Safe sunscreen for kids

[callieollie]

Can someone recommend a sunscreen I can use for the kids (and myself too). I've tried California Baby and while I liked it overall, I found it really hard to rub in, which doesn't work well for a kid who doesn't like having it on in the first place! I've also seen Badger recommended but have heard others say similar things about it being difficult to rub in. Any recommendations of safe sunscreens that aren't super hard to rub in? Thanks!

[Drummer's Wife]

The thing is that the safer sunscreens, like California Baby, work differently than the ones with a ton of chemicals -- so they are not meant to be rubbed in completely. The thick white-ness is what blocks the sun from burning the skin, if that makes sense.

I'm sure someone can explain it better, but that is my understanding.

[SuzyLee]

I just bought the Badger yesterday.

It doesn't exactly rub in- it sort of coats DS with a whitish layer of the zinc oxide. ZO is the only truly 100% "safe" active ingredient, and it will not rub in- it will just be a thin layer of the white ZO on the skin.

I noticed after about an hour DS didn't look so white. I am wondering if it got rubbed off and I should have reapplied, or what.

[crl]

You might be interested in the Environmental Working Group's database on sunscreens. Here's the link:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/spe...rsunscreen.php

I think the previous posters are right. I think zinc is considered the safest active ingrediant in sunscreen and it's going to leave a whitish film. We use California baby stick on DS' face and neck because he hates the feeling of lotion. I use Blue Lizard Baby for myself and for the rest of DS's body. It rubs in much better than the CA Baby stick. I also use Badger for when we are going to be in the pool outdoors (it's pricier than the Blue Lizard so I save it for the pool.)

Catherine

[zinemama]

I'm sure Badger is excellent and it gets high ratings. But that ultra-strong lavender scent - peeyew!

I've been looking for a local source for TruKid Sunny Days Natural Sunscreen.

http://www.theconsumerlink.com/TruKi...l/TCL+10300/19

It's got great ratings from the EWG and apparently isn't very smelly. But shipping is $6.95, so you end up paying $20 for a 4oz container, which I just can't bring myself to do!

[rcr]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

The thing is that the safer sunscreens, like California Baby, work differently than the ones with a ton of chemicals -- so they are not meant to be rubbed in completely. The thick white-ness is what blocks the sun from burning the skin, if that makes sense.

I'm sure someone can explain it better, but that is my understanding.

Wow, really. I did not know that. I always rubbed California Baby in... thanks for the info.

[annettemarie]

Moving to Natural Body Care

[PlayaMama]

unfi has the trukids on sale for 8.57 for 4 oz. do you have a co-op or buyer's club locally that you can order it from?

and i agree about the zinc oxide... we just joke that we're "playing zombies" and leave it really white.

[ZippyGirl]

We use the Weleda children's sunscreen and really like it. It doesn't seem as zinc-y to me, but it worked really well in our boiling Northeast summer last year.

[Dea]

A trick it to rub it on the skin in one direction, with the hair and it gives a less white hue.

[columbusmomma]

We really like JASON sunscreen.

[abemom2]

Kabana Skin Care has sunscreen that is safe, and he explains why it didn't rate well in Cosmetic data base.
http://www.kabanaskincare.com/categories.php?cat=8

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Just be careful with sunscrenes that say chemical free, because that often only applies to the active ingredients. Then you take a look at the inactive ingredients and it's full of chemicals. I like badger and california baby.

[FillingMyQuiver]

We use Mexitan products. They use Zo as the main ingredient and the inactive ingredients are chemical free. They also don't have an offensive smell and they're highly rated by the EWG. Here's there link in the database:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/spe...rms&nothanks=1

and here's their site:
Mexitan

[rissierae]

Sunsreen is absorbed by the skin and uses chemicals to protect.
Sunblock stays on top of the skin to protect it. That's why sunblock works imediately, and sunsreen takes 15-20 minutes to start working. But sunblocks aren't waterproof.

I like burtsbee's chemical free sunblock for myself. I haven't found it higher than 15spf, otherwise I would use it for my ds. I haven't found the perfect sunblock for him yet, but I'm giving Nutrogina's pure and free baby sunscreen/sunblock a try. It's 60spf and has zinc, and titanium oxide, which is what you're suposed to look for I guess.

[NokomisThree]

fl sun?

we live in fl. i look for spf 50 and higher. sounds like the natutal stuff only goes to 15. while we keep ds covered as much as possble, we still need really good protection for the beach and parks. he has fair skin as do i. anyone have experience with the crunchy blocks in the deep south?

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Originally Posted by NokomisThree

we live in fl. i look for spf 50 and higher. sounds like the natutal stuff only goes to 15. while we keep ds covered as much as possble, we still need really good protection for the beach and parks. he has fair skin as do i. anyone have experience with the crunchy blocks in the deep south?

I know that California Baby and Badger go up to 30. I've heard that above 30 doesn't really make a difference, but I really don't know if that's true or not.

[LovelyNJ]

sunscreen

I'm using Alba Botanica for kids with mine, and it doesn't leave the white streaks. It smells nice too, but we havent been out in the sun enough to see how well it works...

[ZippyGirl]

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver

We use Mexitan products. They use Zo as the main ingredient and the inactive ingredients are chemical free. They also don't have an offensive smell and they're highly rated by the EWG. Here's there link in the database:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/spe...rms&nothanks=1

and here's their site:
Mexitan

I generally like the EWG, but I am starting to find so many weird ratings by them. For example, they incorrectly state that Weleda uses artificial fragrance, which is not true. Several people posted on the EWG asking them to re-evaluate their ratings because they inaccurately present (and as a result incorrectly rate) ingredients.

Another example, I also found in a diaper balm rating that they gave petrolatum the safest rating. But it's a petroleum-derived product that I believe has been banned in the EU in personal care products.

This is a little OT, and I apologize, but I am just wondering why the EWG appears to be giving out misleading ratings???

[abemom2]

On Kabana skin care, he explains why a high rating of SPF isn't worth much.

It's a really interesting article, with additional documents.

Check it out.