Getting in the habit of wearing sunscreen whenever you spend time outside is great. Yet the very same chemicals that make conventional sunscreen work might have unintended consequences for the environment and your health.

Thankfully, natural alternatives are available. Don’t be fooled by the word “natural” on a label: many sunscreens use the term even if they include only one or two natural ingredients and there are no federal regulations on using the word "natural" on personal care products. Here’s what to look for — and what to avoid — as you embark on your summer adventures.

Environmental effect

A 2008 Italian study found that commonly used sunscreen chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, can bleach and eventually kill coral reefs — something that would cause huge changes in marine biology and have disastrous consequences for some marine life. While the study was conducted in a lab setting, environmentalists worry that the amount of sunscreen that washes off at beaches could eventually have a negative effect on the biodiversity of already endangered reef ecosystems.

Impact on your health

While many chemicals in sunscreens (such as oxybenzone, octisalate, and octinoxate), offer UVB protection, blocking the kind of rays that cause burning and contribute to skin cancer, they don’t do much to block deeper-penetrating UVA rays that cause aging and also play a part in skin cancer development.

To best protect your skin, your health, and your children’s health, you can visit the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database to find the sunscreens with the safest ratings, or you can choose mineral sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, both of which are great at blocking UVA and UVB rays by reflecting sunlight. Look for sunscreens that have a minimum of 7-10 percent concentration of the minerals to ensure you’re adequately protected.

Sunscreens to try

What’s the downside to these blocks? Some mineral-based sunscreens can leave white streaks after applying them — not exactly the look you want poolside. However, companies have become more efficient at micronizing the particles so they still reflect light while spreading on clear. We’re big fans of the following sunscreens:

• Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF 30
• Lotus Moon Sage Sun Protective Crème SPF 15 and SPF 25
• Nature’s Gate Mineral Sunblock SPF 20
• Alba Botanica Fragrance Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 18
• Goddess Garden Kids Natural Sunscreen SPF 30

Sun protection tips

Your first line of defense against sunburn may be as simple as putting on a hat, sitting in the shade, and otherwise protecting your skin by keeping it covered up.

When you do use sunscreen, reapply it early and often. Don’t take chances after swimming or taking a long hike; even products labeled “waterproof” will wear off if exposed to water. Regardless of activity, it’s wise to keep your sunscreen handy and slather it on again every 90 minutes or so.