The Best Sunscreens For Kids This Summer

We independently select all products and services. If you click through links we provide, we may earn a commission. Learn more Forbes Vetted The Best Sunscreens For Kids This Summer Megan Dix Contributor Forbes Vetted Contributor Group Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Following May 26, 2023, 04:15pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Whether it’s sunny or cloudy, finding the best sunscreens for kids is essential to protecting your child’s sensitive skin from sun damage. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , 25% of lifetime sun exposure happens during childhood and adolescence. We know it’s great for children to get outdoors and be active, so it’s important to find the best sunscreen for kids to let them continue to enjoy all those great summertime and warm weather activities.

Over time, sun damage can lead to premature aging, skin discoloration and increased risk of skin cancer . Protecting your child’s skin early on can benefit them throughout their lifetime. Look for mineral-based formulas that are water-resistant with an SPF of 30 or higher when searching .

. . [+] for the best sunscreens for kids.

Illustration: Forbes Vetted / Photos: Retailers Dr. Shoshana Marmon, an assistant professor of dermatology at New York Medical College , consultant for Tono Health and mother of two, recommends looking for several things when choosing a sunscreen for kids, but especially: Broad-spectrum protection SPF of 30 or higher Mineral-based sunscreens “Broad-spectrum protection ensures that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper and are associated with skin aging while UVB rays are more closely related to sunburns,” says Marmon.

“Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. This will block out about 97% of the sun’s harmful rays. ” In general, she says the best sunscreens for kids are “a mineral-based, broad-spectrum, water-resistant formula with an SPF of at least 30 and avoid chemical sunscreens and aerosols.

” Here are the best sunscreens for kids. You might also consider protective swimsuits for kids and baby beach tents to keep them sunburn-free this summer. Best Sunscreen For Kids Overall: Eucerin Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Best Sunscreen For Babies: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Best Sunscreen For Kids And Water Play: Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Best Sensitive Sunscreen For Kids: California Baby Super Sensitive SPF 30 Best Face Sunscreen For Kids: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Best Value Kids Sunscreen: Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Kids Best Natural Sunscreen For Kids: Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Best Organic Sunscreen For Kids: Badger Kids Mineral Sunscreen Cream Best Sunscreen Stick For Kids: Supergoop! Play SPF 50 Mineral Stick Best Fragrance-Free Sunscreen For Kids: Pipette SPF50 Mineral Sunscreen Best Sunscreen For Kids Overall Easy-To-Apply Mineral Sunscreen With An SPF 50 Amazon Eucerin Sensitive Mineral Zinc Oxide Protection SPF 50 Buy From Amazon Eucerin is well known for its gentle, eczema-friendly skincare products, and this zinc oxide sunscreen is well tolerated by children of all skin types.

It’s water-resistant and easy to spread. It also rubs in much more effectively than many zinc oxide products (one of the biggest complaints about mineral sunscreens is that they leave a distinct white cast on the skin, which isn’t every parent’s favorite look in those cute poolside pics). The Eucerin sunscreen comes highly recommended from Dr.

Joshua Zeichner, MD , associate professor of dermatology and director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. It’s also affordable and free of all the junk: fragrance, oil, dyes, parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone and octinoxate. Best Sunscreen For Babies Unscented, Water-Resistant And Easy To Apply Amazon La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Buy From Amazon The Forbes Vetted team named this pick the best sunscreen for babies after extensive recent testing.

It’s a mineral sunscreen that goes on the smoothest of any others we tested. The writer said it wasn’t greasy at all and in fact, “felt like one of my favorite face lotions—moisturizing, gentle and soft. ” It comes with an SPF of 50 and water resistance, and it’s also truly fragrance-free, making it ideal for sensitive baby skin.

Best Kids Sunscreen For Water Play Inexpensive All-Day Protection Amazon Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 Buy From Amazon $11 A budget-friendly choice from a well-known skincare brand, Cetaphil’s Sheer Mineral Sunscreen lotion is another SPF 50 zinc oxide sunscreen that works great for kids. It rubs in without leaving a residue and includes Vitamin E to help keep skin hydrated. This formula is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so if applied properly can help provide protection at the pool or the beach.

Water-resistant doesn’t mean waterproof, so be sure to reapply this sunscreen as you do with others. It’s also labeled as reef safe and fragrance free and paraben free. Best Sensitive Sunscreen For Kids An Extra Gentle Mineral Sunscreen Suitable For Babies Too Amazon California Baby Super Sensitive SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion This extra-gentle zinc oxide sunscreen from California Baby is a great choice for babies 6 months and up.

The formula is vegan, free of allergens (including food ingredients), free from chemicals and fragrance-free. Its ingredients are also highly rated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for safety. It’s water resistant for 80 minutes and safe for the coral reef.

Many parents reported excellent coverage and no skin irritation when using this sunscreen for their babies. It’s one of the few sunscreens that guarantees no cross-contamination with a number of common food allergens, too, including tree nuts (except coconut), peanuts, sesame, dairy, gluten and soy. While on the pricier side, this baby sunscreen is a great choice for the littlest littles.

Best Face Sunscreen For Kids Sensitive-Skin Friendly Mineral Sunscreen That Really Works Editor’s Pick Amazon Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide SPF 50+ If anyone knows how to handle the sun, it’s Australian-based skincare company Blue Lizard. This clear mineral sunscreen is a fan-favorite for those with sensitive skin, eczema or allergy-prone skin and comes highly recommended by the Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear editor, Rose Sala. “This has been my go-to sunscreen for the kids for years, and therefore my fair, freckled skin, too,” she says.

