Natural Sunscreen Review 2026: The Best Natural Zinc Oxide Sunscreen (Better than EWG!)

Details:

Price Range: $$$$ (tub) or $$$$ (stick)

Where to purchase: Raw Elements (use the coupon code KS10 for 10% off entire order!!), Amazon

SPF: 30+

EWG Rating: 1

Active Ingredient(s): non-nano zinc oxide (22.75%), also non-micronized

Other Ingredients: Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Organic Coffee, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, All Natural Mango Butter, Organic Beeswax, All Natural Rosemary Oil Extract, All Natural Vitamin E ***All Ingredients Marked Organic Are Certified Organic

Antioxidants Added: sunflower oil, green tea, black tea, cocoa butter, mango butter, Vitamin E

Ease of Application: +/- very thick, but still able to rub in decently well; stick is less messy to apply and glides on okay in warm temps

Scent: pleasant, strongly of cocoa butter (stick)

Water Resistant? Very much so! Water was still beading up after over 90 minutes in the sun and lake.

My Experience: The stick is surprising – it doesn’t go on white nor look overly brown (either the tinted or clear sticks). I really enjoy having them for faces, although the small size gets tedious (and expensive) if you try to do the whole body with them. My husband chimes in that the stick feels like a sticky mat of honey in a man’s arm hair. Definitely not ideal for full-body coverage! But the lotion is not difficult to put on either, so between the two, this brand makes great strides. You can see for yourself how the stick goes on in this video on Facebook.

The ingredients are fantastic, nothing synthetic at all, so I’m over the moon about that, and it weathered months in storage just fine. The sticks look a little gritty but they still glide on very clear, so no problem there.

The tinted facial cream is the adult’s best answer to not looking like Casper, and it even looks fine on very light skin (my husband). We had it around when a bunch of families with kids were together in intense sunshine on vacation, and other adults started asking me, “Where did you get this? This is amazing!” I even dropped the tub a bunch, it dented, and it popped back into shape and the threads even still screwed closed tightly (phew). I’m kind of becoming a super fan…

Raw Elements is working toward no plastic, so they have metal tubs of both their tinted facial moisturizer and larger tubs of the regular cream. They are seriously the best!

When I went on our Fox morning news in 2018 to share about the new Hawaii legislation, the anchor actually ordered some Raw Elements between segments! Here’s a facebook video review that includes this stick.

Details:

Where to purchase: Amazon

SPF: 50

EWG Rating: 1

Active ingredient(s): 25% Non-nano Zinc Oxide

Other ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate (Coconut Oil Derived), Hawaiian Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil*, Hawaiian Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil*, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate (Olive Oil Derived), Polyhydroxystearic Acid (Vegetable Derived), Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetyl Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Methyl Abietate, Galactoarabinan, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Hawaiian Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) Fruit Juice*, Arthrospira Platensis (Hawaiian Spirulina)*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Heliantus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis (Cantaloupe) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Leaf/Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Heliantus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Hawaiian Plumeria Alba Flower Extract*, Kaolin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylhydroxamic Acid *Hawaii Grown Ingredients

Antioxidants added: Aloe, Macadamia Oil, Kukui Seed Oil, Noni Fruit Juice, Apricot Fruit Extract, and more!

Ease of application: It goes on very smooth and clear. One major test for us is if it goes on through my husband’s arm hair and even buzzed head, and this one passed that test with flying colors. It will take a bit more time to rub in compared to conventional sunscreens, but for a mineral sunscreen it gets really darn clear.

Scent: Our family loved this lotion. The scent had my children swooning with its light, fruity overtone… maybe some banana or coconut in there? Nothing that smells artificial like many conventional sunscreens, just pure and natural and attractive.

Water Resistant? Yes! 80 minutes FDA approved. (That’s the highest legally allowed)

My experience:  We had one little incident with burning, but I don’t think it was the fault of the sunscreen, just that my son is too fair for Florida sun in April! The other brand in the A/B test also allowed a pink tinge to happen. It was not a bad burn, no peeling, and I do think this SPF50 would protect as well as any other natural or conventional sunscreen.

My review: I’m proud to put Kōkua Sun Care in my very highest recommended category. It’s definitely a new favorite in 2018! The founder of the company is a lawyer and knows a lot about making sure the product is up to standards with the FDA, as well as how to keep the oceans and reefs safe. She does a lot of education and advocacy on the islands and beyond through media. I love learning about the stories behind the companies and I often feel that I can trust the brand more because of this very human and very conscientious face.

The product is made in California, not Hawaii, only because there are no FDA-approved facilities on the islands. The cream itself is just lovely in all ways and passes every test. My daughter even chose it as the one to put on for an all-day field trip, so it’s kid-approved as well!

From Kōkua:  I would like to give you some follow up on Kōkua Sun Care Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50/80 minutes WR. There has been quite a buzz in Hawaii about potentially being the first state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing the toxic chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate! Here is a news article on the latest news at the Hawaii legislature. Kōkua Sun Care is a Hawaii company and has been an active participant to make this happen submitting testimony, writing emails, meeting with legislators, and participating in rallies and trade-ins, etc. Part of our mission is to educate and convert chemical sunscreen users to zinc oxide sunscreen to save the coral reefs, marine life, and humans. As you likely know, chemical sunscreens and many of the preservatives that we see in personal care products, even ones that are supposed to be “natural” contain lots of toxins that harm people and marine life, like parabens and phenoxyethanol. Please see our blog post here on What Reef Safe Really Means.

