Mommy Greenest Approved

Mommy Greenest Approved: Goddess Garden Organics Reef-Safe Sunscreen

May 25, 2015 /

product photo of reef safe sunscreens next to before and after photo of damaged coral reefFor several years I’ve celebrated May Skin Cancer Awareness month by pointing out the ineffectiveness of hormone disrupting toxic sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone (also known as Parsol 1789) and benzophenone-2 (or BP-2), while encouraging everyone to up on sunscreens with non-nano physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that block UVA/UVB rays.

So that’s the story on sunscreens and you. But did you ever think about what toxic chemical sunscreens can do to the ocean? I didn’t either, until I connected with Goddess Garden Organics, which has been formulating reef-safe sunscreens for more than a decade. They gave me the deets on how to preserve our oceans—and the go-ahead to hook up SIX Mommy Greenest readers with a sunscreen splurge!

It turns out, toxic chemical sunscreens do more than just expose you to endocrine disruptors—and the possibility of sun damage: In 2013, researchers reported that BP-2 damages coral reefs. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, nearly 30% of the world’s coral reefs have already been destroyed; if these rates continue, 60% of our reefs will be destroyed in the next 30 years. Responsible for providing a safe breeding ground for fish and other marine species, coral reefs also protect shorelines against damage from storms and floods, buffering against erosion. And they’re a key source for the development of new medicines to fight human illnesses, according to the National Ocean Service. Here are what coral reefs look like before and after they’re damaged by elements such as toxic chemical sunscreens.

coral reefs before and after the effects of toxic chemical sunscreens

Scary, right? Luckily, Goddess Garden Organics has manufactured reef-safe sunscreen from the get-go. I discovered the brand last year and was impressed with the light consistency of their sunscreens. At as much as 92% USDA Certified Organic, they’re water-resistant, vegan and biodegradable, and contain no synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens or GMOs.

Goddess Garden Organics makes broad-spectrum, reef-safe sunscreens—meaning they block UVB (burning) as well as UVA (aging, cancer-causing) rays—unlike many chemical sunscreens, which allow the skin to absorb the UVA rays.

And they’re 97% effective! Like all physical blockers, you have to rub a little to blend in the product, but once you do there are no telltale white streaks and no greasy after feel on your skin. Here’s a handy-dandy graphic that shows you just how these sunscreens stack up.

A chart showing how chemical sunscreens stack up against reef-safe sunscreens

Goddess Garden Organics has a huge range of reef-safe sunscreens. I’m a big fan of the non-aerosol sunscreen spray, which lets you hold a squirmy child in one hand and apply with the other (just make sure they don’t inhale as you spray it on). For daily use, their SPF 30 Facial sunscreen can’t be beat.

Want to try? Now through the end of June, get 30% off with “ReefSafeSunscreen” at check out. And six lucky Mommy Greenest readers can win the Goddess Garden Organics reef-safe sunscreen of their choice, by entering here. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by Goddess Garden Organics and meets the standards I’ve established to endorse a brand as “Mommy Greenest Approved.” Click here for more about Editorial Standards.

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