Shopping Guide to Natural Sunscreen

In the Australian summer, you can't get away from sunscreen. It's an essential part of your summer sun safety. But you need to make sure that you're choosing a sunscreen with good ingredients. And that means looking for a sunscreen that uses a physical barrier, rather than a chemical absorber, to protect you from the sun. Ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide physically block the sun. Chemical absorbers protect you by absorbing the sun's rays. But there can be lots of issues with chemical absorbers, from health to environmental issues. That's why I always recommend using a natural, mineral based sunscreen like zinc based ones.

There's a large range of natural sunscreens now. And so it becomes difficult to choose! Don't forget to check out our Safer Natural Sunscreen Cheat Sheet, for an indepth look at 25 different Australian sunscreens.

Tips on using a natural sunscreen

• Knead the tube before you squeeze it out, especially on a cooler day. I've found that if it gets hot, the oil can separate so you need to kind of squish it back next time yo use it. On a hot day, just give it a good shake before you apply.
• Warm it between your hands before you apply to help it go on more easily.
• Apply the sunscreen a bit at a time, and rub it in well. Then move on to the next area. This works better than squeezing a great big blob in to your hand and trying to cover everywhere at once.
• If you have olive or darker skin tone, most zinc based sunscreens are going to leave a white cast. Try using a tinted sunscreen and rub it in well.
• Remove zinc sunscreens with a face washer or baby wipe, plus warm water and a gentle soap.

Over the years, my family have use every single sunscreen we stock here at Hello Charlie. So here's my opinion on them all: 

Little Urchin Natural Sunscreen

• Face: okay for face, but possibly not under makeup. Read the review here
• Body: yes
• Greasy: not once you rub it in
• Moisturising: not super moisturising, so you may need to moisturise once you've washed it off
• White cast: very slightly white, but it rubs in well
• Fragrance: no
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: 3 hours water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes

Little Urchin Natural Sunscreen - Tinted

• Face: okay for face
• Body: yes
• Greasy: not once it's rubbed in
• Moisturising: I need to moisturise after I wash this off, but I have very dry skin
• White cast: no, because it's tinted
• Fragrance: yes (natural from coconut oil)
• Babies, kids or adults: better for kids and adults, but safe for babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: 3 hours water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes 

Natural Instinct Invisible Sunscreen

• Face: okay for face as it's not greasy. See the review here
• Body: great for body
• Greasy: no
• Moisturising: not really. I find this a little drying on my (already dry) skin, but my two boys like this one
• White cast: like the name says, it's pretty much invisible once you rub it in
• Fragrance: no
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: 3 hours water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes

Natural Instinct Tinted Face Sunscreen

• Face: okay for face as it's not greasy, and it's tinted. See the review here
• Body: great for body
• Greasy: no
• Moisturising: not too bad. Better than the invisible one
• White cast: no, as it's tinted
• Fragrance: no
• Babies, kids or adults: better for kids and adults, but safe for babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: 3 hours water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes

Natural Instinct Kids Sunscreen

• Face: okay for face as it's not greasy, and it's tinted. See the review here
• Body: great for body
• Greasy: no
• Moisturising: better than the invisible one, but dry skins may need to moisturise after using this one
• White cast: a little bit of a white cast, but rubs in okay
• Fragrance: no
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: 3 hours water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes

Simple As That Sunscreen

• Face: ideal for face and for wearing under makeup. See my review here.
• Body: works well on your body, too.
• Greasy: no
• Moisturising: neutral. I have dry skin, and find that I have to moisturise after this. But if you have normal or oily skin, you wouldn't need to.
• White cast: no, doesn't take much to rub it in.
• Fragrance: yes (natural)
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes 

Soleo Organics Natural Sunscreen

• Face: too oily
• Body: yes
• Greasy: can be a little, but okay if you rub it in well
• Moisturising: yes
• White cast: can leave a slight whiteness, but rubs in well
• Fragrance: no
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: 3 hours water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes

Wotnot Natural Sunscreen 100g & 150g

• Face: no, too oily for face
• Body: yes
• Greasy: yes
• Moisturising: yes, great for dry skin
• White cast: yes, but absorbs pretty well when you rub it in
• Fragrance: no
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes

Wotnot Sunscreen for Face

• Face: ideal for face and under makeup. See my review here
• Body: works well on your body, too
• Greasy: no
• Moisturising: neutral. I have dry skin, and find that I have to moisturise after this. Friends with normal and oily skin found they didn't need to
• White cast: no, requires very little rubbing in
• Fragrance: yes (natural)
• Babies, kids or adults: good for everyone from babies 6 months +
• SPF: 30+
• Water proof: water resistant
• Reef friendly: yes