Remember last week’s sunscreen post? Well, I ended up buying the Loving Naturals Sunscreen mentioned in that post. Unfortunately, and even though I opted for two day shipping with my Amazon Prime account, I didn’t receive the sunscreen in time for vacation. Since my first choice was no longer an immediate option and I needed something to prevent sunburn, my mom had a bottle of Alba Botanica Green Tea Sunblock waiting for me when we arrived at the condo Saturday night. She’s kind of the best.

Ingredients (provided at albabotanica.com)- “Homosalate 10.0%, Octocrylene 10.0%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5.0%, Titanium Dioxide 2.0%, Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice(1), Calendula Of cinalis Flower Extract(1), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract(1), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract(1), Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract(1), Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol(1), Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium BenzoateCitronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum).

(1)Certified Organic Ingredient

The old formulation of this product receives a hazard score of  5 in the Cosmetics Database, and I couldn’t locate the current formulation in the database.

In the formulation change, the following ingredients were removed from the product: Oxybenzone 6.0%, Avobenzone 3.0%. ingredients: isopropyl palmitate, VP/eicosene copolymer,  cetyl phosphate, steareth-21,  steareth-2, carbomer,  tocopherol (vitamin E).

The following ingredients were added to the product: Octocrylene 10.0%, Titanium Dioxide 2.0%, Cetyl Alcohol, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol(1), Ethylhexylglycerin,  Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool.

In the current formulation of this product, the ingredients with hazard scores above a 3 are Fragrance (8), Benzyl Alcohol (6), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (6), Polysorbate 60 (3-6), Tocopheryl Acetate (4), Citronellol (4), Geraniol (5), Hexyl Cinnamal (4), Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde (5), Limonene (6), and Linalool (4).

Some great things about this product:

1.  It’s free of parabens.

2. It contains organic ingredients.

3.  It’s water resistant.

4. It’s cruelty-free.

5. It provides both UVA & UVB protection.

Product Description(also provided at albabotanica.com)- “Perfect for daily wear, our non-greasy Green Tea Sunscreen, with antioxidants and certified organic aloe vera, absorbs quickly and effectively with a light, fresh scent.”

Price- $9.95 for 4 fl. oz.

Performance- I applied this sunblock to my body and face the first few mornings of vacation before heading to the beach. Unfortunately, after a couple of days of applying this product to my face, I noticed a small rash made up of tiny, unsightly bumps on my chin, nose, and cheeks. For the rest of the week, I applied the sunscreen to only my body and wore a straw hat to protect my face. The rash quickly disappeared, and my body never got a bit of sunburn. After using only the hat to protect my face, though, my nose did get a little pink toward the end of vacation.  Still, if you ask me, a pink nose is always preferable to a face rash. It’s probably important to note that I only applied this sunscreen once a day (in the morning), and after spending a few hours in the sun reading or playing in the ocean I’d retreat to the shade of the nearest large umbrella, where I’d remain until heading back up to the condo. I did this daily and intentionally to avoid having to apply sunblock twice a day. One application is time-consuming enough!

Scent- This product has a very pleasant scent that’s pretty fleeting and isn’t easy to describe. It doesn’t smell like green tea at all, but it does smell a lot like Burt’s Bees Green Tea & Fennel Seed Shampoo. After the initial pleasant scent fades, which takes no more than 30 minutes, it begins to smell like regular ol’ sunscreen. I find this neither pleasant nor unpleasant, and it’s subdued enough to be easily ignored.

Rating- 6/10. I’m subtracting 2 points for the questionable ingredients and another 2 for the rash that occurred on my face.

Would I purchase this item again? This product smells nice and it definitely kept me from getting sunburned, but I will probably never buy it again. I’m much more likely to go with a safer option, like my late to arrive Loving Naturals.

Image Source

After realizing that all three of my bottles of sunscreen were expired, I began looking for a safe and affordable replacement to bring with me to the beach. I researched my past purchases (the first three below) and several other sunscreens I’ve yet to try. Below are my findings, made (for the most part) incredibly easy by the Environmental Working Group’s 2011 Sunscreen Report.

Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free Sunscree (SPF 30)- This sunscreen has excellent stability and good UVB protection, but the merely moderate UVA protection and the presence of fragrance and sodium borate in the ingredient list might be future deal breakers.

Price- around $15.00 for 3.5 fl oz.

Nature’s Gate Aqua Block (SPF 50)- Excellent and good UVB/UVA protection (respectively) seems promising, but the high hazard score of Oxybenzone, one of the active ingredients, is quite alarming.

Price- around $8.99 for 4 fl oz.

Alba Botanica Facial Sunblock (SPF 20)- This sunscreen has been reformulated at least once since I bought it, and it might even have a new bottle.  The current formulation provides only moderate UVA and UVB protection, so I probably won’t be repurchasing it.

Price- around $9.95 for 4 fl oz.

