EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY AND RATIONALE: see tentative pre-review (2013-04-11)

NB: what works for my hair won’t necessarily work for anyone else’s hair.

MATERIALS

1. Hair =

• fine (strand-diameter)
• thick (density, number of strands)
• slightly wavy all over (2b), curly to frizzy in places (3b) especially in the underside and at the temples: this is the hair that grows the slowest and is most prone to breakage, on many people
• dryish
• longish: longest bits are between shoulder-blades, definitely now well below shoulder-length but not yet in the bra-hitting zone
• sensitive scalp, can be eczema-prone
• untreated: never been dyed, retextured, straightened, hot-iron-tortured, etc.
• very rarely blow-dried (like maybe once a year or so, plus when at hairdresser’s even though I’m training them, slowly but surely, not to dry my hair to death every time and to respect the curl, man; may also be time to shop around on the hairdressing front)
• and basically healthy

2. Coconut oil =

• a virgin one that’s also organic and fair-trade
  (because I’m a hippy-dippy granolarama sentimentalist type of fool)

RESULTS: WHAT WORKS

1. Brush hair
2. Scoop oil out of jar. Melt between palms of hands.
3. Apply to hair, raking it through. Concentrating on underside and known frizz, then rest of hair. When all hair is oiled, I’m done.
4. Twist into a medium-high bun and wrap up in cloth. Usually half a leg of an old pair of cotton/bamboo thick winter tights. Yay for recycling.
5. Leave hair and oil to their own devices for an hour.* Make coffee, eat breakfast, drink coffee, read the news, start the usual daily deletion of pointless email crap, start dealing with email crap that’s not pointless (and, if very lucky, isn’t basically crap. With all possible due and undue respect to colleagues and others I work with.) 
6. Remove hair-wrap.
7. Get into shower. Turn on water. Run water through hair for a good few minutes. Then shampoo and condition (and other daily showring-business) as normal.
8. Squeeze out water from hair. Remove self from shower. Wrap hair in towel.
9. Leave hair in towel while dealing with rest of self, in usual matitudinal ablutional manner.
10. Removal towel. Comb fingers through hair, gently. DO NOT USE AN ACTUAL COMB. Admire the smoothness, untangledness, and increased volume of hair (coconut oil increases shaft girth around about 15%: stick that in your pipe, Viagra-sellers, and smoke it).
11. Leave hair to dry naturally.
12. The end.

* Length of time to leave the oil in:

• usually not more than three hours. I find no discernible difference in hair between 1 and 3 hours. Oil left on longer or overnight = hair was a bit flat, but not more greasy. I guess my hair just absorbs what it can and leaves the rest. On the pillowcase, if unlucky.
• 45 minutes is un peu juste. 
• Under 45 minutes: the oil doesn’t absorb, as is clear when I hit the shower and rinse it out. Just a greasy layer all over. And needs more cleaning.
• MORAL OF THE STORY: you’ll have to experiment to find your optimal time.
  Finer thinner hair = least time (extreme end of the scale: the oil is no use at all).
  Coarser thicker hair = most time (extreme: using massive amounts of oil overnight)

CONCLUSIONS: EFFECTS

• Those frizzy bits are getting thicker and straighter; or at least, more wavy and less frizzy.
• Hair all over is moist, sleek, shiny, all these good things that hair is supposed to be, as per the Timotei adverts I grew up with and the Pantene and L’Ucifer ones that have blighted all of our recent years.
• Still washing hair every two to three days, that doesn’t seem to change.
• No irritation or clogginess or zitty outbreaks on skin; I’ve been watching out for this, varying washing my hair upright (oil and water run down neck and back) and with head inverted (none of that stuff touches skin). Now, I can’t use coconut oil on my face and neck and other thinner more reactive skin above the mid-torse level—upper arms, bosom, upper back—

ALSO

I’ll also sometimes put some coconut oil in the underside and on any waifs and strays, on more humid days. Again, applying it to dry hair.

Preamble and/or irreelevent digression over, back to folly-praising business and beauty products.

