Customer Reviews

Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35, 4-Ounce

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

On our trip to Hawaii, we purchased five types of safe sunscreens considered safe by the Environmental Working Group ([...]), in order to do our own "research" on the effectiveness and ease of use for each product and settle on one for all our future trips. We did a comparitive analysis of the products, using each of them multiple times throughout our trip. (You may see these first two sentences when we review the other products. Sorry about that.)

The Episencial Sunny Sunscreen was extremely effective at preventing sunburn and also prevented any skin reactions from one member of our party who reacts badly to sunlight in even very limited exposutes. (Think lupus, or m.s., for example.) Of the five we tested, this product was also one of the easiest to apply and the least likely to dry your skin out.

That said, this product was more expensive than some others that we tested and that worked equally well for most of our group. If you have a large family or a tight budget, we would recommend trying the Blue Lizard first.

I have tried several mineral sunscreens for my kids, including California Baby, and I like this one the best. It rubs on easily, soaks in well and doesn't leave the skin greasy. Unlike California Baby sunscreen, it doesn't leave my kids looking like ghosts. Their skin is soft after using this and works very well, no burns yet. I also like that it has no scent.

I love this sunblock for my almost-2 year old (and have used it on myself a couple of times). I always use a sunblock on her with physical blockers rather than chemical, since they are supposed to be safer and not absorbed through the skin. The other 2 we have been using until this product was introduced were California Baby and Neutrogena Pure & Free. Both of these seem to be thicker and harder to rub in and get the white glow to disappear. Episencial is very smooth to apply and easy to rub in.

Love this sunscreen- very easy to apply, non-irritating, not greasy, pleasant smell & works for me & my young children - but I can't give it 5 stars as it is not waterproof so in the summer months I shall have to use Badger when we are playing in the water. If they made it waterproof it would be perfect!

I really do love the application of this sunscreen. It's like a liquidy cream, and it smooths on very nicely. It doesn't leave me feeling greasy or tacky, or like I have a film on my skin. So I would give it 5-stars for application. Unfortunately, the new formulation of 5% Titanium Dioxide and 5% Zinc Oxide is just not enough protection. This product is listed everywhere with 10% Titanium Dioxide and 4% Zinc Oxide but the formula has changed. I purchased three bottles, one from Amazon and two from Diapers.com, and all three have 5% TD and 5% ZO. I bought them thinking that I was getting 10% TD and 4% ZO.

I emailed Episencial and was told that they figured out how to lower the active ingredients (TD and ZO) by adding other supposedly natural sunscreen ingredients like beeswax or something... The previous formulation is rated by EWG as:

Score: 2
UVB: good
UVA: good

I was iffy about the good/good rating (I strongly prefer UVA: excellent) but I continued to use it because I liked the application and I have three bottles.

I took the time to enter my own report with the new formulation on EWG's website, and it only rated as:

Score: 2
UVB: good
UVA: moderate

I would only rate the new formula at 3-stars for protection. As much as I love this sunscreen application-wise, I just can't bring myself to keep using it with only a moderate rating for UVA protection.

I was looking for a non-chemical sunscreen for me and my children. I tried California Baby but it is too thick and white looking. I also tried Badger but it is too greasy and white. This is the only sunscreen I found that is easy to apply, is not greasy and does not look white on the skin. I have not used it in the water yet but have used it playing tennis and it kept me from burning after several hours in the sun and no re-application. It also does NOT have Vitamin A which can acclerate skin cancer. I highly recommend this sunscreen!

Just tried a sample of this and am ordering a full size. It applies so creamy and makes a wonderful spf makeup base. Absolutely no whitish/grey cast and I used on my face, neck and chest without pores being clogged.Love that it has no parabens too.

Like several other reviewers here, I've gone to the Skin Deep safe cosmetic database to be sure I find a safe suncreen...ie no nanoparticles, parabens etc. I've tried most of the other "natural" suncreens there but have had trouble finding one for daily use on the face that does not leave me like a white ghost. I tend to cover up (clothes) unless at the beach, and at the beach I don't care if I have a whitish tint to my, say, legs...just don't want to walk around on a daily basis with what looks like white clown makeup on my face. This, as others have said, fits the bill. It rubs in better than Badger and California baby and other sunscreens. One day, I was out in the sun for hours and didn't put anything on my shoulders (an unusal, uncoverd day bike riding)...body got sunburned not the slightest burn on my face despite sweating. So, in reading the other reviews I see that less stars for ths product mostly correlates with reduced or concern about waterproofness (note most suncreens...even "waterproof" say to reapply after an hr or towel drying anyway). I haven't tried it at the beach so I can't comment on that. But for sweating, rather than swimming, it was fine.

This product is advertised for babies and children mostly but what it serves is a GREAT, NATURAL, DAILY safe, waterresistant FACE suncreen for adults. I have a susceptibility to acne and it did not feel oily or seem to block my pores either...yet did not dry my skin, which afterwards feels soft and supple.

I found this product by accident. I met the owner of this company at a WholeFoods where she had a table, giving out samples. She is very well informed, and seemingly well-intended and sincere about helping people keep their kids safe yet protected. So I googled the products and went to the website. I love supporting her US MANUFACTURED (with Solar Power!) business as well. Given how ethically she is trying to do things, I don't mind paying a little more than for some other brand. For a facial moisturiser..which is my purpose (I think she should market it as such also...but is aiming only at kids/parents...I lucked out in finding it!)...it is a relatively inexpensive anyway.

I was looking for a cheaper, natural, non-toxic alternative to California Baby. I really like that Episencial sunscreen is gentle enough for my son, who has always battled with eczema and breaks out in rashes with most sunscreens. It goes on easily. It isn't as sticky white or stinging to the eyes as California Baby or Jason Naturals, another brand we've tried.

I reapply after 3 hours because, frankly, Episencial feels very light so I worry about how long its protection will last. So far it has staved off full-on sunburn. However, when using Episencial on really hot days, I noticed that my kids did develop some brown spots, which is another form of skin damage.

Looks like it's back to California Baby for now. The search for the perfect sunscreen continues.

I was worried about burning at the beach as this sunscreen seemed to slick right off when we were in the water. I would use this for a day outdoors not involving a swim. Nice that it is not full of chemicals though.