I put my heart and soul into finding the best natural mineral sunscreen over the last 10 years. My family of 6 has personally tested over 100 reef-safe sunscreen options, putting two on our bodies every time we are in the sun.
Our a/b tests have been stringent, and we really know what options are effective, rub in well, and last a long time.
Of all those well over 100 choices, we only have about a dozen that we love — and this brand is one of them.
As you’ll read in the full review below, this zinc oxide sunscreen covers all the bases and keeps your family safe from sunburn. It uses pristine ingredients to the highest standard, goes on smooth, and actually lasts.
If you’d like to see how it stacks up against other natural mineral sunscreen brands that use reef-safe zinc oxide, then head over to my ultimate guide to natural mineral sunscreens for the complete list of safe sunscreen reviews.
CōTZ Lightly Tinted Face Moisture and Sensitive Non-Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
Overall
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Ease of Application
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Clean Ingredients
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Water Resistant
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Effectiveness
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.
Pros
- Rubs in very well
- Tinted version as well as white ones
Cons
- Does not rub into sandy, sweaty skin
- EWG rating of 5
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!