We have trade-ins at events whereby people can trade in their toxic sunscreens for a discount and upgrade to Kōkua Sun Care. We advocated for the passage of the Hawaii bill to ban oxybenzone and octinoxate, submitted testimony, and supported the efforts of scientist Dr. Craig Downs (who led the team that discovered that chemical sunscreens, inter alia, are killing coral reefs world-wide, see research here) to educate the public about reef safe alternatives. We are proud to be a member of the Safe Sunscreen Council, and  we have been featured in many articles about reef safe sunscreen and why you need it, like this one in Travel + Leisure Magazine, see link here.

Our aim with Kōkua Sun Care is to provide a natural zinc sunscreen alternative to chemicals that gives maximum protection and does not require the user to compromise on performance. We have a lot of ingredients but 23 are natural antioxidants (7 of them Hawaiian for extra potent antioxidant action) to neutralize free radicals and the rest are non-toxic and mostly plant-derived to provide a well-emulsified, SPF boosted formula with zinc optimally dispersed that really stays on.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

EWG rating: not in database

SPF: 30

Active ingredient(s): Zinc Oxide (18.6%)

Other ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, butylene glycol, glycerine, glyceryl stearate, PEG 100-Stearate, cyclohexascyloxane, polyglycerol 3 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, sorbitan stearate, Dimethicone, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sodium lactate, polyacrylamide, C 13-14 isoparaffin, laureth-7, caprylyl glycol, hexylyne glycol, imperata cylydrica root extract, PEG-8, carbomer, triethoxysilylethyl, polydimethylilsyloxyethyl hexel dimethicone, cetyl alcohol, lecithin, tocopherol, ethylhexlglycerin, absorbyl palmitate, ascorbic acid, xanthan gum, tocopherol, linoleate/oleate, teprenone, phoenix dactylifera (date) fruit extract, polygonum aviculare extract, disodium EDTA, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, arabidopsis thaliana extract, plankton extract, miscrococcus lysate

Antioxidants added: Vitamins C and E

Where to purchase: Maelove

Ease of application: This simple, unsuspecting tube of sunscreen has got to be one of the best ever for rubbing in a clear, and quickly at that. It reminds me of a normal moisturizing lotion. There are more ingredients than I am used to appreciating, but none of them are hazardous, so if aesthetics and a very clear lotion is your ultimate goal along with safe mineral protection, this one is a huge winner. We even had marginal success rubbing it on to my husband’s wet head through his hair. It was developed by a group of post-college friends in many different disciplines, from medical to chemistry to engineering. That alone is kind of a cool story, and I think they are going to do a great job building the brand.

Scent: quite neutral

Water resistant? +

Star Feature: Definitely how easily it rubs in!

My experience: Sometimes I can tell what creams are really worth their salt by how quickly we use them as a family. We had two tubes of Maelove, and they are both nearly gone after just half of summer, and that is with over 20 other sunscreens being tested. That means we reached for this one a lot when we just needed something quickly and might not have been side-by-side testing. If I had to choose one brand to take with me on vacation, I would not hesitate for it to be this one… I just might take two tubes!

We also are confident that it genuinely protects from the sun because both my little boys got stripes of burned skin where their swim shirts crept up and showed unprotected skin accidentally. There was no evidence of pink where the Maelove had been applied. It also protected better on my two-year-old when Adorable Baby on the other side allowed a burn.

Our tip for you is that although it does rub in well, it can go on thick. This means your best strategy is to apply little dabs all over and rub them in together, because it won’t spread far.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

Where to Purchase: thinkbaby, HerbsPro (ships worldwide), Well.ca (Canada), Target, Amazon

SPF: 50

EWG Rating: 1

Active Ingredient(s): 20% non-nano zinc oxide

Other Ingredients: purified water, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, capric caprylic triglycerides, sorbitan stearate (coconut based), pine wood resin, vegetable glyceri), cetyl dimethicone, hydrogenated castor oil, magnesium sulfate (epsom salt), sunflower oil, jojoba oil, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), tocopherols (vitamin e), olive oil, raspberry seed oil, cranberry seed oil, hyaluronic acid (made from vegetable), glucose oxidase & lactoperoxidase, papaya

Antioxidants Added: Vitamin E, olive oil, raspberry seed oil, cranberry seed oil

Ease of Application: + Use small dots all over and it will rub in great

Scent:  papaya, which presents as citrus to most of us

Water Resistant? rated to 80 minutes

Star Feature: Fairly frugal and good rub-in-ability (Check out my frugal natural sunscreen post for more budget-saving ideas!)

My Review:  In 2017 / 2018, we retested thinkbaby at the request of many readers and viewers of my sunscreen spot on the news who weren’t happy to see that thinksport was so far down on the list. Like Badger, so many people love this brand that I had to give it a second chance. (Because I can’t guarantee the two brands are the same, although the ingredients are very close, thinksport is still in “brands other people love.”) We discovered that it rubs in quite nicely, I would say about average for the mineral sunscreens we like, better than many. Expect to spend a little extra time rubbing it in if you want it 95% clear.

My kids love the orange scent (which is apparently papaya!). We did have one instance where my oldest got burned on his arm through the lotion, thinking the Florida sun was too much for him. I would say to focus on reapplying more with this brand, and it may not be as strong as one would expect from an SPF 50. However, a friend with vitiligo tried it and had no problem on his very sensitive hands. He was brave to trust a new brand with that skin condition!

