Nuts about sunscreen

This blockout won’t pollute our oceans

Some good news for coral reefs and for your skin: scientists in South Africa have discovered an environmentally friendly method of producing sunscreen from cashew nut shells, which contain aromatic compounds shown to absorb UVA and UVB rays. There are plenty of reasons why a nutty sunscreen would be a win for Mother Nature. Several studies have concluded that around 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen end up in the world’s oceans every year, causing irreparable damage to coral reefs. While this new sunscreen is not commercially available just yet, here are three eco-friendly beauty breakthroughs you can buy off the shelf.

1. Zero-packaging products ‘Naked’ skincare that doesn’t contribute to landfill, such as Lush’s package-free cleansers, masks and moisturisers.

2. Disappearing sheet masks Hydrate and plump your skin – then throw your mask in the compost bin. One example: The Body Shop’s Drops of Youth Concentrate Sheet Mask is biodegradable and also compostable.

3. Repurposed ingredients Sustainable beauty brand UpCircle recycles used coffee grounds (that would otherwise go to landfill) to create body and face scrubs.