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.
Jason Sunbrellas Family Natural Sunblock SPF 45
Overall
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Ease of Application
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Clean Ingredients
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Water Resistant
Details:
Price Range: $$$$
EWG rating: 3
SPF: 45
Active ingredient(s): Homosalate (10%), Octocrylene (10%), Ethylhexyl Methooxycinnamate (7.5%), Ethylhexyl Salicylate (5%), Titanium Dioxide (2%)
*To understand how each of these chemicals may affect your family, do a quick search for them at the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database.
Other ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin , Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer , Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (1), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (1), Cetearyl Olivate , Polysorbate 60, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate , Xanthan Gum, Alcohol (1), Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance (Parfum)
Antioxidants added: Vitamin E
Where to purchase: Amazon, many online retailers
Ease of application: + creamy and simple
Scent: smells like conventional sunscreen, bananas
Water resistant? Seemed to do okay
My experience: It was interesting to test the chemical sunscreens vs. the mineral based ones, so I’m glad I made the mistake and got Jason Sunbrellas. I have since learned that any sunscreen over SPF 30 is not a mineral based one and can’t be rated quite as safe! It was funny to see some of my testers say with visible relief, “I’ll take this one,” after I explained the difference between mineral and chemical. However, my brother-in-law still got burned on his shoulders with this SPF 45. It can trick you into not reapplying and having a false sense of security!
Katie’s thoughts: Last year I remember memorizing the name “Jason Sunbrellas” as a safe sunblock that I was going to purchase if I could find it in a retail store. I’m glad I didn’t, because there are only a few Jason products (mineral based!) that are included in EWG’s 0-3 ratings. However, if you do want a chemical based sunscreen, this is a safer choice because it doesn’t have oxybenzone or parabens. I would like to see it have a bit more titanium dioxide or added zinc oxide, however, for the UVA protection.
I was supposed to get Jason Sunbrellas Mineral Based Physical Sunblock, SPF 30, but I didn’t know better than to ask for anything more specific than “Jason Sunbrellas.” You really have to watch closely!
Pros
- SPF 45
- No oxybenzone or parabens
Cons
- No zinc and contains chemical ingredients
- 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!