Two of the most common questions I get are:
What deodorant do you use? Do you know of a good non-toxic sunscreen?
Well, Primally Pure just launched a tallow-based sunscreen. Naturally, I had to check it out. Here's my honest review.
Tallow in Sunscreen? Love That.
I love seeing tallow in a sunscreen. It’s sun-safe, deeply nourishing, and doesn’t oxidize like linoleic acid rich seed oils do. Speaking of seed oils, Primally Pure left them out. Huge win in the holistic skincare space. Seed oils and UV rays are a terrible combo. They oxidize fast under sunlight and heat, and the last place you want that happening is on your skin.
Surprisingly Clean Formula
I wasn’t expecting the ingredient list to be this solid! It’s clean, minimal, and 100% natural.
They offer two versions: one scented with essential oils, and one unscented (no essential oils at all).
They offer two versions: one scented with essential oils, and one unscented (no essential oils at all).
UNSCENTED SPF 30
Active: Zinc Oxide (25%)
Inactive: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Organic Tallow, Organic Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Mango Butter, Tocopherol
Active: Zinc Oxide (25%)
Inactive: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Organic Tallow, Organic Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Mango Butter, Tocopherol
LAVENDER MINT SPF 30
Active: Zinc Oxide (25%)
Inactive: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Organic Tallow, Organic Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Organic Mango Butter, Organic Peppermint Oil, Tocopherol
Active: Zinc Oxide (25%)
Inactive: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Organic Tallow, Organic Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Organic Mango Butter, Organic Peppermint Oil, Tocopherol
Essential Oils in the Sun? No Thanks.
I do not recommend using essential oils in the sun.
Lavender and peppermint might seem gentle or “cooling,” but they actually increase skin sensitivity and make your skin more reactive, especially under UV exposure. They don’t offer any sun protection, they’re just there for scent. And they leave your skin more vulnerable to irritation, hyperpigmentation, and long-term damage from concentrated compounds like linalool and menthol. Compounds that don’t exist in nature in these isolated concentrated forms.
Is It Actually Stable?
With a little formulating experience I know enough to look for things like formula stability.
This sunscreen is basically a balm; beeswax, butters, and zinc. My question is: how well is the zinc suspended in such a natural base (synthetics are used to stabilize and suspend actives in skincare products)? If it’s not properly mixed or stabilized, the zinc can sink over time, which means you might not get even SPF 30 protection with every application. I’m also curious how this holds up in heat. Will it melt off the skin in the sun or water? Or does it absorb in and protect? It’s hard to know without trying, but I did watch a few influencers apply it and it looked stable and absorbed well during their application.
What About the White Cast?
With 25% zinc and such a natural base, you'd expect a white cast, especially on darker skin tones.
Surprisingly, in the videos I saw (from lighter-skinned influencers), it absorbed really well with no visible cast. Not sure how the formula pans out with darker tones but from the videos it looks promising for all skin tones.
My Verdict: Worth a Try
I’m going to order the unscented version for myself.
But like with any new sunscreen, I won’t dive in headfirst. I always do a patch test before wearing it out in the sun for hours. I’ve been burned, literally by natural sunscreens that didn’t work. One even gave my son blistering burns years ago. So I never risk it without testing first.
Final Thoughts
Primally Pure did a great job.
No seed oils, nourishing ingredients, a high zinc percentage… yes, please. This is a solid option in the crunchy sunscreen world, especially if you choose the unscented version.
I’ll update once I’ve tested it out in real life.
