I am on the hunt for a natural sunscreen (preferably one on the EWG site because not all natural products are necessarily less toxic). This product is natural and has an excellent rating on the EWG site. However, it is so thick! I like natural products because I think they're better for health/healthy skin, but I think the ideal product is one that is both natural AND allows skin to breathe. Even for days I don't wear makeup and for body sun protection, I feel lightweight products (that aren't waterproof) are best for the skin. I give this 2 points for being natural and easy to find. (A lot of natural products are sold in obscure stores, but this can be found at any Sephora.)

I'm allergic to chemical sunscreens and I'm always on the lookout for physical sunscreens that I can wear on my face. This one is far too greasy -- I would wear this on my face only at the beach. It's okay for the body, but too expensive to buy just for that purpose.
Shiseido's sunscreen is still the best I have found so far, it's not greasy and it's long-lasting.

This is not quite my HG sunscreen, but it's become my HG daytime eye cream, being the only SPF product I can wear anywhere near my eyes. It does leave a barely discernable white cast on my fair skin, but that's a good thing under my eyes, where it brightens up dark circles. I'm not sure how well it would work on dark skin, but it mostly absorbs so it might be ok. What I love about it is that it's moisturizing enough to plump out my fine lines, and gentle enough not to bother my sensitive skin or my eyes. It contains Hyaluronic acid, and, happily, no parabens or nanoparticles. I do sometimes wear it on my face as well as my eyes, but it is a little sticky/heavy--haven't really decided whether I like it on my face or not. Still, I will definitely buy again, as it's absolutely worth it for my eyes alone.

This is a good product, but not perfect. I'll share the "cons" first - there is not much UVA protection. It also can leave a white cast to the face, but on me it fades after a few minutes. However, on a darker skin tone (I am NC15) it would look ghastly white and I'm not sure if it would ever go away.
There are lots of pros though, and that's why I would repurchase:
There is no strong discernible sunscreen smell. it doesn't really smell like anything! The texture is very nice. it's a tad moisturizing (not too much), and absorbs quickly. The white cast fades after a few minutes, and is remedied by foundation anyway. I have had no irritation from this sunscreen. it's chemical sunscreen free AND paraben free, yahoo! It also has not clogged my pores, as most sunscreens do. It also does not make my face shiny/oily at all! It wears well all day. the ingredient list is nice, too! I just wish it had more UVA protection. I suppose for an everyday sunscreen, when I'm hardly in the sun, it is fine though.
A lot of people are comparing this to the Baby Block. I personally don't like the Baby Block as much. it is harder to spread on the face, and thus leaves much more of a white cast. it is not as moisturizing, but those with oily skin may prefer this.

I am in love with this sunscreen. It moisturizes so well and it is so easy to rub the white cast away. I have been using this for over a week now and my face is looking better already. I had a bunch of dry spots especially on my cheek and they are now gone. Definitely worth giving a try, it is a little pricey but for the amount you need, a little does go a long way. This is definitely worth repurchasing.

I have used pretty much a full tube of both the Face cream one, and the baby formula. As others have said, I too noticed the ingredients were practically identical, only the baby one was cheaper and a bit more product and green tea.
The main difference between the two is the Face one is more emollient. I believe it has more Shea butter and hyalauronic acid. Sometimes I found I needed to set it with powder. The baby one leaves less of a sheen so it is good to go right after being applied, however, when my skin is more on the dry or flaky side the less-emollient nature is a con as the sunscreen does not sink in as well and leaves some white/a cast or accentuates flakes.
All in all, I will continue to repurchase the baby formula and use the remainder of the Face version on dry-skin days.
It should be said, I used this sunscreen daily from May to September in the South Florida sun and did not burn or tan while wearing this and often a hat + sunglasses. I was outside and sweating for 6+ hours some days for work, and I also run for about an hour daily.
This is definitely a staple item for me. It also seemed to soothe my skin and red marks went away faster. I am breakout prone and did not experience an increase. If anything it helped improve my skin since red marks went away faster. I also used a generous amount of product daily (thick layer that was white upon application but sank in), and each tube lasted several months.

