Is This Mineral Sun Cream Worth It? – My Awake Organics Sunscreen Review

Overall Rating:

4.7/5

Effective Protection = 4.9

Value For Money = 4.3

Ease Of Use = 4.8

White Film On Skin = 4.8

Protecting your skin from harmful UV radiation is vital for healthy skin. So I look at Awake Organics mineral sunscreen to see if it’s a viable eco-friendly alternative to chemical sun creams.

Most sun protection available in the UK uses chemical UV filters, which are harmful to our environment. And even some sun creams that are advertised as reef-safe, aren’t as eco-friendly as they might appear.

The most sustainable sunscreen available is a pure mineral sunscreen, which uses mineral UV filters in non-nano form only.

So in my Awake Organics sunscreen review, I tell you what I thought about their mineral sun cream and if it does the job.

Why Awake Organics?

Founded in 2017 by Canadian-born Melissa, this UK-based company was started with the simple mission: to create natural personal care products that don’t contain harsh chemicals and have a small environmental impact.

They hand-make all their products on their premises in England, using only natural, organic ingredients. Taking their values very seriously, Awake Organics only works with ethical suppliers.

None of their ingredients are made from fossil fuels, making their products as eco-friendly as they get. And it’s not just the ingredients that are green, their packaging is too. All of it is plastic-free.

Instead, they use glass jars and aluminium tins, which have several advantages. These materials are recycled at the highest rate in the UK. And they can be recycled indefinitely, unlike plastic that can only be recycled maybe 2-3 times.

If they have to use plastic, such as for pumps and pipettes, and it can’t be recycled, they’ll offer a plastic-free alternative. You can choose to have a completely zero-waste personal care routine with Awake Organics, if you want.

These are all reasons why we have chosen this particular eco-friendly brand, because they align with our own values here at EcoHomeLife.

Good Consistency And Fresh Scent

The mineral sunscreen arrived promptly in a glass jar, packaged in recyclable packaging and packaging materials.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the lid of the jar was the fresh scent, which was very pleasant. There is a hint of lavender, which is very nice. They don’t use any synthetic fragrances, so the scent comes from essential oils.

I’m not keen on the smell of chemical sunscreens, which I felt was always very strong and artificial. As soon as I put the sun cream on, I was already looking forward to washing it off again.

But the Awake Organics mineral sunscreen is different in this respect, which I love. I don’t mind wearing it all day.

The second thing I noticed is that it has a light consistency, which makes it easy to apply. Many mineral sunscreens have a coarser, thicker consistency, which can make it more difficult to rub in.

So it’s good to see that this one has a better consistency, which is closer to that of a moisturiser.

No White Film And Moisturising Properties

The light and thinner consistency is also the reason why this sun cream doesn’t leave a white film on your skin. This is an issue you can have with some mineral sunscreens.

It’s one of the differences between chemical and mineral sunscreens. Chemical UV filters are absorbed by the skin, whereas mineral ones, if they are in non-nano form, form a layer on top of your skin.

Because mineral filters reflect UV light as well as visible light, they can leave a white cast on the skin. So do Awake Organics use mineral UV filters in nano form?

No, but because the consistency is light and thin, the other ingredients get absorbed by the skin. So even though the mineral filter reflects the visible light, there is no white film.

However, you have to make sure that you rub in the sun cream thoroughly to ensure full absorption and avoid a white cast. Thankfully, this is easy with this sunscreen.

This mineral sunscreen is also a moisturiser, containing aloe vera and vitamin E to give your skin a hydration boost.

I quite like that, because it left my skin soft and feeling moisturised even after a day or two of using it. I can imagine that it would make a good daily moisturiser with added sun protection for your face.

Because the sun cream only contains natural ingredients, it’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. I often got irritated skin from chemical sunscreens, but not with this one, which is great.

Effective Protection From Sun’s UV Radiation

One of the most important factors in my Awake Organics sunscreen review is the assessment of its performance. After all, its main goal is to protect our skin from harmful UV rays, right?

