Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc SPF30 Lotion Broad Spectrum Sunscreen & Water Resistant

What this is

This is Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen SPF 30, a fragrance-free mineral sunscreen for face and body in a 3 fl oz (89 ml) squeeze tube. The Drug Facts panel lists a single active ingredient, Zinc Oxide 16.0%, with the purpose given as "Sunscreen", and the tube front is marked Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and Water Resistant (80 minutes). The front also reads "Extra Sensitive Mineral Formula".

This one uses zinc oxide alone, and the back of the tube specifies non-nano zinc oxide, meaning the zinc particles are not in the nanoscale size range. The tube is distributed by Babo Botanicals, Inc. of Scarsdale, New York, and the panel reads "MADE IN THE USA with US & imported materials".

What's in it

The formula has one active and thirty-one inactive ingredients, all printed on the back panel. Zinc Oxide 16.0% is the active. Zinc oxide is a white mineral compound that has been used for a very long time in topical preparations, and it is one of the two mineral UV filters found in sunscreens sold in the United States, the other being titanium dioxide. For general background on the element, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements keeps a consumer fact sheet on zinc — that sheet covers zinc as a dietary mineral, a different context from a topical sunscreen.

Behind the active, the inactive list is mostly fatty alcohols and plant oils doing the work of holding a mineral powder in a spreadable base. Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) is a fat pressed from the nut of the West African shea tree and is one of the most common emollient bases in skincare. Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil and Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil are three more pressed plant oils, and Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter is the same cocoa fat used in confectionery. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate are humectants. Cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and arachidyl alcohol are waxy fatty alcohols, not drying solvent alcohols, and they are what gives a lotion its body.

Seven ingredients carry an asterisk on the panel marking them as certified organic: bisabolol, calendula officinalis flower extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, nasturtium officinale (watercress) flower/leaf extract, pueraria lobata (kudzu) root extract, spiraea ulmaria (meadowsweet) flower extract and the cocoa seed butter. Calendula is the marigold-family flower, chamomile is the daisy-like flower used in teas, watercress is the peppery salad green, meadowsweet is a European hedgerow flower and kudzu is a climbing vine from East Asia. NCCIH maintains a plain-language Herbs at a Glance reference covering many botanicals of this kind. Tocopherol, the last-but-one entry, is the vitamin E family; the NIH keeps a vitamin E fact sheet for general background. None of those agencies reviews, tests or endorses this sunscreen.

The remainder of the list is formulation chemistry: butyloctyl salicylate and polyhydroxystearic acid help keep the zinc dispersed, cellulose gum and microcrystalline cellulose thicken, coco-glucoside and sodium stearoyl glutamate are plant-derived surfactants, caprylhydroxamic acid and caprylyl glycol are the preservative system, citric acid and sodium gluconate are a pH adjuster and a chelator, methyl dihydroabietate is a resin ester, and water (aqua) is the base.

What is not in it

Reading the printed ingredient list against Babo's own "free of" checklist, the two agree: there are no parabens, no sulfates, no phthalates, no formaldehyde donors, no mineral oil or paraffin, no soy or dairy derivatives, and no peanut, walnut or almond oil anywhere on the panel. The tube carries "Fragrance Free" on the front and "Vegan. Gluten, Soy And Dairy Free." on the back, and no fragrance, parfum or masking ingredient appears in the list.

Full ingredient list

Inactive ingredients: Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol*, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cellulose Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Nasturtium Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract*, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract*, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Tocopherol, Water (Aqua). *Certified Organic Ingredients.

How to use it

The Directions section of the Drug Facts panel reads: apply liberally to exposed areas 15 minutes before sun exposure; reapply at least every two hours, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, or immediately after towel-drying. "Liberally" is doing real work in that sentence — an SPF rating assumes a generous, even layer, and a thin film spread by eye does not match that assumption.

The panel's Other Information line is short: protect this product from excessive heat and direct sun. That refers to the tube itself, so the glovebox and the top of a beach bag in full sun are the two places not to leave it.

Who it's for

The front of the tube states the audience plainly: "For Babies, Kids & Grown Ups Too!", and the panel adds that for children under 6 months you should ask a doctor. It is a face-and-body formula, so one tube covers both.

At 3 fl oz this is a bag, glovebox or carry-on size rather than a whole-family beach supply. You will find it alongside the rest of our Body Care range, and next to the creams and daily moisturizers in Body Lotion.

Good to know

The Warnings section on the tube is the part worth reading before you buy. It reads, in full: for external use only; do not use on damaged or broken skin; when using this product keep out of eyes, and rinse with water to remove; stop use and ask a doctor if rash occurs; keep out of reach of children, and if the product is swallowed get medical help or contact a Poison Control center right away.

The panel also carries the standard sun-exposure guidance printed on sunscreens sold in the United States: limit time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses. Sunscreen is one measure among several, not a substitute for the others.

If you have a known sensitivity, read the full ingredient list above first. Questions for the maker go to Babo Botanicals, Inc., 14 Harwood Court, Scarsdale, NY 10583, or 1-877-537-BABO.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a mineral or a chemical sunscreen?

It is a mineral sunscreen. The Drug Facts panel lists Zinc Oxide 16.0% as the only active ingredient, and the back of the tube specifies non-nano zinc oxide. There are no organic chemical UV filters such as avobenzone, oxybenzone or octinoxate anywhere on the ingredient list.

How long is it water resistant, and when do I reapply?

The tube is marked Water Resistant (80 minutes). Reapply at least every two hours, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, or immediately after towel-drying.

Can I use it on my face as well as my body?

Yes — the back panel states "For Extra Sensitive Skin — Face & Body", so it is formulated for both. It is also fragrance free.

Is it suitable for babies and children?

The tube is labeled for babies, kids and adults: the front reads "For Babies, Kids & Grown Ups Too!", and the Drug Facts panel adds that for children under 6 months you should ask a doctor.

How big is the tube, and how is my order packaged?

The tube holds 3 fl oz (89 ml). Orders ship in plain outer packaging with no indication of the contents. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe product specifications directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition or a known allergy to any listed ingredient. Keep out of reach of children.