I originally bought Badger sunscreen as it was the highest rated sunscreen on EWG and I don't use any products on our family that contain parabens, phtalates, synthetic fragrances, etc. I had always used California Baby suscreen in the past but the price went up significantly this year that I decided to go with something else. What a disappointment Badger was I tried it on myself first, thankfully, and burned to a crisp everywhere I applied it. I did numerous tests (but this isn't a review for Badger, you can read many of the same experiences on their product). So I came back to Amazon to read through reviews from people that had the same experience and get recommendations for something else. I ended up getting this (although it isn't as highly rated on EWG but I needed something that would protect my kids from sunburn not GIVE them a burn) and I also ordered Goddess Garden. The Goddess Garden, if rated on EWG, would probably get a really wonderful rating but it can be ashy if the kid's have any dry skin on them. I do like it, though, and use that one mainly for my infant. I use this Alba one on myself and my older child...and I LOVE this! It isn't greasy AT ALL and rubs in so nicely. It protects from sunburn, most importantly, and doesn't have a strong smell at all (I am sensitive to scents and generally prefer unscented everything). I will actually continue to buy this sunscreen....like I said, it rates a little lower on EWG but we aren't in the sun daily so it is something we are only using occasionally.
I've used this sunscreen outdoors and in indoor tanning beds for the past two years (I tan to treat my psoriasis, so I use the product indoors on my face and neck to prevent wrinkles/skin damage). Despite the trivial issues with consistency and separation due to temperature fluctuations which other reviewers have complained about, I highly recommend it.
The sunscreen does clump and separate when exposed to temperature fluctuations. This is a natural result of the fact that it is made with zinc oxide, a solid, non-water-soluble product. Zinc sunscreens used to contain so much solid that they formed a white film on the skin rather than blended into it. Modern zinc oxides like this one are blend-able and breathable (though it will take longer to blend than more liquid sunscreens). The separation can be mitigated by shaking well before use.
Zinc oxide is the most effective, least toxic sunscreen on the market. It provides an immediate physical barrier to UV rays, not a chemical block that requires 20 minutes to "soak in". (BTW, why would you want a chemical to have to "soak into" your skin before it works? The fewer chemicals I have to soak in, the better.) Popular brands of sunscreen contain such unnecessary chemicals as oxybenzone, a known allergen and hormone disruptor. The Environmental Working Group has a useful list of low-toxicity sunscreens, which includes this one.
In my experience, this sunscreen is very water-resistant, to the point that you may find it difficult to remove from your face. Any oil-based lubricant or cleanser will remove it effectively, including olive oil or baby oil. Avoid scrubbing with soap to remove it, which will substantially dry out your skin.
If you are looking for a sunblock that will work immediately and do its job without pumping you full of carcinogens, this is the one.
Buy Alba Botanica Alba Botanica Very Emollient Mineral Protection Kids Sunblock 4 oz. Now
I really like this product, you don't need a lot to have a thick cover. I put it on my child and actually use it on myself too lol. I like that it's not a huge container. So it won't expire before we finish it off.
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I bought several tubes of this last summer, and it worked great.We got to this summer, however, and when we tried to use it, the white minerals were all separated from the clear fluid, and it was impossible to use (just big long clumps that won't rub in).We had it stored in our cooled garage.
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We bought this product on line and since we use a lot of sunblock, purchased four of them. We tried it on our kids, and found that it went on in clumps, and then it fell off the minute the kids went into the water. My wife threw out the first two she tried, without telling me she did that. When I tried applying some from the third one to my kids, I had the same experience, but I called the company. They refused to refund us on the two we threw out (which I suppose is their right, even if it is bad customer service), but offered replacements, not refunds, on the remaining two. Their only excuse for the poor quality was that the product must have been exposed to heat in shipping.
So I suppose the take-a-way is that you shouldn't buy this product if it was ever in a truck in a warm climate during the shipping process. I guess that means you shouldn't buy it at all, since that must happen all the time!!
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If you're looking for a pure physical barrier sunscreen instead of a chemical barrier one, this product is not it. Zinka contains 4.3% zinc oxide, but it also contains 2.5% oxybenzone, 5% octinoxate and 3% octisalate. I was lead astray by this product. Although it works and is just fine, I was looking for a sunblock without chemicals and known carcinogens. Reading reviews on other websites and doing research lead me to believe this was only micronized zinc oxide and nothing else. If you're looking for a purely zinc oxide product, do better research than I did.