1. Coconut oil on face, neck, chest:

• Sank in really fast
• But skin didn’t feel as moist as it does with other oils that also sink in fast on me (hemp, meadowfoam, mineral, sweet almond, etc.)
• No immediate contact dermatitis reactions
• But: within an hour, skin felt dry
• and, on face, started to itch slightly, and when I felt it, there were the start of bumps. So I washed it off one side of my face and left it on the other (I know my skin well enough, I think, and its reactions, to know at what moment to run and remove the stuff; also, I was conducting this casual experiment at home with a bathroom next door).
• Three hours after first application, on coconutted side: bumps now visible and some redness. So I washed it off, applied cool compresses of witch-hazel distillate and arnica, had a cup of tea, and waited.
• Within half an hour, skin back down and in usual state.
• Neck and throat/chest area: fine, but slightly dry
• Conclusions:
  • not moisturizing enough (for me)
  • clogging / zit-generating on face
  • low-grade very minorly irritating on face, but not a Class 1 reaction, far from it

I’ve also been using this very successfully on my hair, including some of it being on my neck, throat, bosom, back etc. for short periods while I wash the oil out. Some gets on ears too while it’s sitting on hair, and that’s been fine (in that I’ve not noticed anything: no news is good news, with my skin).

More updates on the coconut-oil-on-hair experiment in next post…

2. ABBA gentle shampoo

• result: clean hair, itchy scalp, bumps on neck

3. Laura Mercier tightline cake eyeliner in Mahogany

• lovely colour, rich mid-brown
• but does not apply as well as the previous version, nor as Nvey Eco’s cake eyeliner (which is a darker brown, but perfectly wearable if applied lightly, behind glasses, etc.). Reformulation FAIL, dear Laura…

4. And a lesson in home economics, or, another take on bewaring false economies:

Dr. Bronner’s balm. Two versions:

• “lip” tube/stick, 0.15 oz / 4 g, $2.99
• “body” tin, 0.5 oz / 14 g, $4.99

Uses:

• lip balm
• eye-area moisturiser
• intensive moisturiser for dry areas: hands, elbows, feet, etc.

Why I like it: nice ingredient list (jojoba oil, beeswax, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, vit. E); good company with good ethics: animal rights, human rights, and planet rights. Not just my-body-is-a-pure-temple organic-wash BS for selfish overmoneyed fools.

I bought the tin: reasoning that it works out cheaper per ounce. 14g at the 4g-lipbalm price would cost $10.50, making it more than twice the price than the tin.

That was under a year ago, and I’ve only used about 2/5 of the tin (i.e. between 1/3 and 1/2). So this stuff should last me for years…

However.

The stuff has now gone off.  Which means that I actually paid $4.99 for about 5g of product… which works out more expensive than if I’d bought the lipbalm version instead.

However.

If I’d only bought that tin of the balm and used it constantly, and no other balm, and carried it around with me too: then I’d probably have used it up by now. Because in the last year I’ve also bought and been using:

• Dr. Bronner’s balm in the tube
• Madre Bees lip balm (tube again)
• Badger Balm, unscented version in the tin
• NOW refined shea butter (and, on several occasions earlier on, last one was probably more than a year ago: unrefined raw shea; disaster on my skin)
• DIY balm (= Badger Balm melted together with that shea butter)
• Weleda Everon lip balm (does what all the others do, except not so good as an eye cream)
• um and yes I tested out a few other lipbalms too but don’t tell anyone it was very naughty of me… especially the expensive ones, and extra-specially the expensive ones that were no good, smelled and tasted heinous, zittified my lips and mouth-area, etc.

