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GODDESS GARDEN ORGANICS
TEST SERIES BY FRANCES PENN
LONG-TERM REPORT
April 01, 2014
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE LONG-TERM REPORT
TESTER INFORMATION
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NAME:
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Frances Penn
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EMAIL:
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oldhikergirl AT yahoo DOT com
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AGE:
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57
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LOCATION:
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Santa Ana, California
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GENDER:
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F
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HEIGHT:
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5' 9" (1.75 m)
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WEIGHT:
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130 lb (59.00 kg)
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I have been backpacking for six years mostly on long weekends in Southern California with two or more 5-day trips per year in the Sierras. My total daypack weight, including food and water, is usually 15 lb (7 kg) and my total backpack weight, including food and water, is usually 26-30 lb (12-14 kg) depending on the need for a bear canister. I have recently converted to a tarp, bivy and quilt sleeping system instead of a tent. I have experienced all night rain, hail, heavy winds, camping in snow once, but mostly fair weather.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Goddess Garden Organics
Year of Manufacture: 2013
Manufacturer's Website: www.goddessgarden.com
MSRP: US $14.99
Measured Package Weight: 4.7 oz (133 g)
Product Contents: 3.4 oz (100 ml)
Product Tested: Sunny Body Natural Sunscreen
Package Type: Squeeze Tube with pop top
 | | courtesy website |
Goddess Garden Organics Sunny Body Natural Sunscreen is made from 92% organic ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Sunflower, Radish, Honeysuckle, Aspen, Lavender, Radish, Soybeans. The active ingredients are 6.0% Zinc Oxide and 6.4% Titanium Dioxide. The sunscreen is water resistant for up to 40 minutes and provides SPF 30 broad-spectrum UVA/UVB coverage.
The other ingredients listed are Cetyl Alcohol used as a moisturizer, Shea Butter Seed Oil used as a moisturizer, Gluconolactone used as a preservative, Glycerin used as a humectant, Glyceryl Stearate used as an emulsifier, Polyhydroxystearic Acid to keep the formula well-balanced, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) to keep the essential oils from going rancid, and Xanthan Gum used as a thickener and stabilizer.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS AND TRYING IT OUT
The sunscreen is packaged in a squeeze tube that fits easily in my hand. The pop top is easy to open and close with my thumb and forefinger, all while holding the tube in the same hand. The top has a small opening for squeezing out the sunscreen. The entire top can also be removed. The size of the tube is larger than I prefer to carry. As a light skinned hiker, sunscreen is a regular part of my routine. I am interested in any feature that makes the sunscreen easy to apply while on the trail.
 | | size comparison with 8 oz. water bottle |
After shaking the tube and squeezing a little into my hand, I found the sunscreen to be watery. When applying the sunscreen, I noticed the strong lavender scent that felt like a slight burning sensation on my face. As I was rubbing it into my face, it felt sticky and heavy. Once I finished rubbing it in, there was a white residue that dissipated along with the lavender scent in about ten minutes. I went for a short hike in a nearby area and did not get sunburned which is a good start.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
The back of the sunscreen tube indicates it should be applied liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure, reapplied after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating, reapplied immediately after towel drying, and reapplied at least every two hours.
I usually apply sunscreen in the morning. I wear a large brimmed hat, sunscreen gloves and long sleeve shirts, and usually don't reapply sunscreen again. I will be paying close attention in this test series to the need for reapplying this sunscreen.
I look forward to using this natural sunscreen on my upcoming adventures.
