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sunumbra sport spf 40 review

The main reason why I love Sunumbra sunscreens? They’re tinted.

Mineral sunscreens can leave a thick, white cast on the skin that makes you look like you’ve just fallen into a bag of sticky flour. Ugh.

But add a tint to the sunscreen and voilá, problem solved. So I was bit annoyed when I saw the latest Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 is pure white. No added tint this time.

Would it give me the dreaded white cast? Only one way to find out:

What’s In Sunumbra Sport SPF 40?

ZINC OXIDE

Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 has only one UV filter: 18% non-nano, non-coated zinc oxide.

A white mineral, zinc oxide protects, on its own, from the entire UV rays. It works in two ways: it absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation, turning it into a less damaging form of energy (heat). Then, it reflects the rest of the UV rays away from your face.

Because zinc oxide is so powerful, it can be used alone. Compare this with chemical sunscreens like avobenzone or octocrylene. You always find 4 or 5 of them in a bottle – that’s how many you need for adequate sun protection.

The best part? Zinc oxide is so gentle, it rarely cause irritations. Heck, even babies can use it!

I know what you’re thinking: “Where’s the catch, Gio?” Here it comes: zinc oxide has a greasy texture that leaves a white cast behind.

But as mineral sunscreens go, this is fairly lightweight and leaves no white cast behind on pale skin. If you have a darker skin tone, use foundation on top to even everything out.

Related: 3 Reasons Why Mineral Sunscreen Is Better For Sensitive Skin

How effective is your sunscreen? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Sunscreen Audit” Worksheet and find out if your sunscreen is really up to the job:

ANTIOXIDANTS

Did you know that antioxidants boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen?

It works like this. No sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays. Even SPF 100 lets 1% through. SPF 40 lets roughly 2-3% through and into the skin, where they could potentially wreak their damage. Think wrinkles, dark spots, and cancer.

That’s where antioxidants come in. They intercept the free radicals UV rays generate and destroy them before they can do any serious harm.

Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 contains its fair share of antioxidants – like nicotinamide, Vitamin C, and red raspberry seed oil – to fight free radicals and keep you looking younger for longer.

Related: How Do Antioxidants Work?

Texture

For a mineral-based sunscreen, the texture is surprisingly lightweight. It’s NOT as light as those of alcohol-based, chemical sunscreens, but it doesn’t feels heavy on the skin and sinks in within minutes.

Fragrance

It’s fragrance-free.

sunumbra sport spf 40

How To Use It

Liberally. Apply at least 1/3 of a teaspoon for the face and neck and a small glass shot for the body. Reapply regularly (at least every couple of hours in the sun).

P.S. Pat, don’t rub. When you rub sunscreen in, you’re actually rubbing some of it OFF your skin!

Performance & Personal Opinion

For a mineral sunscreen, Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 has a fairly lightweight texture that sinks in quickly into the skin without feeling heavy or greasy all day.

Unlike other Sunumbra sunscreens, it’s not tinted. If you’ve got pale skin like me, that’s not a problem. The whiteness just melts into my skin.

But on darker skin tones, it may look ashy. In that case, either opt for one of their tinted sunscreens or apply foundation on top to even everything out.

The sunscreen does a great job at keeping my skin safe from UV rays even in the heat of summer. So far, I didn’t experience any sunburns. Phew!

Sunumbra claims Sport SPF 40 is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. I haven’t tested it in the water yet, but it does hold well when I sweat (and how can you not sweat when it’s 40ºC in the shade?!).

Needless to say, water-resistant doesn’t mean it’ll stay effective forever. If you’re going for a swim or sweat a lot, do reapply it after 40 minutes.

One more thing: if you have oily skin, you’ll find the sunscreen hydrating enough on its own. And nope, it won’t cause breakouts. I’ve been wearing this all month and no pimples yet.

Dry skin? You may want to apply a moisturiser underneath, especially on the colder days. If not, your skin may feel a tad dry.

Who Is This For?

Anyone can use it, but it’s best suitable for sensitive oily skin.

Who Is This Not For?

It may look ashy on darker skin tones.

Packaging

Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 comes in a yellow and blue tube that’s both practical and hygienic.

Does Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIM TRUE?
Effective, photo stable, high level protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. True.
Protection from free radical damage and atmospheric toxins. Yes. But anything with antioxidants can do this.
Active natural nutrients and antioxidants to help reverse the effects of radiation damage. This is a very vague claim. What effects of radiation damage can they reverse? Some antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe sunburned skin, but don’t expect them to get rid of wrinkles or dark spots.
Blocks UVA exposure to reduce melanoma risk.
Maximizes UVB, without burning, to maximise vitamin D.		 This claim doesn’t make sense. How can you say that this sunscreen protects from UVB rays in one sentence and that it maximises them in the other? Plus, it’s dangerous. UVB rays cause sunburns and contribute to cancer. You don’t want to maximise them, you want to block them!
Sunumbra Sport is made exclusively from natural and organic ingredients. It is the unique combination of these ingredients that has enabled the total replacement of harmful chemicals found in most other sunscreens.  There are no harmful chemicals in sunscreen. Stop spreading false rumours to sell sunscreens!

Price & Availability

$29.90 at Sunumbra

Do You Need It?

If you’re looking for a water-resistant sunscreen the whole family can use, Sunumbra Sport SPF 40 is a good option to consider.

Dupes & Alternatives

Ingredients

Active Ingredient: Zinc oxide 18%, natural sunscreen, non-nano, non-coated

Other ingredients: Cape chestnut oil (Wild sourced), de-ionized water, galactoarabinan (Eco-certified organic), cetearyl olivate sorbitan olivate (Eco-certified organic), red raspberry seed oil (Eco-certified organic), ocimum basilicum hairy root culture extract (100% Natural certification), carnauba wax, nicotinamide (100% Natural certification), magnesium chloride (100% Natural certification), Aspen bark extract (populus tremuloides) (100% Natural certification), tyrosine (100% Natural certification), ascorbyl glucoside (100% Natural certification), kigelia extract (Wild sourced), aloe ferox extract (Wild sourced), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (100% Natural certification), allantoin

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.