Our take
Why We Trust This Brand
Independence is solid: a founder-run, plastic-free brand with no outside capital found. On ingredients it offers the highest non-nano zinc of our set (24.5%) with no chemical filters and a USDA Biobased certification. We hold the ingredient score at 8 rather than higher because it is scented with natural essential oils (cinnamon-leaf and manuka), which are meaningful allergens for some users. Its exact HQ city could not be pinned down beyond Southern California.
What's inside
Ingredients & Safety
Surfer's Barrier Stick SPF 30: zinc oxide 24.5%, non-nano and non-coated, with no chemical filters (the SPF 50 stick adds about 6% non-nano titanium dioxide). Scented with natural manuka oil, cinnamon-leaf oil and vanilla, so not fragrance-free. USDA Certified 100% Biobased.
Certifications
We read every line on this label. Nothing here is on our watch or caution list — no synthetic fragrance, no flagged chemicals.
Full Ingredient List
- Non-Nano Non-Coated Zinc Oxide 24.5%
- Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
- Cera Alba (Beeswax)
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
- Leptospermum Scoparium (Manuka) Oil
- Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Leaf Oil
- Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
- Tocopherol also listed as Vitamin E
Prefer a spotless pick? Stream2Sea in Sunscreen & Sun Care is Clean Verified — every ingredient clean, with no recalls or lawsuits on record.
Who owns it
Ownership & Independence
Avasol was founded around 2010 by Chris Wilkinson, a Southern California surfer/waterman, and remains an independent, founder-owned company; no funding, private-equity, or acquisition activity was found. The exact headquarters city is unconfirmed beyond Southern California.
Where to buy
Key Products
- Surfer's Barrier Stick SPF 30 View on Amazon →
- Surfer's Barrier Stick SPF 50 View on Amazon →
- Environmental Defense Tinted Cream View on Amazon →
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