Sunscreen Guide for Kids (updated for 2016)

Updated: July 2016

Now that we know what to look for in a sunscreen, in terms of balancing protection versus health safety of the product, here’s what we think are the best choices for your family.

Methodology in Picking our Favorite Sunscreens

Over the past few years (since 2012), I’ve tested a few dozen sunscreens (much to the huge delight of my kids who just love it when I constantly rub sunscreen on them) and determined which ones I would recommend, based on safety of ingredients, performance and price (you won’t find all of the 41 sunscreens we’ve tested below any longer since some of them have been discontinued). A new factor in determining whether a sunscreen is on our “Favorite” or “Approved” lists, is whether it is water-resistant. We have discovered that many of the sunscreens that rank highly on the EWG list (i.e., score of #1 or #2) are actually NOT water-resistant and you need to read the label very very carefully to discover that. Unless you have a baby that doesn’t sweat or won’t be in the water, a non-water-resistant sunscreen is just not practical.

Please note that I only tested broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF factor greater than 30, containing zinc oxide, that have a #1 or #2 ranking from the Environmental Working Group and didn’t contain the controversial ingredient oxybenzone. (Just to remind you, zinc oxide and avobenzone are the only active ingredients in sunscreen that protect against UVA1 rays, however zinc oxide protects against UVA2 and UVB rays as well.) Also, personal preference is a big factor in finding a sunscreen that you like, so while all of the products did pretty much the same job protecting our skin from the sun, some we didn’t care for based on smell, ease of rubbing into the skin, or just the overall gloppiness of it. My kids are not big fans of gloppiness.

All of these sunscreens are available for easy purchase online (hello, Amazon!) and we wouldn’t be surprised if we missed one or a few that we should have considered in our “testing phase.” Just let us know in the comments and I’ll be sure to try it out on my kids. (They’ll be super excited about that.) Update + Additional Thoughts: these are our personal recommendations. Please take care when trying new sunscreens out especially for protection/coverage.

Preferred & Top Sunscreens For Kids

That said, below in the picture grid are the broad-spectrum sunscreens that are our favorites. Just click on them and it will take you to a paragraph where you can read more about them. All of these sunscreens are effective, safe and don’t contain harmful ingredients.

Our Top recommended sunscreen is ThinkSport/ThinkBaby sunscreens (which is the same formulation and by the same company). Everyone in my family immediately liked the light feel and “creamsicle” scent of this sunscreen and it was very effective in protecting our skin. Yes, it’s one of the pricier options (at $5.33 per oz), however, I don’t mind paying more for something that I feel good about using and my kids like.  (Update: some readers have shared that they are not crazy about the white residue this sunscreen leaves behind. We personally don’t mind it, but wanted to share feedback.)

Thinkbaby/Thinksport
(our Top Pick)

FAVORITES LIST

ThinkBaby/ThinkSport Sunscreen (TOP PICK)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 50+
Price: $10.50 for 3 oz.
Price per oz: $3.50
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: First sunscreen to pass Whole Foods’ Premium Care Requirements
Ease of rubbing into skin: Great.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Light feeling, goes on clear. Pleasant citrus scent. Very good results after being in sun. (Update: some readers have shared that a mild white residue is left behind. We have seen that too, but it hasn’t bothered us much). Thinkbaby Sunscreen is the same formulation.
We’ve loved this sunscreen since we first reviewed it in 2012; tested again in 2016 and still our top pick!

Adorable Baby Sunscreen (formerly Loving Naturals) (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 24.7% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $12.99 for 2.5 oz.
Price per oz: $5.20
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Safe for babies, non-nano zinc oxide
Ease of rubbing into skin: Good.
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Goes on clear and smoothly. No smell. Good protection.

Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunscreen (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 14.5% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $10.00 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $2.50
EWG Rating: 2
Company claims: Recommended by Skincancer.org
Ease of rubbing into skin: Fair.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: No smell, not too thick, not too goopy. Good protection.

