What Surfers Say About Real Sun Cover: Reviews From Our Customers
Real Sun Cover (RSC) is the zinc stick our customers keep asking for, and the reviews say why: it stays on in the water, people say they did not get burned, one stick lasts a long time and it smells good. We carry it at our shop at HSS in Honolulu, in Cocoa and Vanilla. This post is built from what people wrote: 76 reviews on our site, plus our YouTube channel. We read every one.
Of those 76, 73 made it into the counts below. We left out 3 that made health claims or named another brand. Counts come from reading and keyword matching reviews, so treat them as close, not lab-exact. 74 are 5-star, 1 is 4-star and 1 is 1-star. 42 have a customer video and 2 have a photo.
What is the best sunscreen for surfing that stays on in the water?
28 of the 73 reviews we read say Real Sun Cover stays on in the water, more than anything else they mention. Surfers describe long sessions without it washing off or running.
Staying on is the first thing people bring up, and they say it in plain words: "doesn't wash off," "doesn't run," "stays on." The product page lists it as 80 minutes water resistant and says to reapply after long sessions, wipeouts or towel drying, so we tell people the same thing at the shop.
“It easily holds up and stays on your face for a solid 2-hour session in the water.”
— Jeremy, 5 stars, 2026-07-17
“It stays on really well in the water during long surf sessions, and I don't get burned.”
— Sammy, 5 stars, 2024-10-11
“It stays on great throughout my whole session without melting off, even when I combine it with my hooded rashguard.”
— Mike, 5 stars, 2023-12-06
“Stays on in the water for a long time.”
— Zach B., 5 stars, 2023-09-09
“It doesn't wash off, it smells good, and it doesn't look super white or anything on my face”
— Reece, 5 stars, 2023-06-16
Several surfers also say it takes some effort to get off afterward, which they count as a plus. Kiyara says "when I come out of the water, I actually have to use makeup remover to take it off," and Sammy says "It is hard to take off, but that's good because it means it stays on in the water."
Is there a face sunscreen that doesn't burn, even for fair skin?
21 reviewers say they did not get burned while wearing Real Sun Cover, including 5 who describe fair, pale or sensitive skin. This is what customers tell us, not a promise, and everyone's skin is different.
"No sunburn" shows up again and again, from daily surfers, paddlers and a recruit class out in the hot sun. A few of the quotes are from people who say they burn easily.
“I have fair skin that sunburns easily and I struggle to find a sunscreen that provides real protection, until this product.”
— Kristin C., 5 stars, 2024-12-10
“Noon to 2:30pm on a sunny day doing 5 miles on the OC-1 and not a lick of burn.”
— Kristin C., 5 stars, 2024-12-10
“i am an old pale dude without a sunburn because of you guys.”
— Charles G., 5 stars, 2026-04-16
“I'm out there for three to four hours in direct sunlight and I've never, ever been burned.”
— Brent, 5 stars, 2025-09-07
“No sunburn at all like with the other ones.”
— Joey, 5 stars, 2026-09-12
Kristin C. adds a tip about technique: "You have to be okay with a good layer—don't rub it in too much, just spread it around."
What sunscreen stays out of your eyes and doesn't sting?
9 reviewers say Real Sun Cover stays out of their eyes or doesn't sting them. For people who surf, work on boats or wear contacts, that comes up a lot.
Eye sting is a big reason people switch sticks. Here is how customers put it.
“it never gets in my eyes”
— Reece, 5 stars, 2023-06-16
“other sunscreens tend to burn the eyes, but this feels like you have nothing on; it's not irritating.”
— Review, 5 stars, 2026-04-07
“It also doesn’t burn if it gets into your eyes like with other, inferior sunscreen products.”
— Dane M., 5 stars, 2024-12-31
“it doesn't smear or get into my eyes”
— Kiyara, 5 stars, 2026-05-14
“I also haven't had any issues with it running into my eyes.”
— Dan, 5 stars, 2026-05-03
Will it break out my face? What do people with sensitive skin say?
6 reviewers say they did not break out with Real Sun Cover, and some mention sensitive skin. Take it as customer experience; if your skin is touchy, patch test a small spot first.
