In order to compile the best sunscreens for kids below, I spoke to four dermatologists who recommend the following factors to keep in mind:
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All of the following sunscreens for kids were recommended by our experts and align with their guidance.
Blue Lizard’s mineral sunscreens are a favorite among the experts I spoke to. “I love the smart cap technology that helps to teach kids about UV rays — the cap or bottle turns pink in harmful UV light,” says Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. The sunscreen is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes and has SPF 50 protection. It’s also free of both parabens and fragrances, making it a safer bet for kids with sensitive skin, according to the brand. This stick version is also available as a mineral-based lotion, which has a chemical ingredient in addition to mineral filters, according to the brand.
SPF rating: 50 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: stick | Fragrance-free: yes
Experts cite Aveeno as a quality brand when looking for a kids-safe sunscreen, especially if they have sensitive skin. Specifically designed for kids, this mineral sunscreen lotion has skin-soothing oat and won’t cause irritation or stinging, according to the brand. The lotion also has a non-greasy and fragrance-free formula.
SPF rating: 50 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: lotion | Fragrance-free: yes
Neutrogena’s Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Stick is a favorite of King’s for kids because it has a hypoallergenic formula and it’s free of fragrances and dyes, which helps prevent irritation on your child’s sensitive skin. A stick sunscreen is also great for noses, faces and even the scalp, which many people tend to forget about, says King.
SPF rating: 50 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: stick | Fragrance-free: yes
Another expert-recommended option from Blue Lizard, this 100% mineral sunscreen lotion is made specifically for babies’ sensitive skin. It’s free of fragrances and other irritants, plus it has calendula extract and organic aloe to soothe delicate skin, according to the brand. Blue Lizard also offers this sunscreen in a stick version for babies. The brand recommends applying the sunscreen on dry skin at 15 minutes before sun exposure. Keep in mind if your child is under six months of age, make sure to ask your pediatrician before applying any sunscreen.
SPF rating: 50+ | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: lotion | Fragrance-free: yes
If you have an older child or don’t mind a chemical sunscreen, this La Roche-Posay lotion, which is recommended for kids six months and older and designed for the face and body, is one of King’s favorites. Since it has chemical filters, it’s easier to blend and won’t leave a white cast on their skin, says King. It also has glycerin to help keep their skin moisturized, according to the brand.
SPF rating: 50 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: chemical | Consistency: lotion | Fragrance-free: yes
This Banana Boat sunscreen has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which means it’s suitable for people, including kids, with eczema and sensitive skin. It’s fragrance- and oil-free, so it won’t leave a greasy feel after applying it, according to the brand. It’s also highly rated, with a 4.5-star average rating from over 1,000 reviews on Amazon. If you’re looking for a sunscreen that’ll absorb more quickly into the skin, Banana Boat also has a kids sport sunscreen that’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
SPF rating: 50 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: lotion | Fragrance-free: yes
This brush-on sunscreen powder comes recommended by King because you can throw it in your bag for easy reapplication. “The powder format is so easy to apply, so kids won’t complain about goopy sunscreen — there’s no smell and it’s translucent,” she says. “The brush is soft and brightly colored, so it’s fun to apply.”
SPF rating: 30 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: powder | Fragrance-free: yes
Cerave’s products are oil-free, fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin in both kids and adults, experts say. The mineral-based sunscreen has hyaluronic acid, which helps retain the skin’s natural moisture. Since it can leave a white cast, the brand recommends thoroughly massaging the cream on one small area of the body at a time about 15 minutes before sun exposure. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of rubbing this sunscreen on a toddler that doesn’t sit still, King recommends the stick version of this sunscreen that goes on clear.
SPF rating: 30 | Water-resistance: 90 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: lotion | Fragrance-free: yes
Carter recommends this mineral-based, water-resistant Babyganics sunscreen for young kids with sensitive skin. It has SPF 50 protection and a mineral base containing both zinc oxide and titanium oxide. The sunscreen is meant to be hypoallergenic and tear-free.
SPF rating: 50 | Water-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: mineral | Consistency: lotion | Fragrance-free: yes
Dermatologists told me sunscreens should have a minimum of SPF 30 to provide an adequate amount of protection, regardless of age. “[But] I think SPF 50 or higher is better, as most people put on a much thinner layer of sunscreen than the sunscreen manufacturers recommend and use for their testing to quantify the SPF level,” says Dr. Jennifer Mancuso, a pediatric dermatologist at the University of Michigan Health.
Just as importantly, you should look for a kids’ sunscreen that’s broad spectrum, meaning it’s “protecting against UVA, which causes tanning and skin aging, as well as UVB, which causes sunburns and skin cancers,” says Mancuso.
Stick to mineral (also known as physical) sunscreens rather than chemical ones, the latter of which are absorbed into the skin and can be more irritating, says Carter. “For infants and young children, it’s typically recommended to use mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — these are more stable and less irritating or allergenic for sensitive skin,” says Mancuso.
Some sunscreens labeled “mineral-based” may contain some chemical components, but are still suitable for older kids, says Carter (just make sure to check the ingredients list). However, babies and young children between six months old and two years old should use mineral-only sunscreen to avoid any potential irritation on their sensitive skin, says Dr. Karan Lal, a board-certified dermatologist and committee chair of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. (You should avoid using sunscreen on infants under six months old and stick to sun-protective clothing instead, according to the FDA.)
Because mineral sunscreens tend to leave more of a white sheen on the skin, some people may prefer to use chemical sunscreen. Older children, teenagers and adults should be fine to use chemical sunscreens as a last resort, experts say. However, the FDA says that active ingredients in chemical sunscreens, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, need to be studied more before they can be deemed safe and effective by the organization.
While applying (and reapplying) sunscreen throughout the day does offer an important layer of protection for kids, there are other steps you can (and should) take to keep your kids safe from the sun’s harmful rays. The experts I spoke to recommend the following sun safety tips:
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am an updates editor at NBC Select who has covered a variety of children’s wellness topics, including electric toothbrushes, bikes and rolling backpacks. For this piece, I interviewed four dermatologists and researched dozens of sunscreens for kids on the market.
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