All Terrain AquaSport Natural Sunscreen (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 16.0% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $9.11 for 3 oz.
Price per oz: $3.04
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Cruelty free, fragrance free, oxybenzone free, 80 minutes of water resistance.
Ease of rubbing into skin: Great. No whiteness.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: No smell, not too thick, not too goopy. Very good protection.
Reviewed in 2014

Babytime! by Episencial Sunny Sunscreen (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 11%, Zinc Oxide 5.5%
SPF Factor: 35
Price: $12.34 for 2.7 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $4.57
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Enriched with green tea, aloe and water resistant for 80 minutes. “Free from the bad stuff!”
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: Very hard to rub in, left a strong white appearance to skin.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Although this left a residue, we were very please by how long it lasted and offered protection when swimming.
Reviewed in 2015

Badger Sport Sunscreen (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 35+
Price: $13.59 for 2.9 oz.
Price per oz: $4.69
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: “Extra” zinc oxide, very water resistant.
Ease of rubbing into skin: Not good. Also reappears on skin when you sweat.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Very thick. Kids hated the smell. Hard to rub in on squirmy kids. But good protection as well as peace of mind that it has the safest ingredients.

Beauty Counter’s Protect All Over Sunscreen (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 19% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $32 for 4.8 oz.
Price per oz: $6.66
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: “Formulated with non-nano zinc oxide, so it blends seamlessly into skin without leaving white streaks. Aloe helps hydrate skin, while antioxidant-rich green tea and blood orange extracts fight free radicals.”
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: This rubs in really well and leaves no white residue. Smell isn’t bad at all. Good protection. Price slightly high, but would definitely recommend.
Reviewed in 2016

Beyond Coastal Natural (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 6% Zinc Oxide, 5% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $15.99 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $4.00
EWG Rating: 2
Company claims: Nourishing ingredients include organic shea butter, acai extract. Repairing ingredients include yerba mate extract, grape seed extract. Free of fragrance, petroleum, oxybenzone, gluten and Vitamin A.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Thicker and whiter than some we tried, but ease of rubbing in still isn’t too bad. No smell. Worked well for us. Recommend.
Reviewed in 2016

TruBaby Everyday Play (Favorite)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $12.59 for 2.0 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $6.30
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: All natural, gentle and lightly scented. Pediatrician and Dermatologist tested. Safe and gentle for whole family.
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: It’s slightly thick, but not too bad. The whiteness must be rubbed away.
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: We liked this one. It has a mild citrus scent, and went on well.
Reviewed in 2015

APPROVED LIST

Burn Out Kids Physical Sunscreen (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 18.60% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $12.99 for 3.4 oz.
Price per oz: $3.82
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Rich in anti-oxidants and enriched with extracts of papaya, plankton and plantains.
Ease of rubbing into skin: Good.
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Nice and light feeling. No scent. Protection was just okay.

Coola Baby (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 6.8% Zinc Oxide, 7.6% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $36 for 3.0 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $12.00
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: 0% Synthetic ingredients, preservatives, chemical sunscreens. Soft and gentle. Helps prevent “heat build-up” in skin.
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: Fair. Leaves skin with a pale white, greasy appearance.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Unpleasant smell that the child hated. Offered decent protection, however made skin look shiny.
Reviewed in 2015

CeraVe (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 11.4% Zinc Oxide, 7.4% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 45
Price: $22.23 for 3.5 oz.
Price per oz: $6.35
EWG Rating: 2
Company claims: Naturally sourced ingredients, hypoallergenic, paraben and sulfate free. Developed with dermatologists.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Kind of thick, white, but rubs in okay. Smell isn’t bad. We had good protection with this one. Recommend.
Reviewed in 2016

CoTZ Pure (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 8.4% Zinc Oxide, 4.1% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $16.39 for 3.0 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $5.46
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: 0% Synthetic ingredients, preservatives, chemical sunscreens. Soft and gentle, water resistant for 40 minutes. Helps prevent “heat build-up” in skin.
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: This rubs in fairly well. No whiteness because the lotion itself is light brown, which could be a selling point.
Water resistance: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: This looks like a mud mask. The brown color is very odd, and it has a distinctive mineral/mud smell to it. However, it did give us decent protection for the hour we needed it.
Reviewed in 2015

