Taking advantage of summer likely means a lot of outdoor time for you and your family, so sunblock, of course, is a must. But if you’re anything like me, you get to the sunscreen aisle and you stare, read labels, and stare some more because there are just SO MANY OPTIONS. Anyone else get that overwhelming feeling in the middle of Target? With a little help from Good Housekeeping, and some research of our own, we’ve tracked down 2019’s best new sunblocks that do their job and are easy for little hands to manage, too.
As always, babies younger than 6 months should avoid the sun as much as possible, and please consult your doctor before using sunscreen on them. For kids, try to apply sunblock at least 20 minutes before going outside for it to really have an impact.
Bare Republic Mineral SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen Lotion
Bare Republic Mineral SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen Lotion is free of active chemicals, enhanced with plant-derived ingredients, cruelty and paraben-free and unscented, which is perfect for sensitive skin. $10.57 for 3.4 fluid ounces on Amazon.
Badger – SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Cream, Tangerine and Vanilla
Badger SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Cream protects against UVA and UVB rays with Zinc Oxide, a safe, physical blocker. No oxybenzone, octinoxate or other chemical actives are ever used, and it is water and sweat resistant for 40 minutes. Perfect for those with sensitive skin, it is naturally scented with certified organic tangerine and vanilla and feels extra soothing thanks to sunflower oil, beeswax and vitamin E ingredients. The bottle itself is BPA, phthalate-free and biodegradable, coral reef safe and planet-friendly.
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen – Baby Sunscreen SPF 30+
Blue Lizard Australian Mineral Sunscreen contains zero chemical active ingredients, like Oxybenzone or Octinoxate, and is dermatologist recommended. This paraben and fragrance-free is perfect for little ones’ sensitive skin, and is water resistant up to 40 minutes. According to Good Housekeeping, the bottle turns pink when it’s in the presence of harmful UV rays, alerting you that it’s time to apply more lotion. How cool!
TruKid Sunny Days Sport SPF 30
TruKid Sunny Days Sport SPF 30 stands out because it is 100% natural and safe for those with eczema! It is water-resistant and made with “good for you” ingredients like organic aloe and jojoba oils. We also like that it’s made in the USA!
Sunology Kid’s & Baby Safe Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Sunology Kid’s & Baby Safe Mineral Sunscreen is a gentle, fragrance-free sunscreen lotion for kids and babies (6 months and up). Top rated by EWG, it is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and good for sensitive skin as well. Sunology offers the highest level of water resistance at 80 minutes, and won’t sting or burn the eyes if lotion gets inside accidentally. Also made in the USA.