Time for our annual clean sunscreen post! We polled our community and did our own research to share the best clean sunscreens for kids. I love when I post these polls and sooooo many people respond with the same brands – it really shows the clear winners! All of which are listed below. I’m providing the EWG Skin Deep rating next to the sunscreen. If you aren’t familiar the EWG Skin Deep site is a great resource for evaluating how toxic the skincare and beauty products are you use on your skin and put on your kids. They evaluate all the ingredients in your products and then provide a risk score based on that information. The lower the number the better!
A few items of note: I’m SO excited with how much lower the sunscreen risk ratings are this year. SO many great, affordable options with a rating of 1!!! Nearly all of them are mineral based – keep in mind these formulas take a little time to get used to and take more effort to rub in. Also the creams and sticks have a lower score than any of the sprays, just something to keep in mind! Ratings within brands and formulas vary too, so I suggest looking up individual products using the SkinDeep search bar!
Badger Active Kids Sunscreen: EWG Rating 1
We tried this sunscreen and agree with our community – it works great and provides great coverage and has the lowest score for toxic chemicals!
Babyganics Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50: EWG Rating 1
Babyganics Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Spray: EWG Rating 3
We have used both of these – before I realized that the lotion wasn’t as clean as I’d hoped and we switched. But it really applies well and kept Piper sunburn free. The stick is great for faces and we keep it in the diaper bag – also a great price point!
Alba Botanica Kids Mineral Sunscreen: EWG Rating 2
Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen Tropical Fruit: EWG Rating 3
I’ve used Alba in the past on myself and found the sunscreen to apply really easily and absorb well. We haven’t personally tried the mineral formula but many moms suggested this one!
ThinkBaby Sunscreen SPF 50: EWG Rating 1
Love love love this sunscreen! Takes a little longer to apply and rub in but provides great coverage and is a super clean formula!
BeautyCounter Mineral Countersun Spray: EWG Rating 3
BeautyCounter Mineral Sunscreen Stick: EWG Rating 2
We currently have both of this in rotation, testing them out for the first time. I find the spray leaves me a little sticky and I did get burnt with it. I like the stick but it takes some blending in – I use it on the girls. I would say there are better, cleaner formulas for a lower price point for kids!
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide SPF 50: EWG Rating 1
Lots of mamas love this formula! We used it a few years ago, I imagine it’s since changed but you can’t beat the price and I love how clean the formula is now!
Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50: EWG Rating 1
We haven’t personally tried this formula but lots of mamas suggested it and also said they love the rub on stick formula.
Have you tried the YL one? Is it good for kids?
I’ve been using the Aveeno so I was glad it made your clean list! It has been really good with my son’s sensitive skin! Now if only I could get him to hold still so I could apply it ;)
xoxo, Jenna
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