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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*I have removed the Sunclear link as it is no longer available on Amazon.ca. Worth a grab if you see it anywhere, though!
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.
Buy Organika Sunscreen Lotion on Well.ca here.
Buy Goddess Garden Kids Natural Sunscreen on Amazon here.
Or buy it on Well.ca here.
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.
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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.
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