Note from Amazon reviews: A reader pointed out something that came up multiple times in the Amazon reviews for thinkbaby – that it tends to separate over time, and if it comes out of the tube anything other than white, it needs to be kneaded and/or shaken really, really well or you’ll burn because you’re not getting zinc oxide on your skin! We have had some intermittent experiences with the brand, and perhaps that’s why. Something to be aware of, with any brand really!

Summary

EWG rating: 1

SPF: 35

Active ingredient(s): zinc oxide (23.5%), no nano particles

Other ingredients: Kosher organic vegetable glycerin, distilled water, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, L-arginine, aloe barbadensis leaf gel, cera alba (beeswax), citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel wax, phosphatidyl choline or cetearyl glucoside and refined coconut oil extract, olibanum (frankincense) oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) oil, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, zea mays (corn) starch, maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) root extract, xanthan gum, beta glucan, gamma oryzanol

Antioxidants added: Vitamin E, carrot oil & more

Where to purchase: 3rd Rock Sunblock online free shipping on orders over $50 and use the code KITCHENSTEW for 20% off!, Amazon

Ease of application: + goes on pretty white but rubs in eventually, bit of a greasy shimmer. I often wrote down, “rubs in better than expected,” and after a while we learned that you can rub the cream between your fingers FIRST and then apply, and it goes in more quickly and thoroughly. A little goes a long way!! As long as you know how to apply this one – rubbing it between your hands first before applying – it rubs in extremely well. My husband has used the word “delightful” for how it applies! Scent: very light citrus with some sort of earthy undertone, a little intense but lovely. There is also an Unscented version.

Water resistant? I expected the beeswax in the ingredients to make 3rd Rock obviously water resistant, but that was not the case. It definitely seems to stay on in water after extensive testing, but it doesn’t bead up like I’m used to.

My experience: I saw this one on a Yahoo article of some sort in spring 2011, listed as one of the top natural sunscreens available. I checked out the ingredients and really liked their story, so I asked for a sample. I’ve since met the formulator/founder and spent quite a few hours learning from him! We didn’t loooove this product at first for a few reasons, including how little I understood, but the website is so much more informative now and we’ve figured out the unique application process.

This sunscreen is unlike ANY other out there – and remember, I’ve tested over 100!!! It’s actually stringy when it comes out of the tube, almost glue-y, but there’s a method to the madness (glycerin keeps the zinc suspended evenly throughout the solution). There are some ingredients I’ve never seen in a sunscreen, but 3rd Rock digs into the science on every one. Here are a few:

• Glycerin is a humectant, which means that in addition to having the ability to increase the solubility of active ingredients, it also leaves skin hydrated. In order for vegetable glycerin to be used in food applications (food-grade), it must have of USP grade of over 99% purity. It is non-comedogenic, so it will not clog pores.
• Beeswax with propolis: Beeswax is also an emulsifier, helping to preserve active ingredients to ensure that they are effectively released. Propolis, or “bee glue”, is produced by honey bees and the composition, like honey, varies from region to region. We use a high desert beeswax containing propolis. Propolis, advocated as a steroid- and chemical-free natural alternative, is widely used in natural therapeutic products because of its purported antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic and anti-oxidant properties.
• Corn starch: I asked the founder about this one because I have great empathy for people with allergies, and he explained that the corn starch is non-GMO and organic, and it’s also really just a by-product of corn, not corn itself.

Once in Florida, my husband was practically traumatized trying to apply sunscreen while already sweaty and sandy. 3rd Rock was the most impressive out of four we attempted under those conditions. I finally knew how to manage this cream, so I had him rub it on his hands first to warm it up just for a few seconds and then he put it on his arm and leg. He was impressed with how well it went in. On one test on my husband in earlier years, he did burn, but no lotion out of four held up that day as he and my son played in the water far, far too long.

Hubs says it smells “too girly” for him (he would want the unscented). I’d say overall in all our testing, 3rd Rock is definitely effective but perhaps less so than other SPF 35s (which may be because it’s tempting to use less than necessary). You don’t need a full ounce per adult, that’s for sure, but we probably skimp more than we ought.

My biggest concern with 3rd Rock is getting it out of the tube. The company says it will run down if you leave the bottle upside down, but that can be hard to do in beach bags and backpacks. The very first time we used it, it seems like I had to squeeze really hard to get it out already. I think it’s maybe half gone now, and it actually is still coming out, a good sign…

2021 UPDATE: We have fallen more in love with 3rd Rock over the years. Once you know how to apply it, it goes on so well. It has beaten out several other brands in terms of efficacy in A-B tests.

Star Feature: I have to give props to this company for being research-driven – the science geek in me appreciates all the information on the site. PLUS the founder has done something no one has ever done with a sunscreen, and he thinks it’s the most effective possible formulation. He suspended the zinc in glycerin instead of water or aloe, which could be a game changer. It’s a really scientific, complicated process! See all the 3rd Rock items I love here.

Details:

Where to Purchase: Badger Online, various brick & mortar stores, Amazon, Well.ca for Canada (Sport, Kids) 

Heads up! I originally included the Kids Clear Face Stick in this review, but it’s been demoted! It allowed a lot of burns on a recent trip and showed itself to be super difficult to apply well.

