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.
Pure Haven, the new Ava Anderson
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: 2
SPF: 30
Active ingredient(s): Titanium Dioxide (6.00%), non-nano Zinc Oxide (6.00%)
Other ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Gel) Juice, Aqua (Deionized Water), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Almond) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropy, Sorbitan Olivate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Xanthan Gum
Antioxidants added: Green Tea, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Cocoa Butter
Where to purchase: Pure Haven
Ease of application: +/- I had high hopes for this brand that replaced Ava Anderson, which we love, but it did not hold up to testing.
Pure Haven rubs in only okay, a little streaky, but not as bad as some of the white out brands. It took a long time and a lot of work to rub it in. Unfortunately, on the face, it really did have too much of a white sheen to be appropriate for adults. Definitely not up to par with my top recommended options.
It is effective to prevent from sunburn, as this was one where a bit of skin showed under a shirt that was not protected and my son got a little sunburn, and the protected portion of skin did not burn.
Pros
- Effectively prevented sunburn
Cons
- White sheen and streaky
- Low percent of zinc oxide and includes titanium dioxide
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!