Kiss My Face Cell Mate Facial Creme & Sunscreen (SPF 15)- While the link and the picture are specific to the SPF 10 version, I actually have two small free samples of SPF 15. Still, I cannot imagine their performance and ingredients being terribly different from one another.  And while I do still plan to use my free samples, the poor UVA protection and presence of Oxybenzone are not at all ideal.

Price- around $21.oo for 1 fl oz.

Kiss My Face Oat Protein Complex (SPF 30)- I have two free samples of this sunscreen as well. Perhaps its decent ingredients and excellent stability will overshadow its moderate UVA protection.

Price- around $12.95 for 4 fl oz.

And now for those that appear to be the safest (unfortunately, affordable products with entirely exceptional ingredients aren’t as easy to come by):

Badger Unscented Sunscreen (SPF 30+)- With low health concerns, good UVB protection, and excellent UVA protection, this sunscreen seems like it might be a winner. For something a little fancier and for the same reasons, I’d also like to try the Badger Lightly Scented Lavender Sunscreen.

Price- around $16.00 for a 2.9 oz tube.

Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Unscented Sunscreen (SPF 30+)- Good UVA/UVB protection? Check! Excellent stability? Double check! Low health concerns? Triple check!

Price- around $13.67 for 4 fl oz.

Loving Naturals Sunscreen (SPF 30+)- This sunblock has excellent UVA protection and stability. Additionally, its UVB protection is good and its health concerns are low.

Price- around $18.99 for 5 oz or $9.99 for 2.7 oz.

True Natural Cosmetics All Natural Sunscreen (SPF 40)- This sunscreen has fantastic ingredients, excellent UVB protection and stability, and good UVA protection.

Price- around $17.99 for 3 oz or or $7.49 for 1 oz.

Tropical Sands All Natural Sunscreen (SPF 50)- The UVA/UVB protection and stability of this sunscreen are all excellent, and the health concerns are low. It seems pretty great all around.

Price- around $19.95 for 5.4 oz.

I hope you guys find this information as useful as I did! I’ll let everyone know which choice I made with a product review in the near future.

If for some reason you feel like none of the above sunscreens would work for you, then you might wanna check out the full list of Top Sunscreens.

Image Sources: Burt’s Bees, Nature’s Gate, Alba Botanica, Kiss My Face Cell Mate, Kiss My Face Oat Protein Complex, Badger, Aubrey Organics, Loving Naturals, True Natural Cosmetics, Tropical Sands.

1. Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick- This stick is great for chapped lips. I should probably move it to my bedside table since I tend to use it at night.
2. Josie Maran Lipstick in Dyani- Pale pink and pretty.
3. Benetint by Benefit- One or two questionable ingredients, entirely exceptional performance.
4. Alima Pure Nourishing Lipbalm in Fig- The other three shades are in my purse.
5. Alba Botanica Coconut Cream Clear Lip Gloss- It smells good enough to eat!
6. Alima Pure Eyeshadow Set (Welcome to the Rainforest)-Sparkly and superior to any other natural shadow I’ve tried.
7. Josie Maran Argan Pro Blend Concealer- For well-rested eyes.
8. Benefit BADgal Waterproof Liner- That little blending tip is a life saver. I’ve been using this eyeliner for months, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t reviewed it yet.
9. Lavera Volume Mascara in Black- Always subtle, never clumpy.
10. Tarte Light, Camera, Lashes! in Black- Never subtle, sometimes clumpy, always fancy!

P.S. My eyelash curler, eyeliner sharpener, and makeup brushes aren’t pictured. I couldn’t seem to make them fit without the other items looking squished. To be honest, I could stand to replace them all. Some of my makeup brushes are missing, my sharpener only works half of the time, and my eyelash curler occasionally causes me physical pain.

Image Courtesy of albabotanica.com

Ingredients (provided at cosmeticsdatabase.com)- “Organic ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, brassica campestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer, oleic/linoleic/linolenic polyglycerides, silica silylate, coconut flavor, soybean glycerides, organic beeswax, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), silica, organic cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, ammonium glycyrrhizate and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E).”

This product receives a hazard score of 2 on the Cosmetic Safety Database, with tocopheryl acetate being the only ingredient with a hazard score above a 3.

Some great things about this product:

1. It contains organic ingredients.

2. It’s free of preservatives.

3. Alba Botanica cares about the environment.

Product Description (provided at albabotanica.com)- “Tropical fruit extracts and certified organic emollients are blended together to create exotic lip glosses that best reflect the beauty, vitality and spirit of the Hawaiian Islands for soft, shimmering lips.”

Price- $4.95 for .42 oz.

Performance- I’m more of a chap stick wearer than a lip gloss wearer (which is why this tube has lasted over a year), but I usually grab this stuff when I’m in the mood for lip gloss. It’s glossy without being sticky, and it doesn’t make my lips look ridiculously shiny. It stays put for a pretty long time as well, assuming I’m not licking my lips constantly. It smells like it would taste delicious (see below), but it doesn’t really have much of a taste.  When I’m feeling fancy, I like to add a little red lipstick underneath. Plus, my lips are way soft after using it.

