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.
Waxhead Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Stick
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: 1
SPF: 30
Active ingredient(s): Zinc Oxide (Non-nano)
Other ingredients: Virgin coconut oil, beeswax, vanilla extract
Antioxidants added: Vanilla
Where to purchase: Amazon, Waxhead
Ease of application: – When this company contacted me to offer samples of their sun sticks I was very excited. The ingredients were perfect, exactly what I always look for including the highest allowable percentage of zinc oxide and only three other ingredients. So, so safe!
But what a disappointment when we tried applying it. The only word I could think of after attempting to rub this in on my kids skin was “Alabaster.” They kind of looked like statues.
So if you want the lifeguard nose, Waxhead is definitely for you. It smells heavenly, scented with vanilla, and it is safe enough to eat… But you need a high tolerance for thick, white sunscreen in order to use it. It doesn’t rub in at all, sadly.
There is a tinted version to try to alleviate the white look, but my husband said this about it: “They won’t let me in the pool because they will think I’ve been playing in the dirt!” Oops.
Scent: Vanilla
See for yourself in this video on Facebook demonstrating 8 of the sticks in this review!
Pros
- Vanilla scent
- Four ingredients, safe enough to eat!
Cons
- Super thick, white look
- Gives you “lifeguard nose”
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!