Looking for a reef-safe sunscreen that uses only zinc oxide as an active ingredient? You’re making a smart choice!
My family has tested over 100 natural mineral sunscreens over the last 10 years, so we know what really works. This brand is pretty good, but in my opinion, if you’re looking for the cleanest ingredients and smoothest application, then head over to my natural mineral sunscreen review and grab one of my top recommended zinc oxide sunscreens instead. My standards are really high though, so this one is still pretty good. 🙂
You can read all the details below to find out why this safe sunscreen brand did not make my top recommended list.
Ava Anderson Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Details:
Price: 2019 price estimate: $$$$ – $$$$
EWG rating: 1
SPF: 30
Active ingredient(s): non-nano zinc oxide (23%)
Antioxidants added: olive oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil
Where to purchase: Lisa Jousma’s Ava Anderson store (Link no longer available)
Ease of application: + exactly the consistency you’d imagine with a conventional lotion, although a little thin after a few months in storage. Takes some rubbing to avoid the Casper look, but doable. Seems like a little goes a long way.
Scent: fairly neutral
Water resistant? Maybe? Doesn’t seem to bead up like other lotions, but we had no burns after lots of swimming. The beeswax should contribute some water resistance.
My experience: A little whiteness on the skin is par for the course for well-made zinc creams, so it’s just to be expected. Ava’s tube quickly became a go-to choice because it was easy to squirt and apply to children, and we had zero sunburns with it on a Florida trip with lots of pool time.
It’s a bit shiny after a while, and on one test subject, we noticed the cream building up to a white stripe in the inner elbow. That may mean that it’s water resistant enough to stay on and show up later or that it scootches around on the skin a bit – good or bad?
After storage, the cream definitely separated, but it wasn’t difficult to squeeze it back into a nice lotion. (The tube does say “knead well before using” – shaking doesn’t cut it.)
Star Feature: Ease of application is important, and the super simple 100% recognizable ingredients from an up-standing company make me happy.
Ava Anderson closed her doors, and the company was supposedly bought out by Pure Haven Essentials. See my review of their new formula.
Wondering if this one is the very best natural sunscreen for your family?
I organized alllll the sunscreens we reviewed in each one’s recommendation category – one page, at-a-glance to find out what is safe to buy AND works! Print it or save to your phone for reference!
The guide also includes answers to questions people ask me all the time:
- Which brand rubs in the clearest?
- What’s the best for all day outdoor sports?
- How do I save money on natural sunscreens?
- What looks good on ladies’ faces?
- Is there an option that is FAST to apply to wiggly kids?
I’ll send a copy to your email so you can see it right away and find it again later!