What makes it work

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Fog is the fine beading of water. Reef Clear teaches it to lie flat using plant-based surfactants—caprylyl, decyl, and coco glucoside (made from sugar + plant oils). A little glycerin (from plants) keeps that film steady, and a pinch of xanthan gum (a natural ferment) stops streaks.

 

Gentle citrus-derived pH buffers (citric acid + sodium citrate) keeps things lens- and user-friendly. GLDA—a biodegradable chelator made from a food amino acid—helps in dirty water so it rinses clean. The bottle stays fresh with a low-dose, natural food-grade preservative system: sodium benzoate + potassium sorbate + ethylhexylglycerin (from glycerin), backed by a little radish root ferment powerhouse. Rosemary extract and vitamin E (from plant oils) round us out to guard freshness and add to a long shelf-life. 

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What’s not in it

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• No sulfates (SLS/SLES) → less stripping, less sting.

• No quats / conditioning polymers (polyquats) → they cling to life in water; we don’t.

• No silicones, no microplastics → nothing that coats or lingers.

• No synthetic fragrance → reefs don’t need perfume; some musks persist.

• No isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/BIT) → potent in a lab, harsh for aquatic life.

• No EDTA → we use biodegradable GLDA instead.

• No harsh solvents, no dyes, no parabens, no phthalates, no PEG/ethoxylates.

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What about the in-a-pinch shampoo and water mix?

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Baby shampoos are engineered for hair feel and scent, not seawater ecosystems. A typical “tear-free” formula combines cocamidopropyl betaine and PEG-80 sorbitan laurate (cleansers), polyquaternium-10 (a cationic hair conditioner that clings), disodium EDTA (chelates), and fragrance.  Some ingredients linger for months in the ocean, altering ecosystems.

 

That cocktail introduces polymers + musks into the water that don’t break down quickly. Reef Clear uses APG surfactants for fast wetting, no polyquats, no fragrance, and GLDA instead of EDTA—so the film works, rinses clean, and plays nice with the ocean.

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