Reef-Friendly Sunscreen to Consider: All Good

Wearing sunscreen at the beach is a given, especially for little ones running in and out of the water — and anyone who forgets that usually regrets it with a vengeance the next day. One aspect of sunscreen I admittedly didn’t think about until just a few years ago is how detrimental its impact is on marine life and reefs. Oxybenzone is a chemical found in most mainstream sunscreens — it works to prevent sun damage, but is also carcinogenic and harmful to coral. The chemical makes coral more susceptible to bleaching and damages its DNA, interfering with reproduction and killing dependent marine life in the process.

Mineral Sport Sunscreen. Photo: All Good

Personally, I’ve moved on to mineral-based sunscreens since they are reef safe and gentler on skin — especially my sensitive type. Finding a mineral-based, like zinc, sunscreen is actually pretty easy, it’s just a matter of knowing what to look for. Yes, the word zinc usually elicits thoughts of comically thick, white glue on a nerd’s nose in a John Hughes movie, but it has come a long way since the 1980s.

All Good, for example, is a zinc-formula sunscreen that rolls on light and isn’t greasy. I’ve recently been using the sport sunscreen spray and mineral sport sunscreen lotion (both SPF 30) and really like how it feels and works. It’s technically unscented, but almost smells like oatmeal, and the ingredients are organic, including aloe leaf juice, shea butter and green tea extract, among others.

Mineral Spray Sunscreen. Photo: All Good

All Good is cruelty-free (another must for me), a Certified-B corporation, GMO free, vegan and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes — perfect for the kids spending an extended period of time kicking around in the ocean, forgetting all about the sunblock.

Switching to a mineral-based formula with zinc can feel like a stretch at first, so I recommend trying the spray. It goes on light and sits easy on the skin. It takes a few seconds to absorb, but I actually think my sensitive skin is better after use. There’s also tinted sunscreen users can wear all day, to work, functions or the beach, and it acts as a daily moisturizer.

All Good and other mineral-based brands can be found at CVS, Amazon or online.

Mineral Sport Sunscreen. Photo: All Good