Reasons for having more than one product on the go, all doing more or less the same job:

• experimentation: ex. Madre Bees vs. Badger
• laziness/disorganization: having a tube at home in the bathroom, one by the bed, one by the kitchen sink, one in bag, one at work, maybe another couple in other bags and coat pockets and so on
• flightiness: aaand the day that stops will be the end of The Praise of Folly…

Moral of the story:

• Man, know thyself:
  —if you’re capable of buying one thing, cleaving unto it and forsaking all others, and carrying it around with you: then buy a tin of balm
  —if you’re not, then don’t: buy smaller tubes/sticks
  —or only buy stuff that has a very long to infinite shelf-life.
• Money, and saving it, and spending it wisely, is important: not as a thing in itself, but in what it represents when used.
  —You should feel something if you earn it yourself: happiness when you feel your money’s gone a long way and you’ve got good use out of it; a sad feeling when it hasn’t; somewhere between heavy-heartedness and anger when you waste it. Though hopefully not too much kicking yourself, let alone abject self-loathing: that’s where telling yourself you’ve learned a lesson, and repeating that lesson to yourself later—”ah, this situation is like that tin of balm, I remember what happened than and what mistake not to repeat.”
  —If you don’t feel any of these things, you know, emotionally, as an internal sensation, in your gut as well as your heart and mind sweaty palms and various points between along your nervous and endocrine system? Then you don’t know the value of money and you are wasting it. Beware the perils of being someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. On which see the various “because I’m worth it” posts.
  —It’s important, ethically and politically, not to waste products that other people have worked to make. Respect them as fellow-workers. Acknowledge their time and effort. Duly dignify the sweat of their brows. And today of all days, a day of solidarity.

Bless its cotton socks, anyway.

Caveat: may be a genuine case of body dysmorphic disorder or other psychological/medical condition in need of treatment; not the first time this sort of questions has been posted up by this MUAer. But, as ever, it’s hard to tell the difference amongst trolls, trolling, the serious-sincere extremism that’s also trolling, folly, and someone who needs professional help.

Staggered posting, first on Green and Makeup (which I’m not screenshotting as it’s b-o-r-i-n-g), then on Skin Care Boards:

As picked up, hilariously, by Café:

danger: keep back: woman attempting to open (sun?-)umbrella

***WORK IN PROGRESS***
FIRST PUBLISHED 2013-04-29,
BEEN UPDATED 2013-04-30,
AND THERE WILL DOUBTLESS BE FURTHER UPDATES

What you are seeing here is a RARE SNEAK PREVIEW into what a post looks like in pre-final-revised-edited-proofread final-final-finished state! At any moment, all may change!! You might leave, go away and do something useful more worthwhile get on with your life : turn your back for a moment: and it’ll all be completely different !!! How exciting is that? It’s like seeing writing and thinking happening right in front of your very eyes (OK, more like a Victorian time-lapse version). Um… like Twitter but longer-winded and less immediate and, well, let’s face it, not actually remotely Twitter-like at all. Except maybe in Twittishness.

But I digress.

Just for a change.

Even when (t)wittering.

All the following are SPF 30 or above, probably PPD 8-10, unscented, cruelty-free, with at least 12% zinc oxide  (except Vanicream SPF 60).

In this post:

1. what I’m using
2. and also (not tested out fully)
3. alphabetical list of sunscreens

See also:

• other sunscreen posts

1. WHAT I’M USING

Current regular everyday sunscreen:

FACE inc. ears, neck, throat, all the way down to the nipple-line: BurnOut Eco-Sensitive SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 18.6%.
• Other Ingredients: Deionized Water, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Vegetable Glycerin, Sorbitol, Imperata Cylindrica (Root) Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Arabidopsis Extract, Plankton Extract, Aloe Vera, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Citric Acid.
• Costs: around $17.00 – 20.00 / 3 oz.
  