Nobody here is making a skin-care promise, but people who worried about clogged pores or breakouts had good things to say.
“Works great on sensitive skin, no burning, no breakouts, smells like chocolate.”
— Joy E., 5 stars, 2024-04-21
“it doesn’t clog my pores and I don’t break out with it”
— Bill, 5 stars, 2025-08-04
“I don’t break out or anything with it”
— Zoey, 5 stars, 2023-06-16
“doesn't make my skin breakout like some other brands do”
— Yoshi A., 5 stars, 2024-09-12
Is it greasy, or does it feel like nothing is on your skin?
10 reviewers say it isn't greasy, oily or sticky. Some people say it feels like nothing is on, though a few call it thick.
Texture is where people compare it to other sticks and lotions. The thick feel is part of why it holds on in the water.
“I've tried other brands, but they feel weird and greasy. This stuff coats well, is easy to put on, and sheds water.”
— Brent, 5 stars, 2025-09-07
“It’s not greasy at all, which is a big aspect of it because it doesn't come off easy in the water”
— Jake, 5 stars, 2023-06-16
“feels nice not sticky like some other sunscreens”
— Lawrence, 5 stars, 2024-04-20
“It doesn't feel oily and it feels really protected.”
— Jen, 5 stars, 2023-04-18
“because it's really thick”
— Lyra, 5 stars, 2025-01-13
Does the beeswax keep your skin soft?
A couple of customers say their skin feels soft or nice after using it, and others mention the beeswax smell. Only 2 of the 73 reviews we read talk about softness, so this is a small group, not a trend.
Ingredients, per David, our owner: Cocoa: 25% zinc oxide, coconut oil, beeswax and cocoa powder. Vanilla: 25% zinc oxide, coconut oil, beeswax and vanilla extract. Everything is organic except the zinc oxide. We are not going to tell you what the beeswax does for your skin. Here is what customers wrote.
“it leaves my face feeling soft afterwards”
— Krystyn L., 5 stars, 2023-11-16
“everytime I put it on I actually get a little of the beeswax smell which is amazing”
— Rsc R., 5 stars, 2023-05-15
“I got this beeswax sunscreen I had it for over a year”
— Kwinn G., 5 stars, 2024-01-15
What does Real Sun Cover smell like: cocoa, chocolate or vanilla?
24 reviewers mention the smell, and most say they like it. Cocoa users describe chocolate and coconut; Vanilla users say vanilla. One reviewer did not like the chocolate smell, so it is not for everybody.
Smell might be the most fun part of these reviews. Some say it makes them hungry when they paddle out.
“it smells like straight coconuts and cocoa butter”
— Cae, 5 stars, 2025-12-21
“it smells great and actually tastes like cocoa too, which is a plus”
— Joey, 5 stars, 2025-12-16
“when you paddle out, you can smell the cocoa and you get hungry!”
— Lyra, 5 stars, 2025-01-13
“it smells good, like vanilla”
— Zoey, 5 stars, 2023-06-16
“Smells good, I want to eat my face haha.”
— Jen, 5 stars, 2023-04-18
“The product smells too much of chocolate.”
— George F., 1 stars, 2024-09-26
Paul K. (4 stars) wrote "no harsh smell or greasy feeling," and Todd N. wrote "doesn’t smell," so reviewers do not all describe it the same way.
Is it easy to put on your face?
19 reviewers call it easy to apply, and 19 mention using it on their face, including cheeks, lips and eyebrows. A few say it takes a minute to spread because it's thick.
It is a stick, so you can go right to the spots you want. Customers use it on cheeks, noses, lips and even eyebrows.
“Easy to apply and once on, it stays on.”
— Dane M., 5 stars, 2024-12-31
“It's pretty simple to use and smells good, too.”
— Joey, 5 stars, 2026-09-12
“I put it on my eyebrows and my cheeks”
— Kiyara, 5 stars, 2026-05-14
“I even put a little on my lips after showering because it make them feel good.”