The mineral UV filter used in this sun cream is zinc oxide in non-nano form. It gives broad spectrum protection, which means it prevents UVB and UVA radiation from damaging your skin. (Serpone et al., 2005)

This is important, because it means that it doesn’t just stop you from getting sunburnt, but will also prevent long-term damage to your skin. Choosing broad spectrum protection will keep your skin healthy for years to come.

So much for the theory, now to the practice. We went for brunch with my husband’s parents, and because it was nice and warm, we decided to sit outside.

While I normally choose a chair in the shade, it being late spring and a bit breezy, I thought I’ll put sun cream on instead and sit in the sun. I was very pleased with the performance of the sunscreen.

When we got home, there was no sign that I caught the sun, just what I was expecting.

Next, I asked my husband to try it when we went to our archery practice session. As we would be standing in the glaring sun for over two hours, it would be a good test for the sun cream.

The reason I didn’t try it myself is that I have much fairer skin than him and need a higher SPF when being in the sun for that amount of time.

My husband was a willing guinea pig though, and tried it for me. He liked how easy the cream was to apply and how quickly it got absorbed.

Having only used chemical sunscreens until now, he was especially pleased that he didn’t have to wait for 10 minutes before going out. With mineral sunscreens, you don’t have to wait, they work immediately.

So what did he think about the performance? He was very pleased. Despite standing in full sun for over two hours, there was no redness at all. The sunscreen did a great job protecting him from the sun’s UV radiation.

Overall, I’m pleased with the performance of the Awake Organics mineral sunscreen. It gives me the confidence that switching to it will keep my skin healthy.

The only complaint I have is that they only offer SPF 25. While this is fine for short periods of time, I normally use SPF 30 or SPF 50, because it allows me to enjoy the sun for longer.

I would really love to see them bringing out a higher SPF sunscreen.

Rather Pricey

Sun cream is generally one of those personal care products that is more expensive. But because it’s important for skin health, not using sunscreen isn’t an option.

So when you decide to switch to an eco-friendly alternative, price is often an important factor.

The Awake Organics mineral sunscreen is rather pricey. While you might be able to benefit from a discount during one of their sales events, the normal retail price is quite a bit more expensive than other mineral sunscreens.

I understand that sourcing high-quality natural ingredients from the UK or Europe isn’t cheap. Especially because they hand-make every product in small batches to ensure the highest quality.

It’s true that you get a beautiful product for your money that provides broad spectrum sun protection, is easy to apply, and moisturises your skin. But whether it’s worth the money is something you have to decide for yourself. I think it’s a bit pricey, personally.

And that’s just compared to other eco-friendly sunscreens. If you compare it to chemical sunscreens you can buy in the supermarket and at Boots, the price difference is even more pronounced.

Of course, this comparison isn’t really fair, because firstly synthetic ingredients are much cheaper, and companies like Nivea can buy huge quantities to get an even better price.

I would say you still get value for money by buying the Awake Organics sun cream, as you get a totally natural product that won’t harm you or the environment, packaged in plastic-free materials.

Awake Organics Sunscreen Review Verdict

If you are looking for an eco-friendly mineral sunscreen that is easy to apply and works to protect you from the sun, the Awake Organics sunscreen could be the one for you.

I love the light texture and fresh lavender scent. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a white cast on your skin, as long as you rub it in well. It leaves your skin smooth and well-moisturised.

The broad spectrum sun protection you get is just as good as any chemical sun cream, but without the harmful chemicals that can cause skin irritation and impact our environment.

The 100% natural ingredients make it ideal for any skin type, but especially for sensitive or mature skin.

The packaging is plastic-free and zero-waste, as the cardboard box, the glass jar and aluminium lid can be recycled.

The only downside is that you can only get it in SPF 25, which is a shame. The price is another drawback, as it’s pricier than other eco-friendly mineral sunscreens.

If your budget can stretch a bit further though, and SPF 25 is enough for your skin, this could be a great sustainable alternative to chemical sunscreens.