LIPS & EYES: BurnOut Zinc Oxide Lip Balm SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 18.6%.
  Other Ingredients: Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Virgin Hemp Seed Oil, Natural Coconut Flavor, Simmondsiz Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax.
• Costs: around $3.00 – 4.00 / 0.15 oz stick

BODY & ALL OVER if something waterproof and/or sweatproof is needed: BurnOut Ocean Tested SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 18.6%
• Other Ingredients: Aqua (Deionized Water), Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides, Vegetable Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Sorbitol, Imperata Cylindrical (Root) Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Virgin Hemp Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Arabidopsis Extract, Plankton Extract, Xanthan Gum.
• Costs: around $17.00 – 20.00 / 3.4 oz

Regulars that stick around for various non-everyday purposes:

Elemental Herbs kids or sport SPF 30+

• COMMENTS: everywhere except face; OK, face if need be, but gets itchy and the start of zits by the end of the day latest. But manageable if say hiking and can ony take one tube of stuff with me.
• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22.5% (Non-nanoparticle).
• Other Ingredients: Organic Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Juice, Water (Aqua), Organic Camelia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Organic Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Organic Mauritia Vinifera (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylcellulose, Stearic Acid, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Organic Butyrospermun Parkii (Shea Butter), Xanthan Gum, Less than 1% of Total Formula Preservative Blend (Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyhexyl Glycerin).

Elemental Herbs Unscented Sunstick SPF 30

• COMMENTS: lips & eye; again, comes in the bag on Expeditions
• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20% (Non-nanoparticle)
• Other Ingredients: Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba Seed) Oil, Cera alba (Beeswax), Sesame indicum (Sesame Seed) Oil, Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Persea americana (Avocado) Oil, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tapioca Starch, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter), Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Non GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Graham’s SunClear SPF 30+

• COMMENTS: on body; very much liking this. Very smoothable, will be testing out in water later in the week. Sinks in, super-moisturising, not (on me) greasy. And smells of coconut. Which I happen to like (see: hair stuff, cocktails, curries, etc.)
• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25% (25.9% on tube, 26% said elsewhere)
• Other ingredients: Capric/caprylic triglyceride, Rose hip oil, Grapeseed oil, Sesame seed oil, Shea butter, Vegetable oil [box says extra-virgin olive], Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Coconut oil.

Other sunscreens that I’ve used more or less recently, haven’t thrown out, and/or would consider using/reusing/rebuying:

Replenix sheer physical spray SPF 50

• COMMENTS: on body. Good on neck too, when the rash/hive season starts; bad photosensitivity this time of year, helped by antihistamines though. Can’t use this on face.
• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 12%.
• Other ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Polyphenols, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10).

Vanicream SPF 60 (OLD FORMULA)

• COMMENTS: a tube of this stays at home at all times, in case of emergency and for going to very intensely sunny places. Always works on me, even when skin’s in total panick-stricken PITA mode. I gather it’s been reformulated, and the new version is declared an SPF 50 (see LIST further down for current ingredients).
• Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 7.5%, Zinc Oxide 7.5%.
• Other Ingredients: Alumina, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate/Triethoxycaprylylsilane Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Methylpropanediol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylysilane.

2. AND ALSO

TRIED BUT NOT TESTED OUT FULLY IN WATER, HIKING, WHEN SWEATING PROFUSELY, ETC.:

Alba Botanica fragrance-free/kids mineral SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 14.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.0%
• Other Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid

All Terrain aqua/terra/etc. physical SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Non-Nano, Un-coated Zinc Oxide: 16.0%
• Other Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Gel, Bladderwrack (Fucus Vesiculosus) Extract, Caprylic/ capric triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Extract, d-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Dehydroxanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis) Seed Extract, Jojoba Oil, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methylcellulose, Purified Water, Sea Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera) Extract, Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Oil.

All Terrain spray version, SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Non-Nano, Un-coated Zinc Oxide: 19%
• Other Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Gel, Bladderwrack (Fucus Vesiculosus) Extract, Caprylic/capric triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Extract, d-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis) Seed Extract, Jojoba Oil, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Sea Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera) Extract, Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Oil.

Badger: this year’s Sport SPF 35 (they also have a couple of unscented 34s, but with cocoa butter). They get better and better. Well, at least one of them; and even the cocoa-buttery ones feel more like something to put on your skin, and less like something for putting up wallpaper or mending holes in walls.

• Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano Uncoated Zinc Oxide 22.5%
• Other Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E)

Goddess Garden baby

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20.0%
• Other Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Juice), Organic Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Soy Lecithin, Vegetable Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Potassium Sorbate

TRIED / TRIED AGAIN THIS YEAR, REJECTED:

• Eco Logical: still in same old crap packaging (tube that’s about 1/4 full), still smells weird, gritty (even when “massaged” in the tube): either old stock is still being sold or the MF haven’t sorted out their problems of the last two years, and as reported on many discussion fora, including discussions to which the MF themselves contributed. Which might suggest not giving a flying fuck about customers, and/or being all talk and no walk.
• Raw Elements: Badgerlike

Disappeared / being reformulated / unavailable:

• Adorable Baby / Loving Naturals

NOT YET TRIED BUT INTERESTED AND MIGHT AT SOME POINT:

• Kabana Green Screen SPF 32
  Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25%
  Other ingredients: Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Shea Butter, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Vitamin E
• Kabana liplovers natural lipbalm with sunscreen
  Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 10%
  Other ingredients: Shea Butter, Superfine Lanolin, Beeswax, Vegetable Vitamin E (non-GMO, from sunflower seeds)
  (unflavoured; also available in flavoured versions)

Not tried this year (as, let’s face it, (1) I’ve found sunscreens I like, (2) I may have a pleasant salary and disposable income, but it’s not infinitely disposable: charity donations to make, books to buy, my ever-worsening Kindle ebook habit to feed, chocolate, travel, …):

• Blue Lizard reformulated, now lacks some stuff the EWG and neurotic ignorant over-protective gullible mothers worry about
• CoTZ reformulated, relaunched, etc. whole range
• Vanicream reformulated
• and some other popular ones that are too siliconey for my skin, have lavender and/or citrus oils, are overpriced for what they are, contain cinnamates (HELLO 100% PURE YOU BASTARDS: guilty of reformulating one that was actually rather pleasant), don’t contain enough filters to keep me happy, are animal-tested, insult consumers’ intelligence let alone their ability to perform a Google search, and/or are made by trustafarian Named Persons (HELLO TATA M’DEAR)

SOME MORE NEXT STUFF TO DO ON THIS HERE POST

Put into order of light → heavy… [ummmm later: see above for what I like; will add comments]

And integrated into the main previous big list of sunscreens (June 2011, last updated August 2012). [to do...]

More on each one, ingredients, price, pretty pictures, link to manfacturer website, that sort of thing…

Alphabetical order: DONE, WELL DONE ME!

Add more sunscreens… as and when appropriate, decided, etc… but resist the temptation to try out even more…

3. LIST OF SUNSCREENS

CRITERIA:

• sensitive-skin friendly
• unscented
• minimal addition of botanical extracts, though some have chamomile (beware if ragweed-family allergies), check in every case against your own known allergens / reaction-triggers / acne-triggers / rosacea-triggers / etc.
• some are lighter-weight, some might even be drying, and some are heavier: for different body-parts and uses; includes some sticks / lip sunscreens, for use on lips and around the eye area
• zinc oxide only, or mainly ZnO (at least 12%, except for a couple of sunscreens using coated nano)

CAVEATS:

• YMMV, DEPENDING ON YOUR SKIN AND ITS SENSITIVITIES
• INCLUDES SOME BADGERS AND BADGERLIKES

Alba Botanica Fragrance-Free / Kids Mineral SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 14.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.0%
• Other Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid

All Terrain AquaSport / KidSport / TerraSport SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Non-Nano, Un-coated Zinc Oxide: 16.0%
• Other Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Gel, Bladderwrack (Fucus Vesiculosus) Extract, Caprylic/ capric triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Extract, d-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Dehydroxanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis) Seed Extract, Jojoba Oil, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methylcellulose, Purified Water, Sea Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera) Extract, Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Oil.

All Terrain AquaSport / KidSport / TerraSport Spray SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Non-Nano, Un-coated Zinc Oxide: 19%
• Other Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Gel, Bladderwrack (Fucus Vesiculosus) Extract, Caprylic/capric triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Extract, d-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis) Seed Extract, Jojoba Oil, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Sea Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera) Extract, Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Oil.

Badger SPF 34 Unscented Sunscreen

• Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
• Other Sunscreen Ingredients: Olea Europaea (Organic Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), Butyrospermum Parkii (Organic Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Organic Cocoa) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), and CO2 Extract of Hippophae Rhamnoides (Organic Seabuckthorn)

Badger SPF 34 Baby Sunscreen Cream

• Active Ingredient: Non-nano, uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
• Other Ingredients: Olea Europaea (Organic Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), Butyrospermum Parkii (Organic Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Organic Cocoa) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), Essential Oil of Anthemis Nobilis (Organic Roman Chamomile), CO2 extracts of Calendula Officinalis (Organic Calendula), and Hippophae Rhamnoides (Organic Seabuckthorn).

Badger SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen Cream

• Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano Uncoated Zinc Oxide 22.5%
• Other Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E)

Blue Lizard Baby / Sensitive SPF 30

BurnOut Eco-Sensitive SPF 30 Sunscreen (also known as “BurnOut Clean and Clear”)

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 18.6%.
• Other Ingredients: Deionized Water, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Vegetable Glycerin, Sorbitol, Imperata Cylindrica (Root) Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Arabidopsis Extract, Plankton Extract, Aloe Vera, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Citric Acid.

BurnOut KIDS Physical Sunscreen SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 18.6%
• Other Ingredients: Aqua (Deionized Water), Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides, Vegetable Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Sorbitol, Imperata Cylindrical (Root) Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Stearate, Arabidopsis Extract, Plantago Lanceolata (Plantain) Leaf Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Plankton Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C).

BurnOut Ocean Tested Physical Sunscreen SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 18.6%
• Other Ingredients: Aqua (Deionized Water), Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides, Vegetable Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Sorbitol, Imperata Cylindrical (Root) Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Virgin Hemp Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Arabidopsis Extract, Plankton Extract, Xanthan Gum.

BurnOut Zinc Oxide Lip Balm SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 18.6%.
  Other Ingredients: Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Virgin Hemp Seed Oil, Natural Coconut Flavor, Simmondsiz Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax.
• Costs: around $3.00 – 4.00 / 0.15 oz stick

CoTZ (Contains only Titanium and Zinc) Pediatric / Sensitive SPF 40

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20% (Sunscreen)
• Other Ingredients: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Methicone, Microcrystalline Wax, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Stearyl Dimethicone, Tetrahexadecyl Ascorbate, Triethanolamine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water

Eco Logical Face Sunscreen SPF 30

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%.
• Other Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Isoamyl Laurate, Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract*, Rosa Canina (Rosehips) Seed Oil*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract*

Eco Logical Body Sunscreen SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22%.
• Other Ingredients: Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Silicon Dioxide, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Butyrospermum Parkii Seed (Shea) Butter, Euphorbia Antisyphilitica (Candelilla) Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract*, Rosa Canina (Rosehips) Seed Oil*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract*

(their Baby one might be an option, but contains frankinsence extract)

Elemental Herbs Sport/Kids SPF 30+

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22.5% (Non-nanoparticle).
• Other Ingredients: Organic Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Juice, Water (Aqua), Organic Camelia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Organic Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Organic Mauritia Vinifera (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylcellulose, Stearic Acid, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Organic Butyrospermun Parkii (Shea Butter), Xanthan Gum, Less than 1% of Total Formula Preservative Blend (Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyhexyl Glycerin).

Elemental Herbs Unscented Sunstick SPF 30

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20% (Non-nanoparticle)
• Other Ingredients: Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba Seed) Oil, Cera alba (Beeswax), Sesame indicum (Sesame Seed) Oil, Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Persea americana (Avocado) Oil, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tapioca Starch, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter), Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Non GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Goddess Garden Baby Sunsceen SPF 30

• Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20.0%
• Other Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Juice), Organic Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Soy Lecithin, Vegetable Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Potassium Sorbate

Grahams SunClear Natural Sunscreen SPF 30

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25% (25.9% on tube, 26% said elsewhere)
• Other ingredients: Capric/caprylic triglyceride, Rose hip oil, Grapeseed oil, Sesame seed oil, Shea butter, Vegetable oil [box says extra-virgin olive], Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Coconut oil.