SPF: 15-35

EWG rating: 1 for all formulas

Cream:

• Active ingredient(s): zinc oxide (10-22.5%, varies) non-nano uncoated (>200nm, so not micronized either)
• Other ingredients: *Helianthus Annuus (Organic Sunflower) Oil, *Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), *Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E). * = Certified Organic
• Antioxidants added: varies, olive oil, shea butter, sunflower oil and Vitamin E from sunflower oil, various essential oils, seabuckthorn and vanilla extracts. (As an aside, Badger has just about the best ingredients explanations I’ve ever seen…)

Tinted:

• Active ingredient(s): Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
• Other ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract, Iron Oxides (C.I. 77492, C.I. 77499) (and) Jojoba Esters
• Antioxidants added: Sunflower Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Ease of application:

• Cream: + Our whole family really likes this product and how well it goes on. It can be thin, so we’ve learned not to open the tube when it’s upside down, but for non-nano especially, it rubs in remarkably well. The previous Badger formula was described as a bit “greasy,” but this new one is totally different. Improvement!

• Tinted: + When Badger released a new tinted version, I knew we had to try it. We are huge fans of tinted sunscreen, especially for adults’ faces. This one is only rated for 40 minutes water resistance, so it may be best if you are not doing a lot of swimming. As with other Badger varieties we have tried, this lotion goes on nicely smooth and rubs in quite easily. The list of ingredients is short and very clean, and the tint is the lighter side so versatile for most Caucasian skin types. It looked good even on my very fair-skinned husband’s face, and although he did get a little pink with it, it was that first day in Florida and I really believe it could not be helped. I hear from time to time that people are burning with Badger – if that’s you, you’re not alone. Time to try another brand!

Scent: varies – some unscented, some delightfully like oranges (kids really like that one, me too)

Water Resistant? The “cream” sunscreens definitely repel water; the “lotion” versions aren’t intended to, and they don’t. Read your labels carefully to know what you’re getting!

My experience: Back when I first started reviewing sunscreens years ago, I was not a fan of the Badger sunblocks, but they reformulated all their varieties in spring 2013, and they emailed me explaining that the changes they had made should really take care of all my previous complaints about the product (separation, purplish-white hue on skin).

I was actually pretty excited to try the new products, and the first surprise was how many different “flavors” of sunscreen there are, from “kids” and “baby” to “sport” and “daily.”

Some are water resistant to 40 or 80 minutes (they typically contain beeswax for staying power and have been rigorously tested; FDA regulations prohibit the use of the term “waterproof” anymore, so this is as good as you’ll get), others are intended as a moisturizer with SPF in a way, and they’re all broad spectrum (UVA, UVB, even UVC) and use only zinc oxide (non-nano particles) as the active ingredient.

The next surprise was honestly the vast difference in ingredients. The sport formula cream, for example, has only 5 ingredients, all very recognizable. The baby formula lotion shocked me with its 18 ingredients, some of which I didn’t recognize and a number of which used soy. As I dig into the website and literature that arrived with my samples, I think I understand why now.

Badger has divided its line into “creams” and “lotions.” The lotions are intended for daily use, are not water resistant, and have many extra ingredients for the purposes of emulsification so it doesn’t separate, getting it to rub in clear (and it does, 100% clear), and some antioxidants to fight the free radicals from sunshine exposure and a few natural preservatives. The ingredients are all sourced naturally, but for a sunscreen, personally, I’d rather have one tube that I can put on my kids whether they’re going to be swinging at the park or running through the sprinkler.

I prefer the creams, then, which have very simple ingredients, don’t rub in quite as well (but pretty darn effectively for a zinc oxide sunscreen!), and repel water like nobody’s business.

The “baby” version of the cream differs from the “sport” only slightly: baby doesn’t have jojoba oil and adds two essential oils for scent and antioxidants plus seabuckthorn and vanilla for the same reasons. Many brands add additional antioxidants to their baby formulas; if you don’t want scented, the sport is JUST as safe and gentle for baby’s skin (and the whole family), although it does have a higher concentration of zinc oxide by a few percent.

Badger still sells their two originals that I tested, a lavender scented SPF 18 and 30, both labeled “cream” in a 2.9 oz. tube. I wish I had the old ingredients list to see if they’re exactly the same or not, but they’re labeled “original formula.” It’s possible they rub in better and aren’t greasy simply because of the way Badger is working with non-nano uncoated zinc oxide, but I didn’t get to test those so I can’t say for sure.

For our family, I’d choose the sport and/or kids sunscreen cream.

I’m very pleased to now have it in the “KS Recommends” section, because the company really is taking care to do things right. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the depth and candid nature of their information, especially their coverage of nano particles and the extensive and honest FAQs. Reef safe and biodegradable just make the deal sweeter.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$–$$$$

EWG rating: 1

SPF: 40 Active ingredient(s):  Zinc Oxide 22% non-nano

Other ingredients: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Tocopherol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract* *Organic

Antioxidants added: sunflower oil, shea butter, tocopherol, aloe vera

Where to purchase: Earth Mama, Amazon

Ease of application: + Earth Mama is the first tinted sunscreen I’ve found that actually seems to look fine on little kids. It doesn’t make them look like they’re wearing makeup. If you have kids who don’t like the bit of a white cast that many other zinc oxide sunscreens provide, Earth Mama is a great stick. This stick glides on nicely and rubs in very well. In fact, you almost don’t need to rub it in, and it’s just slightly wider than most sticks. So you could pretty easily paint your entire face with a light layer and rub in for 10 seconds and be done. That’s another bonus when it comes to kids, but I embrace it as an adult as well. On both my husband and me, with very different skin complexions, the medium-light tinted stick looked the best of a few brands we were testing at one time. There is also a medium-dark stick for darker complexions.

