Review of GreenScreen Organic Sunscreen

Before I go on with my review of GreenScreen Sunblock, here is a little back story about why I went with an organic sunblock! I’ve been guilty of not wearing much sunblock in the last 3 to 4 years because I have developed some kind of sensitivity to all sunscreens I’ve tried. I get an itchy rash a day or two after wearing sunscreen.

I have tried various sprays and creams and so far I couldn’t pinpoint the ingredients that caused the reaction. So, instead of wearing sunblock, I was covering up with a wide brim hat. I also wore long sleeves to cover up my sensitive shoulders.

I’ve waited long enough, I felt it was time for me to find a good sunblock I can use every day.

According to the Livestrong‘s website, it’s best to avoid chemical sunscreen (the kind your skin absorbs) because it can interfere with your hormones. The Livestrong website sites:

 In fact, 80 percent of chemical sunscreens contain oxybenzone, which gets into the bloodstream, may cause allergic reactions and can mimic estrogen in the body.

Because of this, I believe it’s important for me to use healthier sunscreens that won’t cause me an itchy rash.

After some online research, I found GreenScreen by Kanana Organic Skincare and decided to give this one a try. Unlike chemical sunscreens, GreenScreen contains Zinc Oxide which sits on top of your skin.

Because Zinc Oxide is white, they have tinted the GreenScreen with Iron Oxide. GreenScreen comes in different tints, Original, Neutral, Bronze and Peach. I purchased mine in Neutral since I have yellow undertones. GreenScreen offers protection of SPF 31.

GreenScreen’s List of Ingredients

Here is the complete list of all ingredients found in this product.

• 25% non-nano Zinc Oxide
• Eldorado Springs Artesian Water
• Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Certified Organic Jojoba Oil
• Vegetable Glycerine
• Organic Shea Butter
• Vegetable Vitamin E (non-gmo from sunflower seeds)
• Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF (cetearyl alcohol & polysorbate 60)
• Iron Oxides

Benefits of GreenScreen

Kabana’s GreenScreen offers many benefits. First off its an organic sunblock with broad Spectrum UVA & UVB. It’s biodegradable, so it’s safe for the environment. It is chemical-free so you don’t have to worry about toxins being absorbed into your blood stream and disrupting your hormones.

GreenScreen is non-nano, and I have a whole paragraph on its importance below. This product is also safe to use on babies 6 months or more, according to Kabana’s website.

After using and testing Green screen for over a week, I’m happy to report that IT DOES NOT MAKE ME ITCHY! For me, that’s the most important benefit of all! I also thought it blended OK into my skin without making me look chalky or too orange.

No Animal Testing

One of my goals this year is to source out more sustainable products, and products that are cruelty-free. Animal testing is something I personally feel guilty about and I’m doing more research into the products I buy.  

Another great benefit of using Kabana’s products is that they are not tested on animals. Here is what Kabana’s website has to say on the being cruelty-free:

Yes, Kabana does not pursue any animal testing, period. We do test our sunscreens on humans using the FDA sunscreen monograph testing protocol to generate the SPF number for labeling purposes. This process is mandated by law in the federal register.

Why is Non-nano important?

This “Non-nano” concept is new to me! I only came across it because my twin sister and I were talking about powdered sunscreen one day! Have you heard of powdered sunscreen? I hadn’t either. Some research into the David Suzuki website revealed some interesting facts. Here is what Dr. Suzuki says about it:

Mineral-based sunscreens probably contain nanoparticles. Research shows that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide do not migrate through skin, but inhaled nanoparticles enter the blood stream through the lungs.

Further research is needed into the impact of these particles on the environment and into the safety of skin applications so keep your ear to the ground. In the meantime, choose mineral-based creams. (While you might like transparent options, larger white particles give better UVA protection!)

If you have chance, read the full article from Dr. Suzuki about sunscreens, it’s very enlightening.

Disadvantage Of GreenScreen

Before I give my overall opinion on GreenScreen to be a winner, I do want to point out a few disadvantages of GreenScren Natural Sunblock.

GreenScreen might stain clothes. The sunblock does contain Iron Oxide to pigment the sunscreen. I’ll just have to be careful when applying it. White clothes will inevitably get some transfer! It’s up to you to decide if that’s acceptable; would you rather be sun safe and lower my risk of skin cancer than worry too much about a T-shirt?

Greenscreen isn’t scented with any tropical coconut smell reminiscent of beach and sand every time your open up the bottle. In fact, GreenScreen isn’t scented at all.  

You simply get the typical smell of unscented raw products. I’ll be honest, it doesn’t smell nice but once it’s rubbed into your skin, it does disappear, so it doesn’t linger with you all day. The fact that it’s not scented could be a benefit to many people who are scent sensitive.

GreenScreen is not waterproof. The Kabana website suggests using water-resistant sunscreen in the water or if sweating.  This is kind of disappointing, I have to source out an alternative for water and when I’m working out.

The GreenScreen Verdict?

So, in conclusion, I’m a bit disappointed in GreenScreen. I will use it when I’m out of other mineral-based sunscreens. With Greenscreen, I am able to protect myself from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays and not fear of breaking out into an itchy rash, however, the fact that the colour transfers on my clothing, it doesn’t smell nice and I can’t use it in the water or while working out forces me to give it two thumbs down.