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 ultimate guide to natural mineral sunscreens 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.
Primal Life Organics Sun-Up Ultra Sun Protection
Overall
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Ease of Application
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Water Resistant
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Clean Ingredients
Details:
Price Range: $$$$
SPF: Not tested
EWG Rating: 1
Where to Buy: Primal Life Organics site
Ingredients: Red Raspberry Seed Oil, Pure Filtered Beeswax*, Avocado Oil*, Non-nano Zinc Oxide, Extra Virgin Olive Oil*, Virgin Coconut Oil*, Vitamin E Oil*, Carrot Seed*, Lavender*, Myrrh*, Sandalwood* (*certified organic)
Antioxidants added: raspberry seed oil, avocado oil, vitamin E
Scent: We have an unscented stick from Primal Life Organics, so it doesn’t smell like much, maybe just a little earthy like clay.
Ease of Application: This stick rubbed in pretty well and surprisingly clear, although it looks so white. We didn’t think it would rub in as well as it did. I did make one note that because it is a stick, we probably don’t use enough on our bodies, because it just takes longer to rub it in.
Water Resistance: Definitely water beads up with this one.
My Experience: We had one time at the beach when my husband did a poor job applying all of his sunscreen. On the arm he tested with Primal Life Organics, he missed a strip of skin – and that strip totally burned. So good news: we know Primal Life Organics works to prevent burns. We also found that it beat one of our other brands in a side-by-side test. So I feel confident saying that it works — although we did also see a bit of pink on one of our testers.
Star Feature: If you like having a stick, this one has a wider diameter than many, so you can cover more ground in less time.
My Review: I’m still up in the air on this. Although initial reviews show that it rubbed in really well, later in the summer, it seemed far too thick to apply anywhere but the face. And I noted that even there it is not rubbing in well. I think that it’s just more sensitive than other brands. It was in a hot car, which is just to be expected sometimes. And that made it get thick and a little off on its texture, like little balls on the skin. After the winter passed, a few millimeters across the entire top completely solidified and I had to peel it off and throw it away. Underneath, the lotion was okay and pretty much rubbed in. But it definitely made this brand harder to manage.
Pros
- Stick is wide
- Prevents burns
- Very clean ingredients
Cons
- Difficult to apply to large areas
- Thickened over time and did not overwinter well
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!