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Best sunscreens & moisturizers for your kids & you

You can spend a small fortune on sunscreens (or gym memberships!), but none of it matters unless you use it. In a study conducted last year of 1,000 adults, Consumer Reports found that the 250 surveyed adults with children under the age of 12 “were no more likely than adults without young children to use sunscreen protection on themselves”, though they were more diligent about putting it on their kids.  Sound familiar?

I obsessively slather my kids with sunscreen when we’re at the beach, where much of our summers are spent, but I have to admit that I am much less careful with second and third applications for myself. I am also less diligent with my sunscreen efforts when we’re just leading our lives – running errands, playing on the swings, walking home from school.

We all probably know the basics for safety in the sun, but a quick reminder never hurt. The Skin Cancer Foundation lists these guidelines:

  • Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
  • Do not burn.
  • Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
  • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
  • Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
  • Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
  • Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
  • Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
  • See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

Sunscreens for kids are widely available and there are just as many “informed” lists of best products out there. Consumer Reports, Skin Cancer Foundation, Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetics Database all have lists. Not surprisingly, they all have different “winners,” criteria and price points.

Similarly, we all have different things that are important to us in a kids’ sunscreen: I want waterproof protection that is widely available, isn’t too thick and is priced so I won’t be sad when I forget it at the playground.

Here is my list of the best ones out there for low hazard ratings and quality: (EWG score key: 0-2 recommended and 3-6 is caution)

$19.99
California Baby SPF 30 + Sunscreen Lotion – Super Sensitive, 2.9 ozYes, this is a great product with very devoted followers. Rubs in well and feels good on the skin. I can’t, however, get my head around spending $20 for a 3 oz bottle:  assuming I can get both kids covered using the 1 ounce (a shot glass!) recommended for adults, that’s still just six applications, barely a weekend at the beach.
EWG score: 2

$16.00
Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen For Face & Body 2.9 oz (82 g)This great sunscreen is $4 less than California Baby mentioned above. This sunscreen retains SPF after 40 minutes activity in the water or perspiring.  I like that it offers a lot of protection in the park sprinklers, so I don’t worry about reapplying like I do with others.  Some people don’t like its smell, but it has always seemed fairly mild to me. It does take a while to rub it in, or else you look a little blue from its blue tint. Lots of people are Badger loyal- particularly of their lip balms.
EWG score: 1

$16.00
Soleo Organics Sunscreen, 2.6-Ounce BoxesI like this sunscreen and its does a nice job of protecting all of us. I prefer this over Badger but equal to California Baby. It is absorbed more easily than Badger but it’s a little bit more expensive. However, lots of people are Badger loyal- particularly of their lip balms.
EWG score: 1

$19.56
Devita Daily Solar Protection Moisturizer 30, 2 oz.This daily moisturizer is for you, not your kids. Put in on before you makeup. I promise you that you are going to love how light it feels. It does irritate my super sensitive eyes sometimes. At 2 oz it isn’t cheap, but I think it’s worth it.
EWG score: 2

$8.99
Nature’s Gate Kid’s Block Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance-Free, SPF 30, 4-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 3)Not waterproof, but fragrance free and easy to rub in. I like how light it feels.

$9.10
TruKid 30082 Sunny Days Stick – Pack of 12Often, a stick sun block can be a good quickie as the kids head out to play. I use it for face, neck and ears. This sun block is a nice stick, but not as creamy as California Baby, (but $3 less expensive), so it can be a bit rougher to roll on. It’s been unavailable for some time, but still think it’s worth a mention. (You can buy a large pack of them though if you want to invest in that.)
EWG score: 2

$12.15
California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock StickThis creamy stick is great. I highly recommend it. It’s water-resistant and hypoallergenic.
EWG score: 1 or 2 (depending of if you get no fragrance which is a 1 or regular which is a 2).

In the spirit of sun protection, we also swear by these:

$39.00
Long-sleeved, zip shirt
www.nozone.ca
I am in love with this particular shirt (articulated elbows, very durable, good color on my blond kids), but clothing with SPF is common and widely available. We wear the shirts in addition to sunscreen and hats.