It's quite difficult to get mineral sunscreens in Australia, and most that are available are based on titanium dioxide rather than zinc oxide. Dr Lewinn's hand and body sunscreen is zinc oxide based. I am reviewing this based on using it as a facial sunscreen because Dr Lewinn's facial sunscreen contains chemicals as well as zinc.
About me - early 40's with slightly oily skin, largeish pores, and I perspire in hot weather. UV Natural and Soleo sunscreens give me blackheads within three days as they both contain beeswax.
After a week of using the Dr Lewinns, I have no blackheads, but one very small pimple (fairly normal for me so probably not due to the sunscreen). It's a thick white cream which becomes completely transparent when rubbed into the skin. It feels greasy for about 5 minutes, after which it dries to a slightly tacky finish. It never completely absorbs into the skin. Definitely too much for oily skin, but very moisturising for dry skin.
I found it to be easier to spread, more transparent, and more moisturising than the Megan Gale transparent zinc. It certainly prevents burning and makeup goes on over it quite easily. As with all physical sunscreens I needed a light dusting of powder to tone down the shine, and a blot midday, but at the height of summer I need this even with the lightest of chemical sunscreens. It's also considerably lighter and less mask like than the Avene sunscreen.
At approx. $40AU for a 100gm tube, it's not cheap, but not dreadfully expensive either. If you're looking for zinc oxide only sunscreens in Australia your choices are basically:
UV Natural - around $25AU for a 100 gm tube - great for people with fine, dry skin, but as I mentioned before it gives me blackheads.
Soleo - around the same price for a 100 gm tube, but same notes as for UV Natural.
Megan Gale transparent zinc - around $33 for a 150 gm tube, but extremely difficult to spread and not very transparent at all.
Megan Gale tinted sunblock for the face - around $27 for a 50 gm tube, too dark a tint for fair skinned girls and just as hard to spread as the transparent zinc.
Avene - comes in a compact like a foundation, very difficult to spread and certainly not very transparent. I can't remember the price or size of the product.
As you can see the Dr Lewinn is the most expensive, but a justifiable cost if you're using it for the face and neck only, as it replaces moisturser as well.
It's too soon to say whether I will repurchase, I will have to see how it goes during really hot summer weather. All in all though, it is the best of the zinc oxide only physical sun protection products easily available in Australian chemists or department stores.
Update - The Megan Gale sunscreen has been reformulated and is now easier to spread. It now also comes in a light and dark tinted version. Still, I really like the Dr Lewinn better. Firstly it has a slightly higher zinc oxide content (20% as opposed to 18% for the Megan Gale), they are willing to list all ingredients used in the product, whereas the Megan Gale only lists the active ingredients. I have now been able to find the Dr Lewinn for $30 for 100mls which makes it nearly as cheap as the Megan Gale at $20 for 75mls, so I will continue to repurchase the Dr Lewinn.