Block Island Sunscreen Review (sponsored post)
This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine. I received the Natural Mineral Sunscreen – SPF 30 to review. This post contains links to the Block Island Organics websites but my only compensation was the sunscreen.
As you guys know, for several years, I haven’t been wearing sunscreen while I run because I can’t find one that lets my skin breathe and doesn’t feel heavy (like it’s clogging my pores), or doesn’t get in my eyes and sting them. So I recently went to a dermatologist for a free skin cancer screening (the derm said everything looks good) and he recommended I use CeraVe sunscreen for running. I bought it. And tried it. No bueno.
Sigh.
So when Block Island Organics emailed me about trying their Natural Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 30), I was intrigued. It’s organic (derr), lightweight, and free of parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthalates, gluten, dyes and artificial fragrances. And even cooler – they don’t do animal testing and use vegan-based formulas! (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
I didn’t want to waste their time though and told them about my typical issues – that I don’t want a sunscreen that beads on my face and makes me more sweaty and miserable. They told me it’s lightweight and not greasy, and that while they have not tested it for water resistance, it’s worked out well for them when they workout. Hmm, but I sweat like… something that sweats a lot. Would it work for me?
But let’s be honest. I need to find a sunscreen that works and can’t go around spending $10-20 a bottle until I find the right one. I wanted to give Block Island sunscreen a try.
The first thing I noticed when I opened it was that it didn’t have the typical sunscreen smell, which seemed odd at first, but I grew to like. When they say no artificial fragrances, they mean it! It was nice to go out with sunscreen on and not smell like it!
I used the sunscreen on several midday runs. I tried putting the sunscreen on (my face, arms and upper back) right before a run, as well as putting it on fifteen minutes before (per the directions) and letting it “soak” in (my word, not theirs, ha ha).
No matter what I did, I sweated so much that it dripped off. I noticed the directions say to “use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating,” so I don’t think it’s meant for someone who sweats like me. (Maybe I should try it in the winter when I sweat less?)
Arrows pointing to all the sunscreen dripping down me during the middle of a 5 mile run
Sunscreen pooling up then dripping down my elbow
HOWEVER – this is the first sunscreen I have found that DOES NOT sting when it drips in my eyes. It also did NOT make me feel like I couldn’t breathe. It felt lightweight, like they said. But what use is that when it’s dripping off? I never had a noticeable burn after a run, but, maybe I wasn’t out long enough to get one?
I tried it during cycling too, where I sweat less. Oh yeah, it stayed on. YOU COULD SEE IT ON ME ALL DAY. Ha ha! I couldn’t get it to rub in! It made me all white, wherever I put it! It’s nice to be able to see where it’s applied, but I thought it was odd it never faded away, even after I rubbed at it. Of course, I don’t mind looking like a goof, so it didn’t bother me, as long as it worked…
See how white my face and arms are?
But sadly, I still got burned. However, it says to apply every two hours, and I think I applied every two and a half hours and was in the sun all darn day, so I am not sure how well any sunscreen would do. Although, three of us bikers used this and got burned and one person used a spray-on sunscreen and was okay.
My burn from RAGBRAI Day 4
My burn from RAGBRAI Day 5 (it looks glossy because I had aloe on it)
The next day, the burn didn’t hurt much and turned in to a tan. But I am not sure if that was my tan base, or the sunscreen that made that happen.
I really want to like this product because it’s organic, natural, vegan-friendly and chemical free, but it just doesn’t seem to work for me, since I am a crazy sweaty beast. I DO like that it does not make my eyes sting, so I plan to continue using it my face, however, it’s a bummer that it will just come right off if it gets wet (which I witnessed when I got sprayed with water (on purpose) while riding my bike) or I sweat.
I DO like that Block Island Organics is a family owned company (named after the town where the business was started – fun!) and that they are on a mission to educate consumers, provide quality products and simplify the skin care process. It just seems like I need the water/sweat proof version of this sunscreen for it to work for me! I’m grateful I got to try this and will use it on my face, but the search for a whole-body sunscreen for running continues!
If you’d like to check out their site and more about their mission and other products, you can visit their website, or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine. I received the Natural Mineral Sunscreen – SPF 30 to review. This post contains links to the Block Island Organics websites but my only compensation was the sunscreen.