LONG-TERM REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
Trip #1:
Location: San Jacinto State Park, California USA
Elevation: 10,860 ft ( 3,310 M)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some rocky portions with small snow patches
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny with wind during the night
 | | Palm Springs tram to San Jacinto |
Trip #2:
Location: Baldy area, California USA
Elevation: 7,800 ft (2,400 M)
Trip Duration: 1 day hike
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some snow and ice portions
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny days with mild wind and a cool night
Trip #3:
Location: Big Bear area, California USA
Elevation: 7,000 ft (2,100 M)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some rocky portions
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny days and a cool night
Trip #4:
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California USA
Elevation: 3,200 ft ( 975 M)
Trip Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Conditions: sandy desert off trail with lots of desert cactus to avoid
Temperatures: 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C)
Weather: unseasonably warm and sunny with light winds during the day
Trip #5:
Location: San Jacinto State Park, California USA
Elevation: 10,860 ft (3,310 M)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some rocky portions with small snow patches
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny days with heavy wind during the night
Trip #6:
Location: Indian Cove area of Joshua Tree National Park, California USA
Elevation: 3,200 ft (975 M)
Trip Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Conditions: sandy desert off trail with lots of desert cactus to avoid
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny with light winds during the day and heavier winds at night
Trip #7:
Location: Big Bear area, California USA
Elevation: 7,000 ft (2,100 M)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some rocky portions
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny days and a cool night
Trip #8:
Location: Baldy area, California USA
Elevation: 7,800 ft (2,400 M)
Trip Duration: 1 day hike
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some snow and ice portions
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny days with mild wind and a cool night
Trip #9:
Location: Warren Point area of Joshua Tree National Park, California USA
Elevation: 5,200 ft (1,585 M)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: sandy desert off trail with lots of desert cactus to avoid
Temperatures: 30 to 45 F (-1 to 7 C)
Weather: mostly sunny with light winds during the day and heavier winds at night
Trip #10:
Location: Big Bear area, California USA
Elevation: 7,000 ft (2,100 M)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some snow and ice portions
Temperatures: 35 to 50 F (1 to 10 C)
Weather: mostly sunny days and a cool night
Trip #11:
Location: Indian Cove area of Joshua Tree National Park, California USA
Elevation: 3,200 ft (975 M)
Trip Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Conditions: sandy desert off trail with lots of desert cactus to avoid
Temperatures: 35 to 60 F (1 to 15 C)
Weather: mostly sunny with light winds during the day and heavier winds at night
Trip #12:
Location: Warren Point area of Joshua Tree National Park, California USA
Elevation: 5,200 ft (1,585 M)
Trip Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Conditions: sandy desert off trail with lots of desert cactus to avoid
Temperatures: 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C)
Weather: unseasonably warm and sunny with light winds during the day
Trip #13:
Location: Red Box to Switzer in the Angeles National Forest, California USA
Elevation: 4,600 ft (1,402 M)
Trip Duration: 1 day hike
Trail Conditions: dirt forest trail with some rocky portions
Temperatures: 50 to 65 F (10 to 18 C)
Weather: sunny
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The sunscreen is thick and leaves a white chalky residue on my face after application. The sunscreen continues to create a stinging sensation along with the strong lavender scent . These characteristics usually dissipate in about 10 minutes. After many uses on the above trips, the sunscreen became more thick and chalky. I am not sure if the temperature variations on my trips damaged the sunscreen.
The last time I used the suncreen on my face on the day hike to Switzer, the white residue did not dissipate for the entire day hike. Once it was applied to my face, it did not rub in. When I got home and tried to wash it off, I was not very successful after several washing attempts. It was as if the sunscreen had spoiled in the process of being carried around in the different temperatures encountered on my trips. The sunscreen still has its strong lavender scent and continues to sting upon application.
Since this sunscreen sits on top of my face and does not rub in, when I try to rub it in to get rid of the white chalky appearance, it feels like it is not rubbing in but just rubbing into small facial scrub particles. The last time I used the sunscreen, it left a white residue that lasted until the next day. It also left my skin damaged to the point where it took me most of the next week using special face skin products to get my skin back to its normal condition.
On a positive note, I did not get sunburned while using this sunscreen.
SUMMARY
While I like the idea of using organic sunscreen made from mostly natural ingredients, I was not impressed with the consistency and feel of this sunscreen. While it does protect my face from the sun, I don't feel it is worth dealing with the chalky consistency, the white residue, the stinging sensation and the strong lavender scent.
This test series is now concluded. Thank you to BackpackGearTest.org and Goddess Garden Organics for this testing opportunity.
This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.
Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
Read more reviews of Goddess Garden Organics gear
Read more gear reviews by Frances Penn
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