Is Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 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
Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 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 combines chemical and mineral UV filters: octocrylene 4% and zinc oxide 5%. It is a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen lotion made by Ocean Potion (GNL Brands International, LLC) and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 85638-006.
Sizes: 30 mL
Also sold as: Face with Clear Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen
Where Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Octocrylene: not a permitted active (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Octocrylene: not a permitted active (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Octocrylene 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Guidance and repealed rules (4)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 | Octocrylene: not a mineral active. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Meets guidance | |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Octocrylene: not a mineral active. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force |
Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Octocrylene | 4% | Chemical |
| Zinc Oxide | 5% | Mineral |
Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 inactive ingredients
water, ethylhexyl stearate, diisopropyl adipate, cetyl dimethicone, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, hexyl laurate, phenoxyethanol, beeswax, isohexadecane, hydrogenated castor oil, fragrance, silica, triethoxycaprylylsilane, dimethicone, tocopherol (Vitamin E), tetrasodium EDTA, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sodium chloride, sodium ascorbyl phosphate
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: 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: The oceanpotion.com page ("Face Zinc - SPF 50") lists the same actives and the same inactive ingredients in alphabetical order, so the label-order list was taken from the manufacturer's FDA-filed label on DailyMed. FDA SPL set ID 3c6f3e0b-2dff-6dc3-e063-6394a90abb0e (label version effective 2025-08-15). Broad spectrum is recorded from the filed Uses section, which carries the skin cancer claim that 21 CFR 201.327 reserves for Broad Spectrum SPF 15+ sunscreens. Contains octocrylene alongside zinc oxide, so it is not a mineral-only formula.
Common questions about Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50
Is Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 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 Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 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 octocrylene, 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 Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 not allowed?
Maui County: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there. Palau: it contains octocrylene and phenoxyethanol, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octocrylene, which is not allowed there.
Does Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 contain oxybenzone?
No. It contains neither oxybenzone nor octinoxate, the two chemicals banned under Hawaii’s statewide law.
Is Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Both. It combines mineral (zinc oxide 5%) and chemical (octocrylene 4%) UV filters, so it does not meet mineral-only rules.
Is the zinc oxide in Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 non-nano?
Its Drug Facts ingredient list doesn’t state particle size, and US labels aren’t required to. Many brands make non-nano claims elsewhere on the pack or website. No sunscreen law we track regulates nano particles.
Is Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 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 for Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50?
Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 85638-006. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to Ocean Potion Face Zinc SPF 50 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
Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Thinksport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Face Sunscreen
SPF 30 Mineral Facial Sunscreen
Sheer Face Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion