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My skin is what you'd generously call Casper the Friendly Ghost pale—so fair that, under certain lighting, it almost looks translucent. My best friend is a redhead, and we’ve always joked that we were cut from the same (sunburn-prone) cloth. I have hints of auburn in my otherwise brunette hair, so the resemblance tracks. Naturally, I never step outside without sunscreen.
But here’s the twist: I’m allergic to chemical SPF.
For years, I slathered on whatever sunscreen was nearby, never bothering to check the ingredients—just assuming the stinging eyes and streaming tears that followed were a weird fluke or maybe just the price of protection. The burning would kick in after 30 minutes, like clockwork, and I'd be wiping it off in a panic. It wasn’t until a casual phone call with my best friend that everything clicked. “Wait,” she said, “have you tried mineral sunscreen? I have to use that, too.”
It was like a light bulb flicked on—ohhhh, that’s what had been happening all this time. As luck would have it, I had just received a tube of Herbivore Botanicals Star Seed Sheer Glow Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 in a PR package, so I figured there was no better time to give mineral sunscreen a shot.
And honestly? It changed everything. No burning, no tears—just a lightweight, glowy formula that actually made my skin look better.
Pros:
- Doesn't leave a white cast
- Sinks into skin immediately with no greasy residue
- Lasts for hours before needing reapplication
- Also works as a makeup base and moisturizer
- A dime-sized amount is enough for my entire face and neck
- Includes ingredients like zinc oxide, vitamins C and E, and glycerin
Cons:
- Pricey
- Peach tint may not work for all skin tones
Why I switched to mineral sunscreen
As someone with extremely sensitive skin, I’ve learned the hard way that less is more. I typically steer clear of harsh ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, salicylic acid, and most exfoliators. Honestly, my skin looks and feels its best when I keep my routine minimal—some days, I don’t even use a cleanser, just a splash of water in the shower.
Because of my sensitivity, I’ve had a complicated relationship with sunscreen. Many formulas—especially those with chemical UV filters—have made my skin break out or caused my eyes to burn and tear up within minutes. It took me a long time to realize that I might be reacting to chemical sunscreen ingredients specifically.
About Herbivore Botanicals Star Seed Sunscreen
This sunscreen is packed with ingredients that work to make skin look and feel, well, amazing. It's a mineral sunscreen—AKA a physical sunscreen—that contains zinc oxide to protect the skin against harmful UV rays. In fact, the zinc oxide creates a physical barrier on the skin's surface, which makes the UV rays reflect and scatter instead of penetrating into the skin.
Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare, previously told Well+Good that people with sensitive skin should opt for natural mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreen. "These ingredients are safer for you as they stay on the surface of the skin and are not absorbed into the body, as chemical sunscreen ingredients are. Chemical sunscreens can be irritating to skin with an impaired barrier, such as in those with sensitive skin," she said.
In case you're wondering how high the concentration of zinc oxide is in this SPF, it's an impressive 21.7 percent, and it provides both UVA and UVB protection. It has SPF 30, so you can feel secure knowing your skin is adequately protected while you're in the sun.
Having the zinc oxide in the formula is impressive enough, but this sunscreen contains so much more—it also works as a sunscreen, makeup base, and moisturizer. That's thanks to ingredients like vitamins C and E (brighten signs of previous sun damage), glycerin (draws moisture into the skin for extra hydration), prebiotics (boost skin barrier health), and Vitaglow-D (mimics the antioxidant benefits of vitamin D for more youthful-looking skin).
My honest review
Before discovering Star Seed, I was loyal to Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, mainly because of its unique, silk-like texture. But once I realized I was reacting to the chemical filters, I had to stop using it—cue the sad, burning eyes.
Since switching to Herbivore Botanicals Star Seed, I haven’t looked back. A dime-sized amount is enough for my face and neck, and another covers my chest and décolletage. The formula is unscented (a major plus for sensitive skin) and plays well with other products in my routine, like my serums from The Ordinary and Sunday Riley.
The SPF has a bit of a tint to it, but I haven't noticed any additional color once applied. That's especially impressive since, as I already mentioned, I'm extremely pale. And, even though it's formulated with zinc oxide, it doesn't create a white cast, either. My skin still looks and feels like my skin.
I'm happy to report that I have never experienced a single tear or burning eye sensation since I started using this SPF. I've also never broken out or experienced any redness or irritation. And the best part? I've never burned! I've worn this sunscreen throughout long days at Disneyland, on vacation through Ireland and Scotland, taking hikes in Los Angeles, and during beach and pool days, and my skin has stayed blissfully burn-free.
My slight critiques
As much as I love this Herbivore Botanicals sunscreen—and I really, truly do—I will admit it's not the cheapest. Its $38 price tag can be a bit hard to swallow, especially when there are drugstore sunscreens out there for less than $10. But since it's simultaneously protecting my skin and keeping me irritation-free, I think it's a (literal) small price to pay. Luckily, the tube lasts for a long time, since such a small amount is needed each day.
Final thoughts
The Herbivore Botanicals Star Seed Sheer Glow Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 has become one of my favorite products in my skincare routine. Despite its price point, it’s become a staple in my daily routine for a reason: it protects my skin without irritation, breakouts, or the dreaded white cast.
If you’ve struggled with chemical sunscreens in the past, this is one mineral SPF worth trying.
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