Is Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 Reef Safe?
Not everywhere. Allowed in 6 of 9 places we track. See why
- Allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Allowed: Guam
- Allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Allowed: Thailand
Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Hawaii statewide, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) and Palau. It uses three chemical UV filters: avobenzone 2%, homosalate 10% and octisalate 5%. It is a body sunscreen oil made by Equate (Walmart Inc.) and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 79903-007.
Sizes: 156 g
SPF 15 is below SPF 30, the minimum the American Academy of Dermatology recommends when choosing a sunscreen.
Where Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Palau | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate: banned by name. |
| Hawaii (statewide) | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Aruba | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
| Guam | 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Guidance and repealed rules (4)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 | Avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate: 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. Homosalate and octisalate: not mineral actives. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force |
Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Avobenzone | 2% | Chemical |
| Homosalate | 10% | Chemical |
| Octisalate | 5% | Chemical |
Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 inactive ingredients
alcohol denat., tridecyl salicylate, acrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer, glycerin, mineral oil, fragrance
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
- Drying alcohol: alcohol denat.
- Fragrance: listed as “fragrance”. US labels don’t have to name the allergens inside a fragrance, so there may be more than this list shows.
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: Walmart is the labeler of record for Equate, and the actives and inactive list (label order) come from its FDA-filed label on DailyMed. SPL set ID acdf62f2-742e-5df9-e053-2a95a90a96c5 (label version effective 2024-10-23). Not broad spectrum: the filed label carries the Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert for products that only prevent sunburn.
Common questions about Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15
Is Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 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, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks, but not in Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) and Palau. 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 Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 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 avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate, 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 Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 not allowed?
Maui County: it contains avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate, which are not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate, which are not allowed there. Palau: it contains avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate, which are not allowed there.
Does Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 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 Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Chemical. Its UV filters are avobenzone 2%, homosalate 10% and octisalate 5%.
Is Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 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.
What is the NDC and UPC for Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15?
Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 79903-007, and its UPC barcode is 681131366960. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to Equate Tanning Sunscreen Dry Oil Spray SPF 15 for Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) and Palau
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 3 places, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
Mini SPF 40 Sunscreen Tin
Face + Body SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50 (Beach/Sport/Baby), 3 oz
Lightweight Mineral Lotion - SPF 50