Themocracy
Ouch! That is a lot of burn! It’s sad the sunscreen didn’t work, that has been my experience with some natural products as well. I use Clarins 30 and it works, but I always get zits on my face. I have yet to find a sunscreen I don’t break out after. I am a sweaty beast too and I always look white and drippy but the Clarins doesn’t let me burn.
I was wondering that, as I was writing this, if it didn’t work as well because it’s “natural.” Bummer, right? I hope they keep working at it.
I would NOT want a sunscreen that gave me zits! No gracias!
Yikes, that burn looks painful. I’m glad it didn’t hurt the next day at least. I have a hard time with sun screen dripping into my eyes and burning too. As least this one has that going for it.
I’ve had some luck with the aerosol type spary sun screens but generally try to avoid lathering up with so many chemicals- I also usually wear long sleeves if I know I’ll be in the sun for extended amounts of time. That really sucks you got burnt with this stuff. It sounded very promising- and the no smell, no harsh chemicals had me intrigued. But that it couldn’t be rubbed in and didn’t really protect you is no Bueno.
The aerosol ones seem to work well, but they make me feel so sticky during and you have to scrub FOREVER in the shower to get it off! Ugh. I can’t win. No way I’d wear long sleeves when it’s in the mid 80s though. LOL!!!!!
Painful burn! Interesting post, as a skin cancer survivor I always use total sunscreen in every season.
Maybe you have a good recommendation then… but it might not be something I can get here 😉
That’s a hell of a sunburn, hope it doesn’t hurt too much. Nice to see an honest product review!!
It doesn’t hurt! 🙂 It didn’t even feel that bad the first day, surprisingly. My arms did hurt when I tried to put them in a hot tub the next day though, ha ha!
Ouch!! It’s good to know it doesn’t sting your eyes. Campbell had a huge meltdown at Wisconsin Dells because she got sunscreen in here eyes. I’m also glad you were honest in your review! I haven’t had much luck w/ spray on sunscreens vs. the lotion kind but maybe that’s the brands I’ve tried.
Thanks Kim for your feedback on our product. Sorry that it dripped while you were sweating but happy that you liked the ingredients, smell, lightweight nature and that it didn’t burn your eyes. You are right, it’s not a water resistant sunscreen and actually US FDA regulations makes us label it as such on the back panel of the bottle as well.
We are working on a water resistant sunscreen to add to our product line. It definitely takes more time to formulate a water resistant product that is natural and non-toxic but I’ll for sure reach back out when the water resistant product is available to try out.
Thanks for sending it to me to review! I will definitely continue to use it on my face! I was so happy to use something that finally did NOT sting my eyes! And I bet it works a lot better on someone that is not so sweaty, lol! I will be excited to try the water resistant one!
I wore this exact sunscreen to the pool today! I didn’t notice it running and I didn’t burn but I do have quite a tan base from my travels. I agree it is very difficult to rub in.
Did you get wet at the pool or sweat? That is when it ran, for me. Otherwise, it just stays as a solid white layer on your skin.
DAYUUUUUM that’s a crazy burn!!! Glad it didn’t hurt too bad and turned into a tan! I should really be more diligent about sunscreen. I never wear it unless I’m on vacation and laying in the sun for hours at a time. My BB cream that I use every day has SPF42 in it, so my face is good, but that’s all that ever gets sunscreened.
I am definitely not good at wearing it daily, but put it on if I will be outside for a long time (unless it’s to run). My mom uses a face cream that has SPF in it too, and suggested I try that – it’s not a bad idea! 🙂
Ouch, ouch, ouch! That sunburn looks painful. Glad it doesn’t feel that way, though!
I have such a fear of sunburn that I am RELIGIOUS about applying it when I go out. Luckily, regular ole Target-brand SPF 30 protects me just fine, which is nice!
Too bad it didn’t work out! Especially too bad because you got some realllllly painful-looking burns!
Re: sunscreen in the eyes. I wear a hat to cover the top half of my face and put sunscreen on below my eyes. It helps with the stingy drips!
I’ll have to try that! Getting sunscreen in your eyes hurts so bad!