Is Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 Reef Safe?
Not by the law. Allowed in 1 of 9 places we track. See why
- Not allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Not allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Not allowed: Guam
- Not allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Not allowed: Thailand
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Aruba, but not in Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks. It used three chemical UV filters: avobenzone 3%, octinoxate 7.5% and octisalate 2%. It was a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen lotion made by Aveeno (Kenvue Brands LLC) and was not water resistant. It has been discontinued, but is kept here for reference.
Sizes: 4 fl oz
SPF 15 is below SPF 30, the minimum the American Academy of Dermatology recommends when choosing a sunscreen.
Where Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (statewide) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, octinoxate and octisalate: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, octinoxate and octisalate: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Octinoxate, avobenzone, octisalate, phenoxyethanol and methylparaben: banned by name. |
| Guam | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Thailand (all national parks) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Aruba | 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Guidance and repealed rules (4)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, octinoxate and octisalate: not mineral actives. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Against guidance | Octinoxate: on the avoid list. |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Octinoxate and avobenzone: on the avoid list. Octisalate: not a mineral active. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Avobenzone | 3% | Chemical |
| Octinoxate | 7.5% | Chemical |
| Octisalate | 2% | Chemical |
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 inactive ingredients
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Polyacrylamide, Fragrance, Steareth-21, Arachidyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sarcosine, Laureth-7, Potassium Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate
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: Benzyl Alcohol (Benzyl Alcohol: The EU label rule applies when it is used as a fragrance. In sunscreens it is often a preservative.)
- 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: SPF face moisturizer listed on the brand's discontinued-products page, which says Broad Spectrum SPF 15 and to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. Actives and inactive list match the FDA DailyMed label (setid f6c7d858-b4f1-49fa-b9f3-80cbdbe452ad, effective 2023-06-12). Size from the DailyMed carton (120 mL).
Common questions about Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15
Is Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer 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 Aruba, but not in Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks.
Is Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 legal in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s statewide law (Act 104, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate) it is not allowed because it contains octinoxate. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi), which allows only mineral sunscreens, it is not allowed because it contains avobenzone, octinoxate 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 Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 not allowed?
Hawaii statewide: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Maui County: it contains avobenzone, octinoxate and octisalate, which are not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains avobenzone, octinoxate and octisalate, which are not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Palau: it contains octinoxate, avobenzone, octisalate, phenoxyethanol and methylparaben, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. The Northern Mariana Islands: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Thailand's national parks: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there.
Does Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 contain oxybenzone?
Yes. It contains octinoxate 7.5%. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii and most other places with a sunscreen law.
Is Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Chemical. Its UV filters are avobenzone 3%, octinoxate 7.5% and octisalate 2%.
Is Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 water resistant?
No. It makes no water-resistance claim, so it isn’t meant for swimming or heavy sweating. Use a water-resistant sunscreen for time in the water.
Alternatives to Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 15 for Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 8 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