Looking for a reef-safe sunscreen that uses only zinc oxide as an active ingredient? You may want to keep looking!
With over 100 natural mineral sunscreens tested by my family of six in the past 10 years, we’ve had our share of miserable failures. White out? Paint drying? Sticky, chalky, makes you look like an alabaster statue or Casper the ghost?
I will tell you this: it’s entirely possible to find a zinc oxide sunscreen that is reef safe, really works, and goes on smoothly.
This brand is not one of them.
Read the full review below to find out all of its transgressions, and then be sure to go to my ultimate guide to natural mineral sunscreens to find a safe sunscreen that really works.
Dolphin Organics DO Naturals SPF 32 cream, SPF 50 cream
Overall
-
Ease of Application
-
Clean Ingredients
-
Water Resistant
Details:
Price: 2020 price estimate: $$$$
EWG rating: 2 (on old formulation, no new one available)
SPF: 32 or 50
Active ingredient(s): zinc oxide (6-23%), titanium dioxide (6%) non nano
Antioxidants added: green tea extract, Vitamin E
Other ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera Gel) JuiceAqua (Deionized Water)Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin-C)Avena Sativa (Oat) Betaglucan Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes Cetearyl Olivate Citric Acid Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil Glycerin Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Lactic Acid Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia Nut) Oil Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) OilSimmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed OilSorbitan Olivate Theobroma Cacao (Coca Butter)Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Xanthan Gum
Where to purchase: Amazon
Ease of application: – Yikes! Never went on well after the first use!
Scent: light, sunscreen-y scent, pleasant
Water resistant? maybe not…
My experience: Oy, this product did not perform well! We had more minor sunburns with DO than any other product reviewed in 2017, and I repeatedly wrote down that a 30 or even in the 20s SPF of other brands protected one side while the DO allowed a burn. Sometimes water wasn’t even involved, so I can’t just point fingers at the potential non-water resistance.
As far as putting it on, the very first time, we were happy. “A little goes a long way,” like the bottle instructions said.
Then one week later, it was drying before we could rub it in and could never get it to behave on faces. It was very separated, and since it’s not made with water it must have been oil on top squirting out first, and I could not shake/squeeze the tubes enough to get it emulsified again.
Want to SEE how hard it really is to rub in? Check this out on Facebook.
Here’s a video showing how tough it is to rub in on the face – I promise I am actually applying pressure here!
Pros
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- Nearly impossible to rub in
- Separated in tube and would not emulsify after one use
- Allowed burns repeatedly
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!