Amavara Sunscreen Mini-Reviews

by Rosy Day Blog

Amavara: Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Reef Safe Sunscreens

Unlike many of you, I am somewhat picky about my sunscreen. Many either smell weird, don't provide enough protection, or just plain don't have good formulations. I haven't really found a body sunscreen that I liked enough to consider repurchasing, nor were there any particular ones that stood out to me. While I was looking more into vegan skincare, I happened to come across Amavara which as you may have guessed, have vegan sunscreen among other things.

Disclosure:
I received these samples from Amavara as their new brand ambassador. I was not given any money in exchange for these mini-reviews. I would not currently be an ambassador for Amavara if I really did not like the products and/or believed in the brand and their vision. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful.

Update:
As of July 2018, due to unforseen circumstances, Amavara decided to discontinue their ambassador program. I am no longer an Amavara ambassador, however, they still have good sunscreen and they're probably the only ones with reef safe sunscreen at the moment. I will leave these mini-reviews up indefinitely, should anyone stumble across this while looking for vegan/cruelty-free/reef safe sunscreen (or just the Amarvara brand in general).

Table of Contents

- About Company & Products
- Technology & Ingredients
- Sunscreen Mini-Reviews
- Importance of Sun Protection & Shop This Post

Meet Amavara: High-Quality, Harm-Free, Mineral Skincare

About Amavara Skincare:
Amavara Skincare is a reef safe, cruelty-free, and vegan brand created by locals here in sunny San Diego, California. According to their Instagram, they believe that skincare that starts with both environmental and sun protection - a true statement and one that I completely agree with.

Sunscreen Overview:
Amavara sunscreen is formulated for everyday wear (you should wear at least some form of sunscreen everyday anyway). They claim to bring you protection at it's finest, purest, and safest. Their zinc oxide mineral sunscreen rubs in clear, and provides broad spectrum protection (UVA1, UVA2, and UVB). There are zero harmful chemicals, parabens, or artificial colors!

It is also worth noting that on May 1, 2018, Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.

This means that all travelers going to Hawaii will need to travel with, or purchase reef safe sunscreen by January 1, 2021. hankfully, Amavara sunscreens already meet this requirement.

EarthWell® Zinc Oxide, Mineral Sunscreen

About EarthWell® Zinc Oxide:
Amavara sunscreens use patented EarthWell® Zinc Oxide as the only active sunscreen ingredient. It is a naturally sourced non-nano Zinc Oxide that rubs in clear, unlike most other physical sunscreens that can leave a white cast. All Amavara sunscreens are water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Chemical vs. Mineral:
According to Amavara's website, "(chemical)...sunscreens use harmful chemical ingredients to absorb and dissipate UVA/UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens, like Amavara, use mineral ingredients to form a physical barrier on the skin that scatters and reflects UVA and UVB rays." Nano titanium dioxide, oxybenzone, and octinoxate are also harmful ingredients that can be used in both chemical and mineral sunscreens. Not only do these ingredients cause skin sensitivity, they are proven to harm coral-reef and marine life (our poor oceans)! Amavara doesn't use any of these harmful ingredients and they are completely cruelty-free. Their mineral sunscreens are also hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and paraben-free.

Are The Amavara Sunscreens Really Overly Protective®?

SPF 50 Facestick:
While the sample that I got resembled chapstick, the full sized version of the product kind of looks like deodorant. True to its name, this is a solid stick version of sunscreen that makes it super convenient to travel with, as well as apply over your face (if you don't like the typical feeling of sunscreen on your face). I like this a lot. It doesn't feel greasy at all, and while it does kind of feel & look like you're applying gluestick on your face, it does not leave a white cast after fully rubbing in (it rubs in quick and very easily by the way).

This also played nicely underneath my makeup and didn't really disrupt my application or wear. Finally, it is SPF 50. Maybe it is just me, but at least for the majority of sunscreens typically found here in the U.S., most of them seem to go no higher than SPF 30. However I do feel like this goes on best with skin that is not overly dry and doesn't have any textural issues. I tried this on my boyfriend's somewhat "rougher" skin and it didn't blend in as smooth. If he had exfoliated prior to using, it wouldn't have been an issue.

SPF 30 Lotion:
This can be used for either your face or body. Although SPF 30 is on the lower end for body sunscreen, it should be suitable for normal everyday wear. If I'm going to be spending a day at the beach for example, then I better get myself some SPF 50. If the Facestick isn't your thing, this is like a more traditional sunscreen, but just like the Facestick, it absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a white cast. I've also used this on my face and it does play well under my makeup. On a normal day, this did not cause my face to oil up any more than usual.

SPF 50 Lotion:
This sunscreen is actually tinted, which might be a deal breaker for some if you were looking for a non-tinted SPF 50. On me, the tint is like a subtle, almost pearlescent sheen/glow. It makes my skin look slightly more even, and maybe even slightly brighter as well (I am ~NC 25-30). You can also use this sunscreen on your body if you want a slight all over glow (or just even out your complexion). I would say that as long as your skin isn't dry, it should spread on your body just fine. I like this and while I mostly used the sample on my face, I would definitely consider getting the full size for my body (especially with the summer coming up).

Visible Anti-Aging Or Visible Premature Aging?

Why Wearing Sunscreen Is Important:
Would you prefer visible anti-aging or visible premature aging? This should be a no brainer. While it is true that sunscreen helps premature aging, but did you know that Amavara's mineral sunscreen helps prevent environmental pollutants from penetrating your skin by providing a transparent physical barrier?

Environmental pollutants are exactly as they sound - harmful particles in the air such as smog, cigarette smoke, and free radicals.

All these different things that you are exposed to everyday can cause visible premature agining. If you've ever seen anyone who does't regularly wear sunscreen compared to someone who does, the person who wear sunscreen more often typically has less visible skin issues/aging.

With that said, even if you've never really worn/paid attention to sunscreen before, it's not too late to start. You still have a chance to reverse some of that damage as well as prevent any further damage. Remember, skincare doesn't just stop after your moisturzer. Use sunscreen.

Buy Amavara Skincare Sunscreens

Below is an affiliate link, however I do not make any money off the clicks. The affiliate link is only there to track visits to the Amavara website from any of my posts. If you choose to, you can use my personal discount code off your purchase. I don't profit off usage of my coupon code either. July 2018 update - I'm no longer an Amavara ambassador so the link below is just a normal link that will take you to the Amavara website.

Shop This Post

Amavara Skincare Reef Safe,
Cruetly-Free, and Vegan Sunscreens

Photo Credit: Amavara Skincare