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.
True Natural Neutral SPF 50 Sunscreen
Overall
-
Ease of Application
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Clean Ingredients
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Water Resistant
Details:
Other ingredients: Aqua (Deionized Water), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Oil, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin-E), Xanthan Gum,* indicates Certified Organic Ingredients, ** for natural essential oils
Antioxidants added: green tea extract, sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E, jojoba oil
Where to purchase: Amazon, True Natural site
Ease of application: – yikes. We described it as “like paint drying” because after a few seconds, you can’t rub it any further as it dries and rolls up into little gooey balls. Almost impossible to rub in, but even if you act fast, you still get “Casper” whiteness.
Scent: pleasant, tropical sunscreen-y
Water resistant? Moves around when wet
My experience: This brand was highly rated by others (on its own website) and won some awards, but it was just a disaster in reality.
It’s very thin and you’d think it would be easy to rub in, but then it pulls the strange “paint drying” trick. It’s even worse if the skin is at all damp with sweat or pool water. One of the worst applications we’ve ever experienced, and some of the reviews on Amazon reflect that as well.
After that, there’s really nothing more to say…other than that it’s pretty expensive to boot! 🙁
Star Feature: None worth sharing…
Pros
- EWG rating of 1
Cons
- Impossible to apply with Casper whiteness
- Moves around when wet
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!