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.
Purple Prairie SunStick and SunStuff
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: both 1
SPF: 30
Active ingredient(s): micronized zinc oxide (20%)
Other ingredients: aqua(water), organic cold pressed olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) kosher vegetable glycerin, organic cocos nucifera (coconut), behentrimonium methosulfate, cetyl alcohol, butylene glycol organic, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), organic theobroma cacao (cocoa butter), organic jojoba oil, rosemary extract
Antioxidants added: rosemary extract, jojoba oil
Where to purchase: Purple Prairie
Ease of application: +/- a stick is so handy for faces and we love that, but it doesn’t rub in superbly; the cream does a nice job rubbing in
Scent: not so great; my son doesn’t like it on his face
Water resistant? Yes! With the stick, water beads up on the face and you can visibly scratch some off even after swimming. I’m pretty sure it’s the beeswax that is the secret ingredient for that. The jury is out on the water resistance of the sun stuff…but even the bottle doesn’t claim to be water resistant.
My experience: I personally appreciate the stick as awesome for faces, but a bit tedious for entire bodies. If you’ve got guys who don’t want to touch each other’s skin, however, a stick would be a great option! No one burned using the Purple Prairie products.
Other products: Purple Prairie also makes a lip balm with SPF, but it was so white that I couldn’t even bear it!
Star Feature: The ingredients are mainly organic and meet the rigid standards for safety in the coral reefs of Mexico.
Pros
- Organic ingredients
- Test subjects didn’t burn
Cons
- Stick didn’t rub in well
- Scent is “not great”
- Cream is not water resistant
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!