Scent- This lip gloss smells almost exactly like a sample that I have of Coastal Classic Creations Sand Waves Perfume, which is kind of a great thing.

Rating- 8/10. I subtracted 2 points for the ingredient with a hazard score of 4. Shouldn’t a product that I put on my lips, and accidentally end up eating a lot of, have the best and safest ingredients possible?

Would I purchase this item again?- I might try to find something with a lower hazard score next time, but I definitely don’t regret purchasing this product.

I typically shave with Dr. Bronners Classic Liquid Soap (My favorite scents are almond and citrus), but I’m not opposed to using a natural shaving cream if I’m feeling especially adventurous.

Ingredients- (provided at albabotanica.com)- Purified water, isopropyl palmitate, certified organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice(1), tocopherol (vitamin E), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, certified organic cocos nucifera (coconut)(1), calendula officinalis(1), chamomilla recutita (chamomile)(2) and camellia sinensis (green tea)(2) extracts, citrus aurantifolia (lime) oil, carbomer, peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, sodium hydroxide, vegetable glycerin, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, and botanical fragrance.

The Cosmetic Safety Database gives this product a hazard score of 4, which is neither great nor appalling. I’m not particularly crazy about benzyl  alcohol or potassium sorbate (both are commonly used as preservatives), and I very rarely use this cream shave for that reason. I’ve done some research on  the ingredients “peg-7 glyceryl cocoate” and “phenoxyethanol” and they’re not entirely safe either. Obviously, however, I’d use Alba every day of the week before using something like Skintimate.

Product Description (also provided at albabotanica.com)-”Enriched with jojoba, vitamin E, and organic botanicals, this highly concentrated, soap-free formula delivers a smooth and soothing shave with lasting comfort. A cool splash of invigorating island coconut and lime will enliven the senses like a tropical sunrise.”

Price- $6.45 for 8 oz. I’ve had mine for over a year, and I’ve only used about half of it. So I guess the price isn’t bad at all. ( Interestingly, the preservatives that make me wary of this product are also the reasons that I can safely use it for over a year.)

Performance- I love how smooth my legs are after shaving with this stuff, but I have to be very careful with the amount that I use. If I use too much, the product clogs my razor and the blades stop working.  A dime-sized portion is usually enough for each leg. It’s probably important to keep in mind that I usually don’t go a day without shaving my legs. Someone with furrier legs might need to use more, which would make it harder to keep their razor unclogged.

Scent- It smells like a fancy, tropical sno cone, and you’ll hear no complaints about that from me.

Rating- 6 out of 10. I subtracted 1 point for the product’s tendency to clog my razor and 3 for the questionable ingredients.

I can't say no to many things that boast being chemical-free.

Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF 30-

This stuff is fairly easy to rub in.  It’s what I used to use on my body if I didn’t plan on getting in the water.  I lost the bottle after using it only a few times, and I just discovered that my sister has been using my lost bottle.

Cosmetic Safety Database Hazard Score- 4

Ingredients: Active ingredient: titanium dioxide (8.58%)
Inactive Ingredients: water, cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, glycerin, stearic acid, fragrance, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, hydrated silica, sucrose distearate, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, crataegus oxyacanthus (hawthorn) stem extract, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) extract, symphtum officinale (comfrey) extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, alginic acid, acacia senegal gum, xanthan gum, beta carotene, sucrose stearate, lecithin, aluminium hydroxide, sodium borate, glucose, sodium chloride, canola oil, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

This is the bottle and SPF that I have. Apparently the newly designed bottle has a higher SPF.

Alba Botanica Facial Sunblock SPF 30-

Cosmetic Safety Database Hazard Score- 3

This is my favorite natural sunscreen that I’ve ever used.  It doesn’t clog my pores or cause breakouts, and it doesn’t make my face look ridiculously greasy.  The bottle says that it’s for faces, but I tend to use it all over.

Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 8.0 %, Titanium Dioxide 1.0 % Other Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (1), Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (1), Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate. (1) Certified Organic

Nature's Gate doesn't play when it comes to water-resistance.

Nature’s Gate Aquablock SPF 50-

Cosmetic Safety Database Hazard Score- 3

My skin was white after putting this on, and no amount of rubbing in made it any better.  It’s almost not worth it, but if I’m going to be getting in the water, then this is still my go-to sunscreen (since I have yet to find anything that has more staying power).

Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5, Octisalate 5%, Oxybenzone 2.5%Zinc Oxide10% Inactive ingredients: water, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower/leaf/stem extract, neopentyl glycol diethylhexanoate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, cetyl dimethicone, glycerin, propylheptyl caprylate, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, hexyl laurate, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, echinacea angustifolia (coneflower) extract, equisetum arvense (horsetail) extract, rosa canina (rose hip) fruit extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, panthenol, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), hydrogenated castor oil, neopentyl glycol diisostearate, ceresin, magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, triethoxycaprylylsilane, glyceryl undecylenate, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol.