Sunscreen Reviewed Jul 4, 2026

Raw Elements USA

Lifeguard-founded, certified-natural zinc sunscreen with an all-organic, plastic-free ethos.

Our take

Why We Trust This Brand

Raw Elements earns a 9 for one of the cleanest formulas in the group: 23% non-nano zinc, no chemical filters, and an inactive list that is almost entirely certified-organic oils, butters and botanical extracts, backed by EWG Verified status. Independence is complete, it is a single-founder LLC with no investors. Caveats are minor: it contains beeswax (not vegan) and a light rosemary scent, and thick zinc formulas can leave a white cast.

What's inside

Ingredients & Safety

Active is 23% non-nano zinc oxide; no chemical UV filters. Inactives are notably natural: organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax, hemp seed oil, cocoa and mango butters, vitamin E, plus green tea, black tea and coffee extracts and a small amount of rosemary leaf oil (its only real scent source).

Certifications

EWG Verified Reef Safe (Protect Land + Sea) Certified Natural Non-GMO

No listed ingredient is currently on our watch or caution list. This finding applies only to the ingredient list shown below and may not cover every product, variant, market, or reformulation.

Ingredient List Reviewed

Safe Watch Caution
  • Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 23%
  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil
  • Beeswax also listed as Cera Alba
  • Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil
  • Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter
  • Mangifera Indica (Mango) Butter
  • Green Tea Leaf Extract
  • Rosemary Leaf Oil
  • Tocopherol also listed as Vitamin E

Formula scope: the disclosed ingredient list captured for this review. Formulas can differ by product, scent, country, and date; compare the current package with this list before deciding.

Who owns it

Ownership & Independence

Raw Elements USA, LLC is owned and run by founder/CEO Brian Guadagno, a 25+ year ocean-rescue lifeguard who created the brand in Rhode Island around 2010. Sources consistently identify him as sole owner/founder; we found no record of VC/PE investment or acquisition.

Where to buy

Key Products

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions never influence scores.

Check the exact formula, size, seller, and availability on Amazon. Search links show results that may include other brands. Links open in a new tab.