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.
thinksport SPF 50+
Overall
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Ease of Application
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Clean Ingredients
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Water Resistant
Details:
Note: See the top tier for thinkbaby – they are different!
Price: 2020 price estimate: $$$$–$$$$
EWG rating: 1
SPF: 50+
Active ingredient(s): zinc oxide (20%), non nano
Other ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Capric Caprylic Triglycerides, Sorbitan Stearate (Coconut Based), Pine Wood Resin, Vegetable Glycerin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), Sunflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Olive Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid (Made From Vegetable), Papaya
Antioxidants added: cranberry and raspberry seed oils, Vitamin E
Where to purchase: Amazon, Mighty Nest, Well.ca for Canada, Think site, HerbsPro
Ease of application: +/- Average for zinc-based sunblocks
Scent: lightly citrus
Water resistant? Seems to do fairly well
My experience: The texture of thinksport is very standard, exactly what you expect from a sunscreen I’d say. At first I thought it wasn’t rubbing in well at all, but after a minute it really did well, only about a 1-2 on the “ghostly” scale of 1-10. 
It’s not greasy at all.
I really like the light citrus scent personally.
On the water test, it seemed to bead up, but was still no. 3 out of 4 of the batch of new brands from 2014 that I was testing all at once. I would guess it would do fine while swimming, but we didn’t get warm enough weather to test that yet (I’ll update this post if we learn any differently as the summer wear on…I mean, begins).
As for ingredients, I’m a bit disappointed. I had to look up a ton of them!
The capric/caprylic triglycerides might be fractionated coconut oil or might be “glycerin and caprylic acids,” is rated a 1 at EWG but with limited data. It is approved for use in food, as is sorbitan stearate, another ingredient. Caprylic acid is a fatty acid from milk or coconut oil. Those sound fine, but I’m not super thrilled with dimethicone, a silicon-based polymer rated 3 at EWG. Three is okay, but pushing it. I couldn’t find any data on polyglercerol-10 laruate and am starting to wonder if it’s misspelled.
The ingredients are a bit of a mystery in another way, since this one on Amazon looks like the right tube but has a ton of different ingredients, and the ingredients on this one are quite a bit closer but still not exactly matching my tube.
Star Feature: The texture is nice…
Pros
- Good texture
- Nice citrus scent
Cons
- Potentially unsafe ingredients
- Confusing labels
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!