“It really works. We’d spend all day at the pool or beach, and they truly never burned, though I do reapply and deck them out in hats and long-sleeve rashguards when I can. It also goes on smoothly for a mineral sunscreen, especially when compared with some of the thicker kids’ formulas that tend to leave a heavy white cast.

” Blue Lizard is fairly affordable, too, reef-friendly, water-resistant and unscented. This formula uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect skin from UVA and UVB rays. Best Value Kids Sunscreen Checks All The Key Boxes For A Lot Less Money Amazon Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Oxide Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion A solid choice for easy-to-apply, non-greasy, broad-spectrum, SPF 50 mineral sunscreen, this lotion from Neutrogena covers all the bases at a great price.

One complaint about mineral sunscreens (especially the ones that actually rub in well) is that they are pricey. If you’re applying as directed all summer long, you’ll be going through a lot of sunscreen! You might also want a tube in the car, in the pool bag, at camp or daycare and so on. This Neutrogena Kids lotion is a bit thicker and more prone to leaving a white cast than some of our other options, according to reviewers, but it’s also formulated without fragrances, dyes and parabens and is water resistant, too.

Best Natural Sunscreen For Kids Mineral And Plant-Based Ingredients In An SPF sunscreen Sustainable Amazon Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 A recommendation from Dr. Marmon, this SPF 50 mineral sunscreen from Babo Botanicals gets great reviews from parents and physicians alike. It is a gentle, fragrance-free, water-resistant zinc oxide lotion that rubs in well without leaving a white cast.

The plant-based ingredients such as calendula, shea butter and cocoa butter give this lotion a really nice texture, but may not be for all. It is specially formulated without certain common allergens, including: gluten, soy, dairy, peanuts, almonds and walnuts. The company is a B Corp , meaning it abides by high standards for social and environmental impact, too.

They also abide by cruelty-free standards and are reef safe. This sunscreen enjoys one of the highest ratings on EWG for safety and transparency. Best Organic Sunscreen For Kids Organic Ingredients, Reef-Safe And An Easy Apply Woman-Owned Amazon Badger Kids Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 40 Buy From Amazon This organic mineral sunscreen from Badger is water-resistant, reef friendly and made by another B-Corp, cruelty-free New Hampshire-based company.

It ranks highly on the EWG guide to sunscreens and also comes highly recommended by Sala. She found this formula gentle and effective for her eczema-prone kiddo’s skin. “While Blue Lizard remains our go-to, this Badger sunscreen, despite the addition of a light scent, has proved less irritating to my youngest’s skin,” explains Sala.

“We have tried at least half a dozen brands on her skin (she also has severe food allergies, so that rules out some options), and the Badger sunscreens go on easily and protect her best without any post-sun rashes, skin irritation or eczema flare-ups. ” The clear zinc rubs in without leaving a white residue, and a lot of parents enjoy the non-synthetic-fragrance tangerine and vanilla scent. Best Sunscreen Stick For Kids Quick And Convenient Mineral Sunscreen To Pack In Your Bag Amazon Supergoop! 100% Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 If you are looking for the quick convenience of a sunscreen stick, the Supergoop sunscreens come highly recommended by a number of our Forbes Vetted editors as well as thousands of parents online.

This stick applies more smoothly than many competitors (which tend to be dry and hard to apply in stick form), and is the perfect size to toss in a purse or backpack. While sunscreen sticks do not provide as much coverage as a lotion, any amount of sun protection is better than nothing, so this is a perfect option for swiping on some quick SPF on the go. During testing, the team really liked the Hello Bello sunscreen stick for babies, too.

Best Fragrance-Free Sunscreen For Kids Clean Ingredient Mineral Sunscreen Without Fragrance Amazon Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Buy From Amazon $13 With clean ingredients and no added fragrance, it’s easy to feel good about this zinc oxide sunscreen from Pipette. It provides SPF 50 and uses non-nano zinc oxide, which placed it on Dr. Marmon’s recommended products list.

Some parents felt it had a slightly unpleasant smell since it doesn’t contain any masking fragrance, but most loved the coverage and the safety profile for this sunscreen for their kids. Keep in mind that it is not water-resistant, so that may be a drawback for some. MORE FROM FORBES VETTED The Best Washer And Dryer Sales: Samsung, GE, LG And More By Jordan Thomas Forbes Staff The Best Firm Mattresses That Are Supportive And Comfortable By Ashley Abramson Contributor How We Chose The Best Sunscreens For Kids I am a registered nurse with a background in pediatric oncology and clinical research, as well as a mother of three young children.

I have been writing parenthood and product review content for six years, and take my research seriously when it comes to products you may use for your child. I also interviewed board-certified dermatologists for their expert opinions, interviewed parents here on the Forbes Vetted staff and scoured online reviews to bring you the best of the best in kids sunscreen. I also consulted the EWG guide to safe sunscreens for a closer look at ingredient profiles.

At What Age Can Babies Wear Sunscreen? The FDA does not recommend using sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months old. “During the first 6 months of life the skin is extra sensitive,” says Dr. Zeichner .

“Current guidelines recommend physical protection from the sun with protective clothing and sitting in the shade and not applying sunscreen to the skin. ” Like Dr. Marmon, he also prefers mineral sunscreens for babies and young children.

“After 6 months into childhood, mineral sunscreens are preferred. They tend to be less irritating to the skin in general,” he says. “As kids get older, it is OK to use chemical sunscreens.

There is no clear consensus on what age you can start using chemical sunscreens, but in my own kids, I started using them when they were old enough to choose which sunscreen they preferred to apply to their own skin. ” Megan Dix Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.