Earth’s Best Mineral Sunscreen (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 14.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.0%
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $13.14 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $3.29
EWG Rating: 2
Company claims: All natural, fragrance, tear and paraben free.
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: This is chunky and takes a lot of time to rub in. Left whiteness on skin.
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: This had an odd consistency as it seemed to separate from itself when rubbing in and wasn’t uniform. It also has a very mineral smell. However, protection was still good.
Reviewed in 2015

Elta MD Broad Spectrum (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 10% Zinc Oxide, 5.5% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 47
Price: $30.18 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $7.54
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Gentle and lightweight, very water resistant, sensitivity-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, oil-free, dye-free, hormone-free, gluten-free and noncomedogenic.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: We’ve seen this one sold at doctors’ offices, which gives it a stamp of approval. It goes on really well, and smell is pleasant. Protection is good and the water resistance is also good. Don’t love the price, but we still recommend.
Reviewed in 2016

Goddess Garden Baby Natural Sunscreen (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $13.09 for 3.4 oz.
Price per oz: $3.85
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: 74% organic
Ease of rubbing into skin: Fair.
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Goopy, leaves skin white, takes time to soak into skin. Not much smell.

Grahams Natural Alternatives SunClear Reef Friendly Sunscreen (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 260mg Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $25.99 for 5.2 oz.
Price per oz: $4.99
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Reef Friendly. Broad spectrum for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin. Uses the new ZinClear technology. (Zinclear link here)
Water resistant: 2 hours
Personal Thoughts: This is super clear and goes on easily. Slightly greasy, but not too bad. Scent is okay. We loved the two hours of water resistance and got good protection from this one. Recommend.
Reviewed in 2016

Jersey Kids All Natural Sunscreen (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: Non-nano Zinc Oxide 25%
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $20 for 2.0 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $10
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Baby safe, petrochemical free, broad spectrum protection, gluten and fragerance free, vegan, 97% UVA/UVB protection
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: This rubbed in fine and didn’t leave much residue.
Water resistance: Unsure.
Personal thoughts: This one falls into the category of “fine.” Not great, but not bad, either. Availability and price may be prohibitive, however.
Reviewed in 2015

Kiss My Face (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 6% Titanium Dioxide, 6% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $16.63 for 3.4 oz.
Price per oz: $4.89
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Natural, made with 87% certified organic ingredients. Cruelty, oxybenzone and paraben free. Made with soothing antioxidants.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Goes on very white and leaves a matte finish to your skin. We didn’t care for the smell. Gave us good protection, even after swimming. Recommend.
Reviewed in 2016

Sunology Natural Sunscreen Body (Approved)
Primary Active Ingredient: 10% Zinc Oxide, 7.5% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $14.99 for 2 oz.
Price per oz: $7.50
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Blocks the effects of free radical formation
Ease of rubbing into skin: Rubs in easily and is clear. Smells a little gross.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Despite the smell, we liked this one a lot. However, it is very expensive and 2 oz. doesn’t go a long way with a family of four.

SKIP LIST

All Good Kid’s Sunscreen  SPF 33 (formerly Elemental Herbs) (Skip, down from Approved)
(We changed our mind about this brand in July 2016 because it’s not water-resistant and that’s just not practical!)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 33
Price: $13.38 for 3 oz.
Price per oz: $4.46
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Certified Organic, GMO free, Gluten free, Vegan, Non-Nano
Ease of rubbing into skin: Goes on very thick, takes a few extra seconds to rub in.
Water resistant: website says “Use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.”
Personal Thoughts: No smell, not too thick, not too goopy. Good protection. Expensive.
Reviewed in 2014; changed our opinion in July 2016

All Good Zinc Sunstick by Elemental Herbs Sunstick (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% Zinc Oxide (Non-nanoparticle)
SPF Factor: 30
Price: NA
Price per oz: $2.99
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Great for kids, goes on clear, coral reef safe
Ease of rubbing into skin: Goes on smoothly, smells like coconut, which might bother some
Water resistant: no mention
Personal Thoughts: I let my kids put this on their faces themselves (they’re 10 and 12) and they both had sunburns afterwards because they didn’t rub it in enough after applying.

