5 Natural Sunscreens That Are Waterproof, Kid-Friendly, & Spread Easy

5 Natural sunscreens that spread easy, are waterproof, and safe for kids

Shopping for sunscreens now that I’m paying attention to what’s in the products I buy started off as a nightmare. It’s so difficult to wade your way through the well-marketed labels to find something that doesn’t contain all the nasty, harmful ingredients.

*POST UPDATED MAY 2021*

It’s even harder to find one that also works as it should to protect us from sun during summer fun, and doesn’t make us want to throw a hissy fit of frustration when we use it. Kid-friendly sunscreens (or rather, natural sunscreens), should be easy to apply, waterproof, and create an effective barrier against the suns damaging (yet delightful) rays.

5 Natural sunscreens that spread easy, are waterproof, and safe for kids

I’m happy to pay for healthier options as much as possible, but sometimes you just don’t have them on hand, so we compromise. It’s better to be exposed to the ingredients in popular sunscreens than to burn and risk sun damage.

This week was the first week it really, truly has felt like summer’s edging in. On my sweet little PNW island, the weather is usually much warmer and brighter far earlier in the year, but this Spring took a very, very long time to be sprung. All of a sudden it felt like winter turned to summer, off came the thick coat and on went the sunscreen.

natural sunscreens for kids water resistant

Except – crumb! I had forgotten I’d brought the remaining dredges of our last year’s sunscreen stock to Palm Springs for my ladies’ weekend. The only thing left in the house was the kind of toxin-laden, super sunscreen we try to avoid. We had to buy for myself and my hubby at the end of our Costa Rica adventure this fall, when we wanted to conserve the last of the natural sunscreen for our daughter.

So we used this less-than-favourite sunscreen for two days, making the compromise for sun-safety over toxins. Now, I’m not regretting this decision, but the red, bumpy rash that developed everywhere that we put the sunscreen (and not where we didn’t) was a real reminder to go pick up the natural stuff ASAP.

rash from sunscreen

I was going to wait to order some more (I found some good deals on Amazon and have a few other things that need ordered, anyhow), but I couldn’t stand to put that on her skin one more day.

So, for those of you who would rather stick to the natural side of sun safety, here are my personal recommendations for five kid-friendly sunscreens. I have used each one on my own two hands and children, and can attest to them working well for me. (With the exception of thinkbaby – that one’s just been raved about by multiple others I trust so much that it needed a mention. *UPDATE – Since writing this post I have switched over to ThinkBaby and ThinkSport as my go-to natural sunscreens. They are amazing!*)

These are all natural sunscreens that spread on easily, are better for your kids and the environment, and have staying power for summer’s wet adventures. (Please do remember to reapply, though! One application will not last all day. So important for all sunscreen.) There are lots of other lovely things to note about each one’s ingredients, but I’ll stick to the basics. Check them each out for more information.

5 natural sunscreens that are safe for kids

Please note, this post uses affiliate links. This means if you purchase natural sunscreens or anything else through the links below, I will be given a commission (however small and unlikely that is). I’ve included links to Well.ca and Amazon.ca where applicable. One day maybe this will help to reimburse me for all the effort I put into this blog, but I’ll just keep plugging along and hoping that at least you find some good information here.

5 Natural Sunscreens: Safe For Kids & Awesome

SunClear Natural Sunscreen

  • SPF 30
  • UVA & UVB protection
  • Non Nano
  • Reef-friendly
  • Very water resistant (80 minutes)

*I have removed the Sunclear link as it is no longer available on Amazon.ca. Worth a grab if you see it anywhere, though!

Badger Sport Sunscreen Cream

  • SPF 35
  • Water/sweat resistant (80 minutes)
  • UVA & UVB protection
  • 100-Percent Certified Natural and 94-Percent Certified Organic
  • Biodegradable and reef-safe

    To be honest, I still find this one a little chalky for my taste, but it works and it’s natural, so there you go.

Buy Badger Sport Sunscreen on Well.ca here.
Or buy it on Amazon here.

Organika Coenzyme Q10 Sunscreen Lotion

  • SPF 25
  • Water & sweat resistant (80 minutes)
  • UVA & UVB protection
  • Soy free, gluten free, dairy free
  • Formulated with Coenzyme Q10 to reduce oxidative damage done to skin
  • *Personal note* This is an amazing sunscreen for your face. By far the cleanest looking and feeling sunscreen. 

Buy Organika Sunscreen Lotion on Well.ca here.

Or buy on Amazon.ca here.


Goddess Garden Kids Natural Sunscreen

  • SPF 30
  • 92% Organic
  • UVA & UVB protection
  • Water resistant (40 minutes)

Buy Goddess Garden Kids Natural Sunscreen on Amazon here.
Or buy it on Well.ca here.

Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen

  • SPF 50
  • UVA & UVB protection
  • Non Nano
  • Water resistant (80 minutes)
  • Non smelly

Buy Thinkbaby natural sunscreen on Amazon here.
Or buy it on Well.ca here.

I hope this post has helped you to find some great new natural sunscreens for kids and adults alike, or at least has helped you find some clarity on what to look for in a sunscreen for kids.

If you liked what you found, sign up here to get a short and sweet weekly e-notification about what’s new on The Big To-Do List. I’d also love to connect with you on social media. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. (Some others, too, but I use these the most.)

Disclosure: As mentioned above, this website uses affiliate links, and this post definitely included them. If you purchase through the links on this page, I will receive a commission (through no added cost to you). You can read my full disclosure statement here.

I should also mention I’m not a doctor (in case you somehow thought otherwise), so my advice is personal only. Please consult your doctor for any final advice about what is right for your family.

3 thoughts on “5 Natural Sunscreens That Are Waterproof, Kid-Friendly, & Spread Easy

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