Green Beaver Adult / Kids SPF 30

• Active Ingredient : zinc oxide 21%.
• Other Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Acacia decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower seed wax/Polyglyceryl-3 esters, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil*, d-alpha Tocopheryl acetate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba esters, Jojoba Esters, Aqua (Purified water).

Kabana Green Screen SPF 32 / Green Screen D SPF 35

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25%
• Other ingredients: Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Shea Butter, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Vitamin E
  D version has added vitamin D and higher stated SPF

Kabana liplovers natural lipbalm with sunscreen

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 10%
• Other ingredients: Shea Butter, Superfine Lanolin, Beeswax, Vegetable Vitamin E (non-GMO, from sunflower seeds)
  (unflavoured; also available in flavoured versions)

Loving Naturals / Adorable Baby:
I think being reformulated, not seen in ages. Hope not discontinued; look it up for yourself, nice stuff… or was…

Raw Elements Eco Formula SPF 30+

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 23%
• Other Ingredients: Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, All Natural Mango Butter, Organic Beeswax, All Natural Rosemary Oil Extract, All Natural Vitamin E

Soleo Organics SPF 30

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22.3%,
• Other ingredients: Vitis vinifera seed oil (grapeseed), Helianthus annus seed oil (sunflower), Capric/capryllic triglyceride, Vegetable oils, Candelilla Cera, Cera Alba (bees wax), Macadamia ternifolia seed oil, Theobroma grandiflorum seed butter, Camelia sinensis leaf extract (green tea), Anthemis nobilis flower extract (roman chamomile), Lecithin, Carthamus tinctorius seed oil (safflower), Cucumis sativus fruit extract (cucumber), natural vitamin e.

Topix Replenix Sheer Physical Sunscreen Cream SPF 50+

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 13.75%.
• Other ingredients: Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Polyphenols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, CetylPEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dicetyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Potassium Hydroxide, Purified Water, Retinyl Palmitate, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10), Xanthan Gum.

Topix Replenix Sheer Physical Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+

• Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 12%.
• Other ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Polyphenols, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10).

Vanicream SPF 50+ (2013 VERSION)

• Active Ingredients: titanium dioxide 5%, zinc oxide 7%
• Other Ingredients: C20-40 alcohols, caprylyl glycol, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, cocoglycerides, dicaprylyl carbonate, dimethicone, 1,2 hexanediol, hydrogenated castor oil, hydrogenated polyisobutene, magnesium chloride, octadecene, PEG-30 dipolyhydroxystearate, pentylene glycol, phenyl trimethicone, purified water, silica, silica dimethyl silylate, squalane, stearyl dimethicone, tridecyl salicylate, triethoxycaprylylsilane, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10)

Compare to ingredients of old SPF 60 version:

• Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 7.5%, Zinc Oxide 7.5%.
• Other Ingredients: Alumina, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate/Triethoxycaprylylsilane Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Methylpropanediol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylysilane.

NOT RECOMMENDED: anything containing

• frankincense
• lavender or lavandin essential oils
• most citrus oils (lemon especially, though NB some of the orange-family ones aren’t photosensitizing, do check; I can’t use them on my skin is the main reason I avoid and don’t even bother looking them up any further: over to you, dear reader)
• ylang ylang, clove, the jasmine group, i.e. assorted other scents / more EOs
• cinnamates YES INCLUDING THE NATURAL ONES (CHEM 101)
• insufficient ZnO: the only exceptions, some examples above, are sunscreens using coated nanoparticles

There’s no such thing as too much protection, nor too much multi-tasking: here, some chocolate that won’t melt in the sun (found online, would love to find IRL)

In the meantime, here are all the Folly-praising extant posts on, of, and about sunscreens. Happy reading.