Aubrey Natural Sun Sunscreen (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 12% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $14.72 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $3.68
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Good for sensitive skin.
Ease of rubbing into skin: Not good.
Personal Thoughts: Very goopy, hard to rub in. Did okay at sun protection.

Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $14.39 for 3 oz.
Price per oz: $4.80
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: For extra sensitive skin
Ease of rubbing into skin: Very whitening and thick. Hard to wash off of hands after rubbing on.
Water resistant: no mention on product or website
Personal Thoughts: Didn’t love the feel of this at all. Protection was adequate.

Babyhampton Beach Bum (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $22.00 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $5.50
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Non-GMO, fragrance free, hypoallergenic. Organic ingredients, including grape-seed extract, green tea and rose hip antioxidants, shea butter, and extra virgin olive and jojoba oils, which help moisturize the skin while protecting from the sun.
Water resistant: Unclear and if we knew for sure that it were water-resistant it would be a favorite.
Personal Thoughts: This was developed by a mom whose kids developed rashes from chemicals in other sunscreens, so I liked that it’s made to be gentle on skin. We liked the pump bottle for ease of use. It went on nicely, and didn’t leave a residue. Offered good protection but without knowing if it’s water-resistant, we can’t make recommend it.  Just not practical.
Reviewed in 2016

Badger Sunscreen (Skip) (some Badger versions were voluntarily recalled on 9/25/13)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20.50% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $13.55 for 2.9 oz.
Price per oz: $4.67
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: At least 60% organic ingredients
Ease of rubbing into skin: Fair.
Water resistant: 40 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Thick, smelly. The boys hated the feeling of it. Separates if not squeezed before opening. Still, good protection.

Banana Boat Baby Sunscreen Lotion (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 3.1% Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide 4.0%
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $6.94 for 8 oz.
Price per oz: $.87
EWG Rating: 3 (July 2016: it’s now rated a “6”)
Company claims: Tear-free, sting-free, proven to be gentle
Ease of rubbing into skin: Goes on a little thick, takes a few extra seconds, which isn’t great with babies.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: No smell, not too thick, not too goopy. Good protection. Concern here is with the poor UVA/UVB balance and poor EWG rating. Price is very cost effective.
Reviewed in 2014

Banana Boat Kids Sunscreen Lotion (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 3.1% Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide 4.0%
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $9.99 for 8 oz.
Price per oz: $1.25
EWG Rating: 3 (July 2016: it’s now rated a “6”)
Company claims: Tear-free, sting-free, broad spectrum
Ease of rubbing into skin: Goes on a little thick, takes a few extra seconds, which isn’t great with kids
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: No smell, not too thick, not too goopy. Good protection. Concern here is with the poor UVA/UVB balance and poor EWG rating. Price is very cost effective, but since this is the exact same ingredient list as Banana Boat Baby, why is it $.38 more an ounce?
Reviewed in 2014

Bare Belly Organics Organic Mineral Sunscreen (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 25% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $23.95 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $5.98
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Chemical free, ideal for face, body and sensitive skin.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: This is really thick, almost like putty. It also comes in a tub, and you have to dip your fingers into it quite a few times during your application session. Not always ideal when dealing with a squirmy child. Didn’t love the smell. All that said, the protection was good.
Reviewed in 2016