Scent: light and herby, a bit sweet because of the cocoa butter

Water resistant? Rated for up to 40 minutes

1. My experience: Earth Mama performed very well against other brands as far as burning and this was with many hours under the hot Arizona sun. I’m very pleased with the ingredients and only have one caveat. In a side-by-side test against another brand’s SPF 20, it didn’t seem to perform any better, even though it’s an SPF 40. However, that may not mean a thing. This stick goes in my top recommended tier.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

EWG rating: 2

SPF: 30 and 50

Active ingredient(s): SPF 30: Natural Zinc Oxide 22.5% (USP, Non-Nano, Non-Coated, Low-Lead) [for SPF 50: Zinc Oxide 24.5% (Non-Nano, Non-Coated) & Titanium Dioxide 6% (Non-Nano, Non-Coated)]

Other ingredients: Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), Organic Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Helianthus annuus (High Oleic Sunflower) Seed Oil, Wildcrafted Candelilla Wax, Organic Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu), Organic Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Natural Silica, Natural Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Seed Butter, Organic Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Fruit Butter (Virgin Unrefined), Organic Mauritia flexuosa Fruit (Buriti) Oil, Natural Emu Oil (AEA Certified), Organic Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba), Natural Propolis, Natural Tocopherol (non-GMO, Soy, Vitamin E), Organic Fragrance Compound Oils, Natural Mica, Plankton Extract -Proprietary Marine Plankton Microalga, Organic Antioxidant / Rosemary, Wildcrafted Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka Essential Oil), Organic Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) Extract, Natural Iron Oxides, A Supportive Community and Love!

Antioxidants added: sunflower oil, red raspberry seed oil, Tocopherol…probably just about everything in there! ?

Where to purchase: Avasol

Ease of application: + As far as consistency, it rubs in very nicely, although keep in mind that because it is a stick it starts out much thicker than what you’re used to in a cream. Typically I only use sticks on faces because they are too time-intensive to get all over larger surfaces like arms and legs. However, my husband used it on his arms before I realized it, and to our surprise it rubbed in fine because it’s quite soft as sticks go. As long as you get the right shade, it practically disappears on the face. The “light” version is not the right shade for me and made me look a bit ghostly, but the tan was just right. I chose a “light” in SPF 50 for my fair-skinned husband and “tan” for me in SPF 30 (because the 30 has zinc only).

Scent: The scent of this brand is very unique, and I’m not even sure how to explain it. It’s not fruity… It’s not coconutty… I guess we’re going to go with fresh and spicy, but nothing like Old Spice deodorant for example. I really like it a lot but it’s possible it’s not for everyone (I love cinnamon so that probably helps!).

Water resistant? It definitely lives up to its water resistant claims, which is 80 minutes, the maximum allowed. It beads up like crazy when swimming!

My experience: I was very impressed with the ingredients list of this brand and the fact that it came in a cardboard tube, no plastic at all. Even though I couldn’t get it on Amazon and it seemed a bit pricey, I wanted to try it so much that I bought a few tubes.

Star Feature: Heavenly scent, amazing texture, near-perfect ingredients, eco-friendly tube…need I go on?

My review: For adults in particular who don’t want to look ghostly, I think this is a great option. Avasol even offers multiple tints so that lighter or darker skin tones can find something that fits. I would like to see if it works for very dark, non-white ethnic skin tones in the “dark” shade. You can also choose SPF 30 or 50, and the 50 has almost the maximum allowed percentage of zinc oxide, as well as 6% titanium dioxide. I’m putting the SPF 30 in my top category, and the SPF 50 is in my second tier because of the titanium dioxide.

I had the great privilege of watching other ladies test this one out, and here are some of their thoughts:

• One said it felt like it went on almost like baby powder, not slimy or greasy at all (you can guess her expectations by that comment!) and cried out to another, “You gotta try this!”
• The next one was in awe that after a hike with it on her face, it didn’t feel greasy at all. She said she wanted to buy some right away (and she lives in Hawaii but isn’t native so definitely is a frequent sunscreen user!).
• On some skin tones and in certain light, however, some ladies did notice a certain cloudiness to the sticks, which Carefree Naturals and Raw Elements did not show.

If I was choosing one stick to put in my OWN pocket for the day, this would probably be the one. I feel like a have an affinity for the brand – super eco-friendly packaging (even how they mailed the product!), fancy-dancy scent that must just be “my thing,” excellent ingredients and shades that look great on me. My only beef is that is IS an expensive investment, and I wish they didn’t have titanium dioxide in some sticks, but I can let that slide. I only need the SPF 30 myself, anyway.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

SPF: 35

EWG Rating: N/A

Where to buy: Raw Love site (get 10% off with code KS10), some Whole Foods stores

Active ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide (22.5%)

Inactive ingredients: cold-pressed unrefined coconut oil, raw shea butter, sesame oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, Vitamin E oil, carrot seed oil, pure essential oils: lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus

Antioxidants added: Vitamin E, jojoba oil, sesame oil, carrot seed

Scent: Raw Love is a strong scent but extremely pleasant in my mind. The formula uses lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus essential oils; so if you are familiar with those smells, you can imagine that it’s pure, crisp, and clean. However, note that some people are very sensitive to eucalyptus, and often peppermint and eucalyptus are too strong for little kids. So I wouldn’t recommend putting Raw Love on faces, and be cautious if anyone in your life may have an allergy.