I wanted to go ahead and post this for anyone thinking of buying this sunscreen. I was reading the reviews and googling Lavanila's Sun Blocks (which are all physical blockers), and I discovered that Lavanilla has two sunblocks -- one marketed for face and one marketed for babies. The Healthy Suncreen SPF 40 Face Cream is $28 for 1.8 ounces. And The Healthy Baby Block SPF 40 is $20 for 2 ounces. So I looked at the ingredient list. And the actives are identical. And the inactives are almost identical. In fact, the baby one (which is $8 dollars cheaper and .2 oz larger) has more green tea extract in it. It seems like they have just marketed one differently and jacked up the price. The face version does have Hyaluronic Acid in it, however. I am getting both and will give a review and report on any differences in how they wear, feel, work under makeup, etc. I'm posting it with a high rating because I'm a fan of physical sunblocks, and they are getting harder to find. But I will be sure and revise my rating after use.
Face = 1.8 oz and $28
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 5.0%, Titanium Dioxide 7.5%,
Other Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice* (Aloe, Water), Capric Caprylic Triglycerides (Coconut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea Butter), Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol (Coconut Oil), Jojoba Oil*, Ethyl Hexyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Morinda Citrifolia (Noni Juice), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract*, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate (Vegetable Glycerin/Palm Oil), Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Allantoin (Vegetable), Sodium PCA (Amino Acid), Hyaluronic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol & Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin (Plant-Based Preservatives), Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Extract*, Green Tea Extract. *Certified Organic
Baby = 2 oz and $20
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 5.0%, Titanium Dioxide 7.5%.
Other Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice* (Aloe, Water), Capric Caprylic Triglycerides (Coconut Oil), Green Tea Extract, Ethyl Hexyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol (Coconut Oil), Jojoba Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea Butter), Morinda Citrifolia (Noni Juice), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract*, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate (Vegetable Glycerin/Palm Oil), Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Allantoin (Vegetable), Sodium Pca (Amino Acid), Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenethyl Alcohol & Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin (Plant-Based Preservatives), Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Extract*.
Links =
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml%3B$sessionid$IGCI1Z1IK4AFWCV0KRRRHOQ;jsessionid=IGCI1Z1IK4AFWCV0KRRRHOQ?categoryId=A17&id=P261320
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml%3B$sessionid$IGCI1Z1IK4AFWCV0KRRRHOQ;jsessionid=IGCI1Z1IK4AFWCV0KRRRHOQ?categoryId=A17&id=P261603 continued >>

I'm surprised at the bad reviews this has gotten! This is my HG morning moisturizer. I love that although it is a natural sunscreen with Zinc Oxide the formula is not thick and does not leave white streaks, make-up also applies over it very well (Thank you Hyaluoronic acid!). It doesn't irritate my skin or cause pimples either so to each their own I guess. I find that it actually heals my face and lessens the redness of my sensitive easily irritable skin. I pray Lavanila never quits making this- it's the best facial sunscreen I have ever used.

I got a sample of this from Sephora--advertised as being for sensitive skin--and could have sworn it said SPF30--but could not find an SPF30 on Sephora's website so this must be the 40? (The salesperson even wrote it down as 30.) I know it wasn't the baby formula, etc.
The sunscreen went on with a light consistency but picked up and magnified skin flakes--sort of a given with zinc oxide, etc., leaving a thin, slightly white coating.
While it didn't redden my rosacea/SD face, it did cause me to break out in small pimples in places I've never had pimples before (and I have dry skin). Now I've switched to using it on my neck and it's okay although it takes awhile to sink in.
The product has many ingredients and the company advertises its products as "healthy" and "natural." But healthy and natural don't always equal "non-irritating" or "non-clogging." If you have a fragile skin barrier or clog easily, some of their ingredients can cause problems. Cetyl alcohol, for example, traditionally was considered safe but more derms are saying think again--some research has shown it can be a skin irritant to some people.
The search for a good ss continues.
From Sephora for SPF 40:
1.8 oz:
Zinc Oxide 5.0%, Titanium Dioxide 7.5%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice* (Aloe, Water), Capric Caprylic Triglycerides (Coconut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea Butter), Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol (Coconut Oil), Jojoba Oil*, Ethyl Hexyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Morinda Citrifolia (Noni Juice), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract*, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate (Vegetable Glycerin/Palm Oil), Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Allantoin (Vegetable), Sodium PCA (Amino Acid), Hyaluronic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol & Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin (Plant-Based Preservatives), Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Extract*, Green Tea Extract. *Certified Organic continued >>

