What Is Raw Love's SPF 35 Reef-Safe Sunscreen Sold at Whole Foods?

A travel-size mineral sunscreen from the brand Raw Love is listed for sale at Whole Foods Market with a specific set of label claims: SPF 35, non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient, a 2-ounce tin, 40 minutes of water resistance, and compliance with Hawaii's Act 104, according to the product listing. Here is what each of those terms means and what is — and is not — confirmed by the listing itself.

What does 'non-nano zinc oxide' mean on the label?

Zinc oxide is a mineral active ingredient used in sunscreens to physically block ultraviolet light rather than absorb it chemically. The word "non-nano" refers to particle size: non-nano zinc oxide particles are manufactured larger than the nanoscale range, a distinction sunscreen brands commonly cite when marketing products as less likely to be absorbed into skin or marine life, according to the product listing. The listing does not specify a particle-size figure or a third-party lab test confirming the non-nano claim.

How does SPF 35 compare to what's on the tin?

The listing states the product carries an SPF of 35, packaged in a 2-ounce tin, with a stated water-resistance window of 40 minutes, according to the Whole Foods Market product listing. Those are the three numeric claims tied to this specific item:

• SPF: 35
• Container size: 2 ounces (a size the listing describes as TSA carry-on compliant)
• Water resistance: 40 minutes

No other performance figures — such as broad-spectrum test results, reapplication intervals beyond the water-resistance window, or percentage of zinc oxide by weight — appear in the listing reviewed for this article.

What is Hawaii's Act 104, and why does the label cite it?

The listing describes the sunscreen as "Hawaii Act 104 Compliant," a label claim tied to a state law restricting the sale of certain chemical sunscreen ingredients. The listing itself does not detail which ingredients the law restricts or the law's effective date; it states only that this specific formula meets that compliance standard. Shoppers who want the statute's exact ingredient list should consult Hawaii's state government site directly rather than relying on a single product's marketing claim.

Why is the product marketed as plastic-free and TSA-sized?

The listing packages two separate claims together: a plastic-free tin and a 2-ounce size pitched as compliant with TSA carry-on liquid limits. Both claims describe the physical container rather than the sunscreen formula's sun-protection performance. The listing does not specify the tin's material beyond "plastic-free," nor does it cite a TSA rule number.

Where is the product sold, and what should buyers check before buying?

The product is listed for sale through Whole Foods Market, according to the sourced listing. The listing is the single point of reference for this article; no independent lab test, dermatology review, or regulatory filing was reviewed in preparing this piece.

What to watch

• Whether the brand publishes independent broad-spectrum or water-resistance test data beyond the 40-minute figure on the tin.
• Whether retailers list a specific zinc oxide concentration, since the listing does not state one.
• How reef-safe formulation standards continue to shift as alternative UV-blocking materials are researched, including pollen-based approaches covered separately by Beach Babe Bloom.
• Whether Whole Foods Market's listing page is updated with ingredient percentages or certification marks after initial publication.

Sunscreen glossary

• Non-nano zinc oxide: Zinc oxide particles manufactured above the nanoscale, a size distinction brands use in reef-safe marketing.
• Reef-safe: A marketing term, not a federally regulated label, generally applied to sunscreens that avoid certain chemical UV filters.
• Hawaii Act 104: A state-level restriction on the sale of specified chemical sunscreen ingredients, cited on this product's label as a compliance standard.
• Water-resistant (40 minutes): A manufacturer's stated duration of SPF protection during water exposure or sweating, as printed on this product's packaging.

Beachgoers managing sun exposure alongside other salt-and-sun routines, such as post-swim hair care, can find related guidance in Beach Babe Bloom's saltwater hair explainer.

Artiglio is A coming-soon iPhone chief of staff for briefings and drafts. Not on the App Store yet.