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen for Baby (Skip, down from Favorite)
(We changed our mind about Blue Lizard in July 2016 because it’s not water-resistant and that’s just not practical!)
Primary Active Ingredient: 5% Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide 10%
SPF Factor: 30+
Price $18.39 for 8.75 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $2.10
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Broad spectrum, paraben and chemical free, bottle turns pink in UV light (yay?)
Ease of rubbing into skin: A smidge thick, but goes on nicely
Personal Thoughts: No smell, goes on easily, no residue. Good choice for babies.
Water resistant: bottle says “use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating”
Note: We also tried Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin. Same exact ingredients, but $.37 per ounce more expensive for some reason.
Reviewed in 2014; changed our opinion in July 2016

Derma e Body (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 16%
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $15.72 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $3.93
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Antioxidant, natural, with clear zinc oxide. Broad Spectrum.
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: Good. Nice texture. Definitely a white residue, but not too bad.
Water resistant: NO.
Personal Thoughts: Again, why use this if it’s not water or sweat resistant? We experienced pinkness after using for two hours. It’s also very expensive for something that isn’t amazing.
Reviewed in 2015

Dr. Mercola Healthy Skin (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide, 6.0% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $22.97 for 5.4 oz.
Price per oz: $4.25
EWG Rating: 1 (for the 15 SPF version, 50 SPF version not rated)
Company claims: 100% all-natural, hypoallergenic, and free of chemical fragrances, parabens and nanoparticles.
Water resistant: None. Dr. Mercola recommends that you use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. (Note that their page on Amazon says it’s water resistant, but the back of the bottle states that it isn’t.)
Personal Thoughts:. The no-frills bottle looks like something your neighbor made in her garage. Smell is fine. I found it to be really easy to rub in, but most Amazon reviewers disagree with me. Pretty high price for just okay protection.
Reviewed in 2016

Jason Pure Natural Sun Protection Sunscreen (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 14.5% Zinc Oxide, 2.0% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $8.54 for 4 oz.
Price per oz: $2.14
EWG Rating: not listed (July, 2013: now rated 2)
Company claims: For very sensitive skin, no parabens or phthalates
Ease of rubbing into skin: Good.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: No scent, goes on easily. Boys turned slightly pink, so protection wasn’t as good as others.

Nine Naturals (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 32
Price: $24.00 for 4.0 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $6.00
EWG Rating: 1 (July 2016: no longer rated by EWG)
Company claims: “Simply 8 natural and organic ingredients. Safe for moms, babies, dads and kids!”
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: Thick feeling, leaves a definite white appearance on skin.
Water resistant: NO. “Use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating” was written in small type on the back.
Personal Thoughts: This is a ridiculous sunscreen to use in the summer due to it being non-water resistant. We experienced pinkness for sure.
Reviewed in 2015

Purple Prairie Botanicals Sunstuff Sunscreen (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% micronized Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: not listed
Price: $18.29 for 5 oz.
Price per oz: $3.66
EWG Rating: 1 (July 2016: no longer rated by EWG)
Company claims: “Meets the rigid standards for sunscreen allowed in the protected coral reef lagoons of Mexico.”
Ease of rubbing into skin: Not great.
Water resistant: does not say but website says: “Reapply every hour and after sweating, swimming or towel drying.”
Personal Thoughts: Not too thick, no smell. Must be really rubbed in. Good choice if your kids are reef diving in Mexico?

Raw Elements Physical Eco Protection Sunscreen (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 23% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30+
Price: $16.14 for 3 oz.
Price per oz: $5.38
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Very water resistant, blocks UVA1, UVA2 and UVB
Ease of rubbing into skin: Not great.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: Thick and smelly. Hard to wash off hands after applying.