It has taken me forever to find a non-chemical, all natural, fragrance free sunscreen that won't irritate my sensitive skin AND won't cause me to break out. Apparently I was asking for a lot because I spend days researching and navigating stores, but I finally found everything in this product.
Yes, it's thick - but it's a trade off for not slathering chemicals on your face, and once you get it all rubbed in there is no white residue. It works best over my moisturizer (I use REN osmotic infusion) since there are not really any moisturizing components to this sunscreen.
I live in a hot & humid climate and it doesn't run when I sweat nor does it feel oily at all. I just wish there was a waterproof version for swimming!
continued >>

Always in search of that perfect sunsreen, my soulmate SPF...This isn't it, but closer i'm getting. It goes on nice, spreads decent and is "healthy" (at least until we find out it's, in fact, not healthy in years to come. Ha). As far as packaging, i won't give a high rating until it's airless. For as trendy/booming as green/organic/paraben/preservative free is, the airless packaging should be standard.

I have been using this sunscreen for 2 weeks and I love it. A little background on me I can't use chemical sunscreens because they make me feel like my face is broiling, I was using ColoreScience Sunforgettable for a long time, but the bismuth or mica makes me itch. The Lavanila is a dream come true for me, natural and good for you with physical sunscreen. Yes it takes a little to work it in to your skin so that it doesn't look white, but it works. I used it 90 degree weather and didn't feel like I had anything on my face. It might be a little much if you have oily skin since it has shea butter. It isn't a problem for since my skin is on the dry side. All in all definitely worth the $28 I spent on it.

I was so excited when I saw this come out at Sephora as I love Lavanilla products as they are so natural and smell amazing, where can you wrong. Lately I have definitely been loving organic suncreen/moisturizers in one for the a.m. I have normal but super clog prone skin so I do like my SPF Moisturizers to be light but still to give me moisture and hydrate (just withotu clogging pores). I have actually found many great spf's already like 100% Pure Pomegrante Hydration spf20 and my current HG Devita Solar SPF30. What I love about them is that they are great spf for a daily basis when I am not in sun much, are all natural, and are super creamy absorbing easily with no greasiness or clogging. FInding that in typical hardcore SPF's is definitely a task as most of you know. From all teh great reviews on Sephora I expected this Lavanilla SPF to be just as good as the ones I was using. Let jsut say I was definitely surprised when I applied it one morning as litrelaly felt like the Shiseido Face Cream 55 which I never would have gone near as mainly the CREAM version is super thick, white and chalky, and so hard to run in. On top of that your face is left feeling sticky and with that heavy suncreen feel you put up with when you are at the beach using a body spf on your face. The Lavanilla SPf 40 felt exactly like this. Like cheap heavy super white spf. I had to wash it off right after as my face jsut felt so heavy and sticky. I even tried misting some rose water another time as well thiking it would make it rub in better but no chance as the water only made it harden up more. So in conclusion I absoltuely love that this has amazing all natural ingredients/antioxidants but that is the ONLY pro for me as it's basically a natural dupe for Shiseido 55 Cream so if youa re someone who has dry skin/not clog/breakout prone at all and love the Shiseido this is for you. However for everyone else liek me or not who doesn't like wearing spf that feels like a mask/body spf on your face and actually absorbs into your skin like a moisturizer then stay away from this one as try either the Devita or 100% Pure. Maybe if they ever come out with LOTION version of this like Shiseido I might give it a try again but this one was definitely an unexpected huge fail for me!