Last week I took a break from the irish rain (Just kidding it's actually very sunny right now in Dublin!) and flew off to Tenerife for 5 days of scuba diving. I decided to use this occasion to try natural mineral sunscreen for the first time. Why you ask? Well let me explain...
When I started my research on everyday things that could hurt the ocean, I was very surprised to learn that sunscreen was very high on the list. If I try and explain this briefly, tiny algae lives within corals and provides them with food, nutrients and gives them their bright colours through photosynthesis. Some chemicals in sunscreen are harmful to this algae, which will either die or be expelled by the coral who doesn't like toxic algae (go figure!). This process is called coral bleaching and without its algae to provide it with food, it's very likely that it will die. These chemicals are also very potent, 1 drop in the equivalent of 6 olympic pools is enough to start the process. Here's a quick video that explains it in better words.
I wanted to choose a few options without breaking the bank so I purchased 4 natural reef-safe suncreens under 15€. I picked options that were accessible to me in Ireland, but there's a LOT more out there. While testing everything, I did note some pretty important things common to all : Natural sunscreen is not the same as chemical. It's a lot thicker and more greasy. The application has a bit of tug to it, so there's definitely a learning curve involved, but you quickly get used to it. Nothing stained my clothes or anything. It's also very important to reapply multiple times during the day. I managed to get sunburnt a little, but that was only because I forgot to reapply after being in the water, oops!
But how am I going to review them? I've put together a system that I've called the FLIPPER (hehehe) rating system, you can click here to get the details on how it works and what it stands for. For a quick reminder, each letter represents a criteria: F - Feel of the product, L - Labour/Ease of use, I - Ingredients, P - Packaging, P - Price, E - Ethical, R - Results. Each criteria will be worth 5 points for a total of 35. Ready? Let's get started!
Disclaimer : Some of the links below are affiliate links, you can click here to read my whole policy and what it means. I'd also like to mention that these are my personal opinions and experiences with the products listed. If I didn't like a product it doesn't mean that I don't like the brand, far from it! If one of your favourite products didn't work for me, don't take it personally! In fact if you have advice on ways to make it work, I'd love to hear it.
SHADE ALL-NATURAL SUNSCREEN SPF 25 - £9.75
This is one of the first options that popped up on Amazon, and I have to admit it has plenty of things going for it. It's cheap, zero-waste and contains only 4 ingredients! It's also available in 3 different sizes : 15ml, 100ml & 200ml, so it's very convenient if you just want to test it out or bring in your carry-on luggage. Shade is a UK brand and they have won multiple awards. While it has loads of things going for it though, this was the one with the texture I disliked the most.It very much feels like a paste, and while it's possible to get product out when rubbing your finger in, I'd definitely recommend scooping it out with the back of your nail. It was nothing terrible but the paste feels a bit grainy and it takes a while for it to melt on the skin. I also felt like I was using so much product to cover the same area as all the other days. The sunscreen also didn't have any strong noticeable smell, which is brilliant. This is a good option if you're looking for a plastic-free or zero-waste product, and after getting used to it I'm sure the texture is alright!
F: 3 L: 2 I: 5 P: 5 P: 5 E: 4 R: 4 TOTAL: 28/35
GODDESS GARDEN FACIAL SUNSCREEN SPF 30 - £11.92
Goddess Garden is a B corporation from the United States. They have a massive range on sun care products including everyday options, facial sunscreens, lip balms, sport sunscreen as well as a kid and a baby line. They are a family business operating from Boulder, Colorado and they donate part of their profits to charities selected by employees every year.
I was very excited to test this one because it's especially made for the face. I have sensitive skin and it's happened to me before to get really irritated skin while out in the sun with the sweat and sunscreen. This one has a very interesting texture though, when you first get it out of the tube, the cream feels very light like any regular sunscreen, but after starting to apply it to the skin, it starts to have the same tug they all have. Another thing to know about this product is that it has a strong "natural" essential-oil like smell. Some people might like it but I personally am not a big fan of scented products, especially the ones that go on my face. The cream did perform well though and the tube is a convenient format to carry around if you need to reapply.
F: 2 L: 4 I: 4 P: 3 P: 4 E: 5 R: 4 TOTAL: 26/35
THINKSPORT SUNSCREEN STICK SPF 30 - €6.52
When I saw this product pop up in my research, it immediately caught my attention because of it's different packaging, and it was a good bet. Thinksport is a company that focuses on creating products made out of safe ingredients for people of all ages. They also have a pretty massive social responsibility program where they help and donate to various causes around the world. Out of all the sunscreens I tried this one was my favourite. It's marketed as a "Face and body" product so I wasn't afraid to use it on my face, which was very practical. I also found that the applicator in "deodorant" format was perfect to apply this type of sunscreen. The product warms up when in contact with the skin and it deposits the perfect amount, which you can then properly spread. It still feels a bit oily but it did feel lighter than all the other products I tried. It was super convenient to carry around with me everywhere too and never made a mess. The only downside to this kind of packaging is that it's not super sharing friendly as it's directly in contact with the skin. It has a light smell that's not overpowering and goes away after a time.
F: 4 L: 5 I: 4 P: 4 P: 4 E: 5 R: 4 TOTAL: 30/35
BADGER SPORT SUNSCREEN CREAM SPF 35 - €11.09
When I started my research Badger was probably one of the most well-known brands I could find. It was easily accessible and offers a lot of options. Badger is a small family-owned and family-run B Corporation from New Hampshire in the US. They also donate 10% of their before-tax profits to non-profit organizations that focus on the health & welfare of children (including environmental education).
I chose the Sport version because I was obviously going to be in and out of the water and wanted something that could handle it. For me, this felt like a real old-school sunscreen : a bit greasy and leaving a white-ish film behind. That being said the application was very smooth and I didn't need to use a whole lot of product to cover large areas which is great. It didn't feel too rich of thick.
F: 4 L: 4 I: 5 P: 3 P: 4 E: 5 R: 4 TOTAL: 29/35
When I look back and sum it all up, all the sunscreens worked. Which one to choose really depends on personal preference and what you want to use it for. These companies have all created great alternatives to traditional sunscreen chemicals and while there is a learning curve, I am more than happy to keep using all the ones I bought. I do have a lifetime supply of sunscreen though... anyone want a freebie?
2 comments
Thank you so much for this list! I’ve been trying to work out what I’m going to do with suncream when I go on holiday next week and buying things that are alternative in Ireland can be such a pain.
When I heard about suncream being a factor in Coral bleaching I actually felt terrible as I’m half Caribbean and every time we’ve gone back we’ve gone in the sea with suncream on, and we’ve seen the bleached coral reefs. I wish I’d known about this earlier, but at least I can start making the change now.
Awww yeah I feel you! I was so surprised as well! In Ireland there are options in health stores like Holland&Barrett and Nourish, but they usually don’t carry the cheaper brands sadly. Natural sunscreen is a process at first, but you’ll get used to it 🙂 Enjoy your holidays!!