Ease of Application: Raw Love is sold in metal tins, which are some of my favorite delivery systems for sunscreen. It’s easy to dip in your fingers and apply a good amount over a lot of skin, especially with kids who want to get done quickly. Raw Love rubs in well, I would say above average for a zinc-oxide based sunscreen.

Water Resistance: We often use this one at the beach and while swimming, and because there is beeswax in the ingredients, you will definitely see water bead up on your skin.

My Experience: We used Raw Love consistently throughout a summer of travel through the Southern United States. And although we often reached for the tin because it was so pleasant to apply, I am sad to share that it’s probably not as strong as some other brands. There were at least three times where we thought the side with Raw Love in our A/B testing burned slightly worse than the other side (our poor, Northern, white skin was no match for the sun of the South). I do think that Raw Love is a good sunscreen, and it definitely protected from the sun in many instances. However, I would not give it an SPF of 35 as compared to most of the brands we test, which are SPF 30. And quite a number of them beat Raw Love in our side-by-side testing.

Star Feature: There’s a lot to love about Raw Love including: plastic free, totally reef-safe, and goes on smoothly and smells dreamy.

My Review: I wouldn’t hesitate to use Raw Love in most circumstances, but if you really need an SPF you can trust consistently or if you are light-skinned and going to be out for quite some time or in the Southern sun, where the UVA and UVB rays are more intense, I would move up into my top tier and choose another brand. However, bottom line, kudos to Raw Love for doing a really great job with what’s available in Hawaii and for being so eco-conscious and gentle to marine life.

Don’t forget to use code KS10 to get 10% off at the Raw Love site!

Details:

EWG rating: 2 (SPF 50 rates a 1)

SPF: 30-50

Active ingredient(s): zinc oxide (6%), titanium dioxide (6%), micronized but no nano particles

Other ingredients: Aqua (Deionized Water), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Oil, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Wax, Lecithin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopherol (Vitamin-E), Xanthan Gum

Antioxidants added: Vitamin E, green tea

Where to purchase: Coral Safe site, Amazon

Ease of application: + Almost watery, spreads incredibly easily

• Scent: nearly neutral, lightly of green tea perhaps?

Water resistant? Yes, somewhat

My experience: Mexitan absolutely stopped one of my daughter’s arms from burning and my shoulder when applied only on one side. Three hours in the sun, 1-4:00 p.m. It’s really thin, though, and goes on like there’s too much water in it – but that also means it rubs in better than many. My husband wore it on his freshly buzzed hair, and against all odds, he did not burn after 6 hours in the sun. This is the only sunscreen I tested that is so thin and easy to spread. If you have wiggly little ones or hair that needs sunscreen applied in it, Mexitan is the perfect choice. My son did burn a little on the Mexitan side and not the Melansol side, so the “reapply after swimming” reminder is an important one here. Back in 2010 when we began, it did contain Vitamin A, but the new versions do not.

The “Coral Safe” bottle is exactly the same as the other except for a light coconut scent that is omitted. I can only imagine that they will perform exactly the same. The new SPF 50 simply has more active ingredients. I haven’t tried it yet, though, coming soon for the 2018 update – early testing is a problem as it’s VERY thick and white!

Star Feature: Made in the U.S., highly rated for “reef friendliness” and environmental safety. Super spreadability! Gets high marks for being my husband’s very favorite and his new standby.

2018 Update: I am incredibly disappointed to have to demote the Tropical Sands brand, because in our initial testing it was one of our favorites, especially for going on very very clear. In fact, I have to apologize to people who bought this brand after reading my review, between the time they reformulated and I retested. It definitely would have seemed not as advertised!

Tropical Sands offers SPF 30 and 50, and while the SPF 30 is tolerable and belongs in this second category, the SPF 50 is absolutely horrid and unmanageable as far as rub-in-ability.

SPF 50 dries way too fast and goes on incredibly white, so much so that even my children noticed. It sat on the surface of the skin so markedly that we thought it might be flaking off after it dried (and I’ve heard the same from an unfortunate reader who must have bought the 50 as well). Unfortunately, the higher number did not give added protection necessarily, because in our side-by-side test with thinkbaby, the Tropical Sands side burned quite noticeably more. That is rare… Typically our two brands on one body behave either quite similarly or with a just barely noticeable difference. On this result, I wrote, “big time more burned!”

On my husband’s legs and neck, the SPF 50 was even visibly white after an entire night sleep. He quoted, “Whatever your lowest mark is, give it to this one!”