— Todd N., 5 stars, 2024-06-11
“I found it a bit hard to apply, so I put some on my fingers and patted it on”
— Lisa, 5 stars, 2016-03-14
Steven L. says it is "always easy to apply, even for my 1 year old."
Cocoa or Vanilla: does it leave a white cast?
Cocoa has a light tint and Vanilla is lighter on the skin. Reviewers talk about blending and white cast in both. 13 reviews mention cocoa, chocolate, brown or tint.
Of the 76 reviews on our site, 43 are tagged to the Cocoa page and 7 to Vanilla. The rest are older reviews with no product tag. Cocoa is tinted with cocoa powder.
“it blends in like a nice foundation”
— Matt, 5 stars, 2025-12-08
“It leaves a white cast but who cares, it gets the job done”
— Krystyn L., 5 stars, 2023-11-16
“it doesn't show too much white cast on my dark skin”
— Jen, 5 stars, 2023-04-18
“it's good to have both because sometimes one's better for someone than the other”
— Lauren, 5 stars, 2025-06-14
How long does one stick last?
21 reviewers say one stick lasts a long time, from a few months to a year or more. Many of them are repeat buyers.
12 reviewers say they are buying again or restocking.
“Lasts forever! I think I buy a stick twice a year.”
— Roxanne Y., 5 stars, 2024-09-25
“it just lasts much longer than anything else that I've used”
— Michelle, 5 stars, 2025-10-11
“I still have nearly half the container left”
— Cae, 5 stars, 2025-12-21
“one stick lasts me more than three months”
— Matt, 5 stars, 2025-12-08
“one of these nice big sticks lasts me about a year”
— Joey, 5 stars, 2025-12-16
“I keep it in my truck, and it doesn't melt or degrade.”
— Kevin, 5 stars, 2025-01-21
Does it come off easily after a surf?
About 10 reviewers talk about taking it off, and the answers are mixed: soap and water for some, makeup remover for others. Plan on a real wash after a long day.
Because it stays on so well, it takes some washing. That is how customers tell it.
“I just take a shower with soap and water and it comes right off.”
— Joey, 5 stars, 2026-09-12
“it washes right off without any hassle”
— Jeremy, 5 stars, 2026-07-17
“comes off easy with soap”
— Dane M., 5 stars, 2024-12-31
“I have to use a makeup wipe to actually get it off”
— Roxanne, 5 stars, 2021-04-07
What do the YouTube videos say?
On our YouTube channel we found 67 Real Sun Cover videos we can cite, and 38 of them are customer reviews, shorts or full videos. We have only read the titles, so we are not going to tell you what is in them, but the titles alone tell a story: "lasts forever," "burn the eyes... feels like you have nothing on," "It just lasts much longer than anything else that I've used."
Watch them on our YouTube channel.
What is in it, and where can you get it?
Cocoa: 25% zinc oxide, coconut oil, beeswax and cocoa powder. Vanilla: 25% zinc oxide, coconut oil, beeswax and vanilla extract. Everything is organic except the zinc oxide. The product page says Real Sun Cover blocks 97% of UVA and UVB and is 80 minutes water resistant.
Pick one up at our shop or online: Real Sun Cover Cocoa or Real Sun Cover Vanilla. Real Sun Cover has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Quick FAQ
What do reviewers say about Real Sun Cover?
Across 76 customer reviews on our site, the most common comments are that it stays on in the water, that people did not get burned, that it lasts a long time and that it smells good.
What is in Real Sun Cover?
Cocoa: 25% zinc oxide, coconut oil, beeswax and cocoa powder. Vanilla: 25% zinc oxide, coconut oil, beeswax and vanilla extract. Everything is organic except the zinc oxide.
How long does it stay on in the water?
The product page says 80 minutes water resistant and to reapply after long sessions, wipeouts or towel drying. Reviewers describe sessions of two hours or more.
Which should I pick, Cocoa or Vanilla?
Cocoa has a light tint and a cocoa scent. Vanilla is lighter on the skin. Both are zinc sticks, and we carry both at our shop.
Is there a guarantee?
Real Sun Cover has a 30-day money-back guarantee.