Finding the best sunscreen for kids and babies can be tricky, as every child may have different reactions to certain ingredients, consistencies or application methods. Our skincare experts have already established optimal sunscreens for sensitive skin as well as products made with entirely natural formulas. But you may be wondering if these same picks are engineered with children in mind, especially if you’ve been worried about recent headlines around sunscreen safety.
Officials within the Food and Drug Administration recently made some updates to guidelines for sunscreen manufacturers with top safety issues front and center. Because there is still room for future regulation and further restriction on active ingredients that may enter the bloodstream, “we recommend that parents use sunscreens with mineral actives such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on their kids,” explains Birnur Aral, Ph.D., executive director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab.
- SPF 50
- Mineral zinc oxide lotion
- Water Resistance: 80 minutes
Neutrogena is a household name for sun protection for a reason: This formula is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and it comes recommended by pediatricians, dermatologists, and the National Eczema Association. “I have very sensitive skin and Neutrogena is one of the only brands I don’t have a reaction to, so I use the baby version for my kids,” says Lexie Sachs, executive director of the Textiles Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Neutrogena even has a zinc oxide sunscreen for adults that performed well in our face-specific sunscreen test.
- SPF 50
- Mineral zinc oxide lotion
- Water Resistance: 80 minutes
This hypoallergenic sunscreen from Coppertone is the brand’s most gentle option. It’s formulated with soothing ingredients and zinc oxide and made without fragrance, so it won’t irritate your baby’s delicate skin. One reviewer says that they even got a bit of sunscreen in their eye and didn’t experience any burning sensation.
