Last week we explored the nitty gritty of why and how to choose a natural sunscreen and today we have our latest Favourite Find – Eco Tan Natural Coconut Sunscreen.
This product has been on my radar for a while, after testing out many brands over the years so when our friends at Nourished Life suggested I try it, I thought I better get all over it.
The brand Eco Tan might sound a little familiar right? that’s because we know this brand pretty well already from our Favourite Find feature of Eco By Sonya’s Coconut + Mint Body Wash.
The facts: Let us start with why Eco Tan sunscreen fits our criteria?
+ Certified Organic Australia by the Organic Food Chain, Certified Toxic Free by Safe Cosmetics Australia, 100% Vegan, and contains 80% Certified Organic Ingredients.
+ Australian Made and Owned
+ Suitable for all skin types
So what is my personal verdict? (the juicy bit)
After trying the product for about a month, I was curious to know what others thought. There were in fact mixed reviews – particularly concerning its effectiveness against sunburn. My methodology was simple – I applied the sunscreen liberally and primarily to my face and shoulders at least 10-20mins before direct sun exposure. I spent an hour or so out in the sun on a warm day and thankfully didn’t experience any sunburn in the areas to which it was applied.
The packaging does suggest reapplying every hour so perhaps where the issue lies? The quantity of Zinc Oxide does appear to be a little less than other Australian brands, although without further research I’m not sure if that greatly impacts it’s effectiveness.
One of my favourite aspects of this product is that it goes on very easily. This is due to the large proportion of oils – namely Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil and Rosehip Oil. With this is mind, and many natural sunscreen tests under my belt, the one thing I always look for is – if it is hard to apply you will likely be put off using it from the start. Despite the oil base, It didn’t leave an oily residue like some sunscreens I have tested.
Another interesting comment by other users is the issue with staining. When you have a high zinc oxide content which is typically the preferred natural sunscreen ingredient, you will be susceptible to staining.
Despite these interesting reviews, my second favourite aspect of this product was scent, with no artificial fragrances the natural coconut scent is subtle and not overpowering.
Would I indulge again?
Did it protect me against sunburn? this is the number one deciding factor with this one – and YES IT DID, so for that reason I will continue to use it. It ticks the Organic box too which is a big winner for me. On price, it is comparable to other Australian Organic brands which is another win.
For me, the most debatable feature of the Eco Tan sunscreen was the ‘Natural Skin Tone’ tint. For my skin tone, admittedly now with a little more colour than winter, it was suitable – it didn’t “wash me out” completely as others may find.
Given that many items like sunscreen are also used by the male half in the house, I would prefer the non-tined version which is also now available at Nourished Life.
