If there’s one thing I dread about the harsh Australian summer, it’s just the thought of wearing sunscreen. I won’t lie, most ‘natural’ sunscreens have left me disappointed, even to the point where I’m tempted that to allow that to be the one conventional product I’d use. I’ve gone through a lot of sunscreens too and this is a quick review of the ones I’ve used so far.
MooGoo Natural Sunscreen SPF 40
Ingredients:
Water, Zinc Oxide, Jojoba Oil, Galactoarabinan, Beeswax, Coco Caprylate, Sorbitan Olivate & Lecithin & Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate & Cetyl Phosphate & Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, & Oleic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride (salt)
No organic certifications
Pricing:
$34.50 AUD for 200g (7oz)
You really need to massage the bottle to ensure all the ingredients are mixed properly together. It’s so thick you can’t shake the tube to mix it. It still feels thick and oily even when completely rubbed in. It also leaves a very noticeable white cast and then transfers to whatever I’m wearing. I also have to scrub my body afterwards to completely clean my skin of it. I suppose that’d good in a way. It stays put. Unfortunately I can’t stand the feeling on my skin.
Badger SPF 30 Unscented Sunscreen Cream
Organic Certification:
100% Certified Natural by NPA
99% Organic Ingredients Certified by NSF
Ingredients:
Active Sunscreen Ingredient:
Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
Base Ingredients:
*Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract.
*=Certified Organic
Pricing:
$15.99 USD or $16.98 AUD for 2.9 fl oz (87ml). Buy from iHerb.
This is pretty much everything I hate about the MooGoo Natural Sunscreen, just the white cast is even worse! I don’t feel like I can completely rub it in either and that greasy, shiny sheen is always left on my skin. Pass.
Natural Instinct Invisible Natural Sunscreen
Ingredients:
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 220 mg/g
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera (Grape seed) Seed Oil, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate , Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla wax) , Cera Alba, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Aqua, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green tea) Extract, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil.
No organic certification
Pricing:
$15.99 AUD for 100g
This one is not quite as thick, still leaves a white cast and is also greasy but it’s a lot runnier than the last two. You have to make sure you shake the tube very well otherwise the liquid ingredients separate.
Natural Instinct Tinted Face Natural Sunscreen
Ingredients:
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 220 mg/g
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera (Grape seed) Seed Oil, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate , Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla wax) , Cera Alba, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Aqua, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green tea) Extract, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, CI 77492, CI 77491,CI 77499
No organic certification
Pricing:
$17.99 AUD for 100g.
This is the same formula as the Invisible Natural Sunscreen, so watery, greasy and still thick feeling. I find the tint does not suit my skin at all and it doesn’t rub in well to blend with my skin. It’s also way too oily for my already oily skin. I end up looking disgustingly sweaty if I wear this on my face. The pigment also transfers like crazy on any clothing so I can’t use it on my body.
DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+
Organic Certification:
None, but the aloe vera gel is organic
Ingredients:
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Micronized Zinc Oxide 19%.
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Aloe barbadensis (certified organic aloe vera gel), Purified Water (aqua), Capric/caprylic triglycerides (derived from coconut oil), Glycerin (vegetable), Hyaluronic acid (vegan source), Glyceryl stearate SE (derived from vegetable oil), Stearic acid, Lecithin phospholipid, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Allantoin, Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract
Pricing:
$25.95 USD or $30.65 AUD for 2.5 oz (75ml). You can buy from Biovea or iHerb
This does not feel greasy or thick at all. In fact it’s almost whipped in comparison to any of the others I’ve mentioned already. You’ll still feel it on your skin, as a very slight film that has a more powdery finish, but compared to the greasiness that is almost synonymous with sunscreen it’s a welcome change. I use this on my face and as long as it’s well rubbed in, it doesn’t leave a terribly noticeable white cast, helps my makeup stay matte longer and still protects my skin. It also doesn’t break me out. The only thing I have found is that is pills very badly on dry skin and I wonder if this diminishes the effectiveness as you’re rubbing off most of the product instead of coating your skin evenly. It also emphasizes texture on my face, which is only noticeable when I wear makeup, which is a little annoying.
DeVita Solar Body Moisturizer SPF 30+
Organic Certification:
None
Ingredients:
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Micronized Zinc Oxide 19%
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Aloe barbadensis (certified organic aloe vera gel), Water (purified), Camellia sinensis (Japanese green tea) leaf extract, Capric/caprylic triglycerides (derived from coconut oil), Glycerin (vegetable), Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Olea europaea (olive) oil, Lecithin phospholipid, Hyaluronic acid (vegan source), Simmondsia chinensis* (jojoba) seed oil, Squalane (olive), Panthenol (vitamin B5), Tocopherol (vitamin E), NaPCA, Rosa moschata (rose hips) oil, Centella asiatica (goto kola), Copper gluconate, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Fucus vesiculosis (seaweed) extract, Allantoin, Sodium riboflavin phosphate, Chondrus crispus (Irish moss), Lavandula officinalis* (lavender) essential oil, Anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower essential oil, Vitis vinifera* (grape) seed extract
Pricing:
$27.95 USD or $32.90 AUD for 7oz (210ml). Buy from Biovea or iHerb if you are in Australia
Again, this formula feels much more light and airy than any of the others I’ve tried. You also don’t have to spend ages massaging the tube, or shaking it. It rubs in with minimal white cast, but there will be a slight one left. It’s nothing compared to MooGoo though. I like the matte feeling on my skin, that’s not too thick. The biggest problem is the pilling if you apply to dry skin. It also dries out my skin. This one is particularly bad if you haven’t moisturised beforehand. That being said, I much prefer this over any other sunscreen I’ve tried to far.
Gone Swatching xo 