Wearing sunscreen at the beach is a given, and anyone who forgets 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.

I’ve personally moved on to mineral-based sunscreens since they are reef-safe and gentler on skin. Finding a mineral-based (like zinc) sunscreen is actually pretty easy. Yes, the word “zinc” usually elicits thoughts of comically thick, white glue on a nerd’s nose in a John Hughes movie, but it’s come a long way since the 1980s.

© All Good

© All Good

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.

All Good is cruelty-free (another must for me), a Certified-B corporation, GMO-free, vegan and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

© All Good

© All Good

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

— Angelique Platas, associate editor