The Tropical Sands SPF 30 in the brown bottle definitely spreads on much better than the 50, but still not nearly as well as I’ve been saying for years. My husband recorded that it spreads really well as far as feeling thin, so you don’t have to be quite as careful dabbing it on as some of the thicker creams. It feels like a little goes a long way. Sometimes that can be a risk for under applying and causing problems. Ironically, in side-by-side tests on multiple people, this version prevented burns quite well compared to BeautyCounter, which failed at every turn. An extended family member was quite impressed that her young child had no burns with this SPF 30 after a full day in the hot sun at a pool. We also observed a burn where a shirt shifted to a no cream spot, compared to the well-protected areas. I gave Tropical Sands SPF 30 an “A” in efficacy, and perhaps a “B” in transparency. It remains one of the most frugal sunscreens you can buy.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

EWG Rating: 3

SPF: 20 or 30

Active ingredient: 6.6% Titanium Dioxide (Non-Nano) [tinted SPF20]; 8.8% Titanium Dioxide (Non-Nano) [sport SPF30] Other ingredients: Deionized Water, Aqueous Extracts of Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf*, Ocimum Tenuiflorum (Tulsi) Leaf*, Alaria Esculenta (Wakame Seaweed)* and Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Methylcellulose, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Stearic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid. * Certified Organic [sport SPF30]

Antioxidants added: vitamin E, aloe, green tea, and others

Where to purchase: Stream2Sea site, Amazon – Sport SPF 30, Tinted

Ease of application: +/-

Scent: light and clean, very understated

Water resistance: Rated for 80 minutes

My review: I’ve seen Stream2Sea on reef-safe lists and in scuba shops many times, so I was pleased to finally get a chance to test it out. Imagine my dismay when I flipped the tube over to see titanium dioxide only as the single ingredient. Titanium dioxide is less powerful as a broad-spectrum ingredient than zinc oxide, and it’s actually quite rare to see titanium dioxide only without zinc. One potential benefit is that if someone has an allergy or reaction to zinc oxide, this product would come with my highest recommendation. As it is, because there’s no zinc it can’t go in my top-recommended tier right off the bat. But let’s see how it performs. I hit another disappointment immediately when we discovered that the white body lotion doesn’t really rub in any better than a zinc oxide cream. There’s a definite pasty, white cast all up and down the arm.

The texture is nice and pleasant and not sticky. But visually, Stream2Sea leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily, the tinted version fixes this right up. I felt the tint looked great on both of our complexions. Mine is more olive and my husband’s much more pink and Irish, French-Canadian white. For faces I would highly recommend the tint. And it looked okay on the arms as well. We tested the original sport SPF 30 and the tinted in SPF 20. Both versions are available in 20 and 30.

While in Sedona, we put the Earth Mama stick on the right hand side of our faces and the Stream2Sea tinted on the left. We had no differences I could ascertain in tan and no burning. It’s kind of interesting that there were no differences though, because we had a good bit of sun and Stream2Sea is only 20 SPF, 6.6% titanium dioxide only. And Earth Mama is 22% zinc, SPF 40. It’s very curious that they showed no difference.

I’m really surprised that such a low percentage titanium dioxide performed so well. Stream2Sea has definitely proven itself, both SPF 20 and 30. It performed well; it protects from burns. We were putting it on out on the trail, not in the mirror. And when I got home, I did have a line of burn that I don’t believe I had the day before on the very top of my forehead, like right below the hairline, like less than a centimeter the whole way across. I think probably either I didn’t rub up that high, not wanting to hit my hair, or my hat maybe rubbed it off somehow. More likely the former than the latter, which would show that both of those sunscreens work really well.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

SPF: 40

EWG Rating: 5

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide (16% in face moisture; 20% in sensitive)

Inactive ingredients: Face Moisture – Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride, Ceramide 3, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Iron Oxide, Methicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer. Sensitive – C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Microcrystalline Wax, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Stearyl Dimethicone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water.

Antioxidants added: Vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate)

Where to purchase: CōTZ website, Amazon

Ease of Application: + This brand goes on very smoothly and probably has the best tinted version for children to use. In fact, my teenage son said, “Why aren’t all zinc sunscreens at least a little bit tinted so they rub in as well as this one?” I would put to this brand up there with Maelove as a great transition sunscreen. In other words, it is almost as smooth, quick, and easy to apply as conventional sunscreen.

The only situation in which CōTZ completely fails is if you are already sweaty and at the beach in the sand. That was an untenable situation for my husband who absolutely could not get CōTZ to rub in at all. Most other sunscreens were a disaster in that situation as well, to be fair, and the tinted version did at least stand a fighting chance on my husband’s face.

Scent: CōTZ is mostly unscented and really not remarkable in how it smells.

Water Resistance: We have not had any trouble with CōTZ coming off in the water. Face Moisture is rated for 80 minutes and Sensitive for 40 minutes.

My Experience: This brand has become a favorite for many in the family. And it is one that my daughter grabs exclusively whenever she has the opportunity. She even recognized it after 6 months and said, “Ooh, that one’s my favorite!” We tested CōTZ quite extensively in many situations, and a number of times it definitely performed better than the other side in A-B testing. In fact, after a full day on the Florida beach, when every part of everyone got somewhere between badly singed and burned to a crisp, I did not get burned on my face, which had the tinted CōTZ on it, and my husband did not get burned on his arm, which had the white version. We call this a huge success.

Star Feature: This brand definitely rubs in so well that it’s exemplary and deserves a trophy in that category.

My Review: We at the Kimball household unequivocally recommend CōTZ, both tinted and white versions, for pretty much all situations, unless you’re already covered with sand. 🙂 We’ve found it to be extremely pleasant in every category. And most importantly, it works great! Just a note: this is a “lighter green” option due to the ingredient list.

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

EWG rating: 1

SPF: 30

Active ingredient(s): zinc oxide (20% on my tube), non nano

Antioxidants added: rosemary extract

Other ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, Organic Beeswax, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Camellia Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Rosemary Extract

Where to purchase: Poofy online

Ease of application: +/- Very thick, doesn’t rub in great but ok

Scent: neutral

Water resistant? Yes

My experience: I gravitated toward Poofy on first tests because I wanted zinc and only zinc for our littlest one. We were happy with the results at the end of last summer and only had one kid who “toasted” a bit, but that was with a LOT of sun and the reapply was another brand so not so fair.

