The Best Sunscreens for Babies and Kids
I have an obsession with testing sunscreens, but had no idea that it would trickle over into my mom-life. Ever since I had Fitz, I get questions every week about the best sunscreen’s for babies, kids and the whole family.
Keep in mind— most baby and kid specific sunscreen is just a marketing ploy, and there are plenty of regular “adult” sunscreens that are suitable for children. Or vice-versa, baby and kids sunscreens are also suitable for adults. I like to select sunscreens that my whole family enjoys using on face and body, as it is just easier to grab one SPF when we are on the go, versus needing several! And because that is the biggest request I get from fellow moms when selecting a sunscreen. (Although, I am not going to lie— we always have at least 5 with us at all times— but this is purely because of my blogger life)!
Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50
Cost & Cost per oz: $12.99/3oz or $4.33 per oz
Filters: 20% Zinc Oxide
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: No
Water Resistance: 80 minutes
Overall thoughts: Easily our favorite and most used SPF. I do have a slight preference for mineral SPFs for my baby, and I love how easy this one is to blend. It’s not quite as easy as the Black Girl Sunscreen or Pipette, but for being mineral AND water resistant, this is incredible! I really love this entire line of sunscreens. I do think this might leave a slight cast on dark skin tones, but it’s definitely not as bad as many others I’ve tried.
Thinksport for Kids SPF 50+
Cost & Cost per oz: $6.99/3oz or 2.33 per oz
Filters: 20% Zinc Oxide
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: Yes - papaya extract gives it a melon scent.
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: Yes
Water Resistance: 80 minutes
Overall thoughts: This has nearly the same texture of the the Thinkbaby SPF 50+. I actually really enjoy the melon scent of this, and I think it might make kids more excited to reapply it. This doesn’t leave a white cast on me or my family, but it probably would leave a minor cast on brown skin, and a stronger cast on black skin.
Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen Stick SPF 30
Cost & Cost per oz: $8.99/.64oz
Filters: 20% Zinc Oxide
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: No
Water Resistance: 80 minutes
Overall thoughts: I love a good sunscreen stick, especially for small areas like face, hands and feet which are usually all that’s showing when we are outside, as I usually also cover the baby in UPF clothing. This is pretty sheer, and easy to rub in, but would probably leave a cast on darker skin tones. I like how wide it is and easy to apply a wide surface area, and that it’s water resistant!
Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50
Cost & Cost per oz: $9.99/3oz or $3.33 per oz
Filters: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: No
Water Resistance: 80 minutes
Overall thoughts: This sunscreen is chemical based, so whether you want to use chemical or mineral on your children, is your choice. I loveeee how easy it is to rub this in, and no surprise for a chemical SPF. It also has other great hydrating ingredients. This is amazing for a wiggly child, and I love that it is very affordable AND waterproof. It does have a chemical-y scent, but that is from the ingredients, not because there is any added fragrance. Also- you won’t have to worry about white cast with this on any skin tone.
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Cost & Cost per oz: $16.50/4oz or $4.13 per oz
Filters: 20% Zinc Oxide
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No— but maybe on deep skin tones
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: No
Water Resistance: None
Overall thoughts: This is easily the best and easiest to blend American mineral SPF on this list, especially with 20% zinc oxide. It almost feels watery when applying it, and for that reason it is my go-to when we are going to be outside but not in the water. The price is amazing too. However, it is going to leave a cast on brown and black skin, so that is important to note.
Isehan Kiss Me Mommy Waterproof SPF 50+/PA++++
Cost & Cost per oz: $13.90/1.76oz or $7.90 per oz
Filters: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and Bisethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: No
Water Resistance: 60 minutes
Overall thoughts: Another major hit from Japan. This contains superior chemical filters that are much more photostable than American chemical SPFs. This has become my personal favorite for my face when I am going to be in the water, but it’s so lightweight and easy to blend— into NO cast, that it’s great on all skin tones, for the whole family and on the entire body and face. It also has some hydrating and soothing ingredients, and an antioxidant. I also don’t find this to sting at all on the face when you’re sweating.
Biore UV Kids Pure Milk SPF 50/PA+++
Cost & Cost per oz: 2.4oz/$14.90 or $6.21 per oz
Filters: 18.24% Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
Cruelty free: No
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: Yes
Water Resistance: 60 minutes
Overall thoughts: This sunscreen is one of the best mineral SPFs for babies and kids that I’ve ever used— no surprise, as Japan makes some of the best in the world. It feels like an extremely lightweight milk, almost watery— and is very easy to rub in, and sinks in to no cast. I feel like this would work really well on all skin tones, leaving a very minimal cast on darker skin tones. I truly think this is fantastic and people’s only disappointment may be in that they are not cruelty free.
Skinbetter Sunbetter Sheer SPF 56
Cost & Cost per oz: $45 for .7oz or $64.28 per oz
Filters: 10% Zinc Oxide and 5% Titanium Dioxide
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: No
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: Yes
Water Resistance: 80 minutes
Overall thoughts: I love keeping this stick in my bag. It’s great for face and body, its completely white cast free for ALL skin tones. The stick format makes it easy to apply quickly on both me and the baby on face and body. I also love that this has such high water resistance.
Supergoop! Sunnyscreen SPF 50
Cost & Cost per oz: $26 for 3oz/ $8.66 per oz
Filters: 23.8% Zinc Oxide + 3.4% Titanium Dioxide
Cruelty free: Yes
White cast: Yes
Fragrance, EO’s, fragrant extracts: No
Alcohol denat.: No
Silicone: No
Water Resistance: 80 Minutes
Overall thoughts: This is described as a sheer, non-sticky formula. Which, for the amount of zinc in this, I was like “WOW, I have to try this.” Sadly, it is not sheer, and it’s VERY sticky. This is the hardest sunscreen to rub in that I’ve ever used, and I cannot imagine trying to use this on a mobile child. This was so hard to rub in, that I let it leave a bit of a cast on my son, and it would 100% leave a cast on anyone with a darker than fair skin tone, especially if you give up after 5 minutes like I did. It’s also one of the most expensive on this list. I don’t recommend this, but I included it because I get asked about it quite frequently.