor octinoxate, the two chemicals banned under Hawaii’s statewide law. Being oxybenzone-free does not make it mineral: it still uses chemical UV filters.
Is Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Chemical. Its UV filters are octisalate 5%, avobenzone 3%, octocrylene 2.75% and homosalate 10%.
Is Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 water resistant?
Yes, for up to 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, according to its label. Reapply after 80 minutes in the water, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours.
Alternatives to Black Girl Sunscreen BGS Men SPF 30 for Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau and Guam
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 5 places, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
Face + Body SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Every Day Active Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45
Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50 (Beach/Sport/Baby), 3 oz
UV Pure Broad Spectrum SPF 47