The big problem was after storing in the linen closet for 6 months, Poofy was very gritty/clumpy and super thick. I thought it would never rub in and be a total bust, but with some perseverance, it did rub in. Almost a deal breaker.

My review: I’m actually looking forward to testing out Poofy a little more, so I’ll basically say it’s probationally on the recommended list. The ingredients and commitment to quality from the company is excellent, but the texture is so thick I could barely get it out of the tube. It rubs in fine, has only zinc, and seems to work, so here it is. I hope it can stay!

Details:

Price Range: $$$$

SPF: 50

EWG Rating: not in database

Active ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide (22%)

Inactive ingredients: medium-chain triglycerides, yellow wax, castor oil, coco-caprylate/caprate, coconut oil, tocopherol, polyglyceryl-3 ricinoleate, sunflower oil, isotearic acid, helichrysum italicum flower oil, lavender oil, myrhh oil, labdanum oil, cananga oil, carrot seed oil, frankincense oil

Antioxidants added: Coconut oil; Lavender, Carrot Seed, and Frankincense Oils

Where to buy: Young Living  

Scent: Young Living has a nice, light, citrusy scent.

Ease of Application: + This lotion rubs in very smoothly, almost like a conventional lotion cream that you would rub into your hands. My only worry is that it’s a little tempting not to use enough because of that.

Water Resistance: I didn’t get to test this tube extensively enough in water, but one time with swimming included I did get some pretty bad burns. It is rated to 80 minutes by the FDA.

My Experience: Years ago, I tested Young Living’s lotion available at the time, which was only an SPF 10 and behaved like it. I’m much more happy with the zinc oxide concentration in this SPF 50. We definitely proved that it worked, because my husband missed a spot on his foot and completely got toasted with Young Living all around. So that’s good news.

Star Feature: This lotion definitely goes on smoothly but is a bit on the pricey side.

My Review: Young Living has done a nice job with formulating an SPF lotion that goes on very well. I might even use it as a daily SPF moisturizer on the face.

NOTE: Below is the review for the Young Living SPF 10 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion. It is still produced, but we DON’T recommend it as shown in the review below.

Price: 2021 price estimate: $$$$

EWG rating: not in database

SPF: 10

Active ingredient(s): Zinc oxide (10.5%)

Other ingredients: grape seed, coconut oil, tapioca starch, octodyldecyl oleate, beeswax, hydrogenated vegetable oil, candelilla wax, cocoa butter, silica, tocopherol, jojoba oil, bisobilol, helichrysum italicum flower oil, lavendar oil, commiphora myrrha oil, cistus ladaniferus oil, picea mariana leaf oil, cananga oil, carrot seed oil, sunflower oil, calendula officinalis flower, matricaria chamomilla, boswellia sacra resin oil, raspberry seed oil, virola sebifera seed oil, mauritia flexuosa fruit oil.

Antioxidants added: Grape Seed, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Jojoba Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil

Where to purchase: Young Living

Ease of application: + …but it doesn’t matter because 10SPF just isn’t enough! I only had a tiny sample of this brand, so I wasn’t able to prolifically test it on the whole family like I do with most brands. My notes say it rubs on very nicely, but I also wonder how it will work if it comes in a tube. It’s a very thick consistency, and I’m guessing it will be very hard to get out of a tube after it is half gone. It is decidedly thicker than even the tin of Raw Elements, which would never work in a tube. The lower SPF than most mineral sunscreens makes a huge difference. We saw at least two burns versus other brands, and considering we did not test it often, that is not a good report. I understand the YL just formulated a brand new SPF50 sunscreen with clean ingredients for 2018, but it’s not available to the public yet. (2021 UPDATE: Now available here.)

Water resistant? Rated for 80 minutes

Details:

See here for more – Babo has other products that didn’t fare so well, but I’d put the SPF 50 stick rated pretty well. 🙂

Price Range: $$$$

EWG rating: 5 (but no individual ingredients are rated over a 2…???)

SPF: 50

Active ingredient(s): Non-nano Zinc Oxide 17.0%

Other ingredients: Beeswax, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Calophyllum Tacamahaca Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Jojoba Esters, Octyldodecyl Olivate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Oryzanol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopherol. Certified Organic Ingredients

Antioxidants added: avocado oil, cocoa seed butter, tocopherol

Where to purchase: Amazon {2 pack is a much better deal!}, Babo Botanicals site 

Ease of application: + goes on even clearer than most sticks, very easy to use

Scent: neutral, a bit of cocoa butter scent

Water Resistant? rated to 80 minutes

My experience: This stick was grabbed often and made me feel an affinity for the brand, even though their other products (cream, spray) aren’t perfect. Even their other stick wintered terribly, but this one has been a winner if you’re willing to shop specifics.

As sticks go, it’s average for efficacy. However, compared to a great cream (in this case Tropical Sands 30), it did allow a burn. One high-school-aged reviewer said it felt so weird to put on, like she was putting deodorant on her face. I’ll be glad my kids are just used to these when they’re in those tender teenage years! That teenager only applied sunscreen to her face, and her shoulders burned right up, FYI!

See for yourself in this video on Facebook demonstrating 8 of the sticks in this review!