Rubber Ducky (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.75% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $15.99 for 3.3 oz.
Price per oz: $5.33
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Untinted, paraben free, zero skin irritation, stays on in water, won’t sweat into eyes. Formulated for water sports to stay on longer than regular sunscreens. Features the Ducks-BackTM water repellent system, which has been tested for performance in global 4 and 8 hour tests and passed.
Water resistant: It claims to have a water-repellant system, but nowhere on the bottle does it actually say “water resistant” or how long it lasts. Confusing.
Personal Thoughts: Rubs in easily, but leaves a shiny look. Smell isn’t wonderful. Gave us good protection, but needed to be reapplied after an hour because we saw some pinkness starting.
Reviewed in 2016

Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby Faces (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 2.9% Zinc Oxide, 5.1% Titanium Dioxide
SPF Factor: 45+
Price: $11.18 for 2.5 oz.
Price per oz: $4.47
EWG Rating: 3 (July 2016: now rated “6”)
Company claims: Tear-free, ultra gentle, 100% naturally sourced
Ease of rubbing into skin: We really like the feel and smell of this one.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: As much as I want to love and use this one, there is concern regarding some of the ingredients. Namely, Phenoxyethanol, which scores a 4 on the EWG scale due to “allergies/immunotoxicity, irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), organ system toxicity (non-reproductive),” the highest I’ve seen in my reviewing.

Sport Juice Beauty (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $16.00 for 3.75 oz.
Price per oz: $4.27
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: The formulation includes a blend of rich organic jojoba and soothing aloe, as well as apple juice, white grape juice, and coconut oil.
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Personal Thoughts: This is the color of light clay, and despite the “juice” name, it smells very chemical. Ease of rubbing in is fine, but leaves a tinted residue. Protection wasn’t ideal because we were slightly pink after using it.
Reviewed in 2016

Suntegrity Skincare – Natural Mineral Sunscreen For Body (Skip)
Primary Active Ingredient: 20% Zinc Oxide (non-nano)
SPF Factor: 30
Price: $24.00 for 3 oz.
Price per oz: $8.00
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Free of parabens, phthalates and mineral oil. Cruelty free and vegan. Contains organic ingredients like green tea ex tract, cucumber extract, and pomegranate seed oil for added protection.
Water resistant: None. Suntegrity recommends that you use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.
Personal Thoughts: Decent smell, easy to rub in, kept us from burning. However, this is crazy expensive for something that doesn’t work if you’re swimming or sweating. Also, you’re paying for green tea extract and pomegranate seed, which seem like unnecessary extras.
Reviewed in 2016

Tropical Sands (Skip, down from Approved)
(We changed our mind about this brand in July 2016 because it’s not water-resistant and that’s just not practical!)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $19.95 for 5.4 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $3.69
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Broad spectrum, non-allergenic, gluten-free with green tea (?), eco-friendly, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: A little goopy, but not too bad. Not a lot of whiteness.
Water resistant: NO
Personal Thoughts: There’s a definite smell, which isn’t unpleasant, but may bother some. Despite the no water resistance, we still liked this one and would maybe use it when we’re not sweating or getting wet. (If that ever happens in the summer.) Don’t be put off by the label that looks like it was printed on someone’s inkjet.

True All Natural Sunscreen (Skip, down from Approved)
(We changed our mind about this brand in July 2016 because it’s not water-resistant and that’s just not practical!)
Primary Active Ingredient: 22.5% Zinc Oxide
SPF Factor: 50
Price: $23.99 for 3.4 fl. oz.
Price per oz: $7.05
EWG Rating: 1
Company claims: Made in U.S., cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, synthetic fragrances and dyes-free. Non-toxic, biodegradable.
Ease of rubbing into skin/whiteness: This has a very nice feeling. Not very white appearance on skin.
Water resistant: NO; company says to “use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating”
Personal Thoughts: I really wish this were water-resistant, because it has a very nice smell and feel to it. It worked fine for the hour we weren’t in the water, but then caused some pinkness to the skin after it got wet.
Reviewed in 2015, but changed our opinion in July 2016

(note: these above prices are based off of Amazon, and as such, vary. Check thoroughly for your best pricing options.)

So there you have it–our Sunscreen Guide for Kids & Families. I’m sure with all of these detailed choices, you’ll find a product that works great for you and your family. And remember—the best sun protection of all is to stay in the shade during peak hours and to wear a hat and protective clothing. Let’s keep our skin beautiful and our bodies healthy.