Sunscreen is not optional, especially for kids and especially during the summer. In fact, dermatologists we spoke to say it’s crucial for all children over six months of age, regardless of skin tone.
“It helps prevent damage from the sun that goes beyond the painful effects of sunburn, including increased risk for skin cancers down the line,” says Dr. Rebecca Carter, a pediatrician at the University of Maryland Medical Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Visit your local drugstore and you’ll find many safe and effective sunscreen options on the shelves. It might feel overwhelming to see the varying SPF ratings, application types and formulas. To help you determine the best sunscreen for your child, we spoke to dermatologists about what to look for and, importantly, how to properly apply it. We also rounded up expert-recommended sunscreens for kids to consider.
SKIP AHEAD What is the safest sunscreen to use on kids? | What is the best type of kids sunscreen? | How to best apply sunscreen to your kids | Other sun-safety tips for children
Our top picks
- Best stick sunscreen for kids: Blue Lizard Kids Mineral Sunscreen
- Best lotion sunscreen for kids: Banana Boat Kids 100% Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
- Best powder sunscreen for kids: Bob Kids Brush-On Mineral Powder Sunscreen
- Best hydrating sunscreen for kids: CeraVe 100% Mineral Sunscreen
How we picked the best sunscreens for kids
In order to compile the best sunscreens for kids below, we spoke to six dermatologists about the safest sunscreens to use on kids. The experts we spoke to recommend the following factors to keep in mind:
- Formulation: You should stick to a mineral sunscreen — also known as a physical blocker — that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead of a chemical base. A mineral sunscreen won’t absorb into the skin (but rather, sits on top of it like a barrier), which helps avoid irritation. The sunscreen should also be labeled noncomedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your child’s pores.
- SPF protection: Your child’s sunscreen should have a minimum SPF 30 protection — SPF 50 or higher being ideal.
- Consistency: Look for creams and lotions, which experts told us are the most effective to use on your child as they provide a greater amount of coverage when compared to spray sunscreens. Stick sunscreens are also recommended, but they may be harder to lather onto your child’s skin.
The best sunscreens for kids
All of the following sunscreens for kids were recommended by our experts and are in line with their guidance.
Blue Lizard Kids Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Blue Lizard’s mineral sunscreens are a favorite among our experts. “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. This stick version — also available as a mineral-based lotion, which contains a chemical ingredient in addition to mineral filters — is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes and offers 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. Blue Lizard makes sunscreens for babies in stick and lotion form.
SPF rating: 50 | Water- and sweat-resistance: 80 minutes |Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Stick | Fragrance-free: Yes
CeraVe 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
CeraVe’s products are oil-free, fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin in both kids and adults, according to Dr. Amy Witt, a board-certified dermatologist at Derrow Dermatology. The mineral-based sunscreen also has hyaluronic acid, which experts previously told us can help 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.
SPF rating: 30 | Water- and sweat-resistance: 90 minutes | Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Lotion | Fragrance-free: Yes
Babyganics Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Carter recommends this mineral-based Babyganics Sunscreen Lotion as a great option. 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- and sweat-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Lotion | Fragrance-free: Yes
Neutrogena Kids Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Stick SPF 50
Neutrogena’s Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Stick for kids has a hypoallergenic formula and is free of fragrances and dyes, which helps prevent irritation on your child’s sensitive skin, according to the brand. “It's a little bit hard to put this all over the body because it's a stick, but I think it's great for noses and faces, and I especially love it for the scalp,” says Dr. Emmy Graber, a board-certified dermatologist and president of The Dermatology Institute of Boston. “I put it on [my kids’] part line so they don’t get sunburned — everybody forgets about that part.”
SPF rating: 50 | Water- and sweat-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Stick |Fragrance-free: Yes
Brush on Block Kids Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 30
This physical sunscreen is a favorite of King’s 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- and sweat-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Powder | Fragrance-free: Yes
Banana Boat Kids 100% Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Another favorite of both Witt’s and Graber’s, the Banana Boat Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 50 protection sports the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which means it’s suitable for people with eczema and sensitive skin. The formula is non-greasy, fragrance- and tear-free.
SPF rating: 50 | Water- and sweat-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Lotion | Fragrance-free: Yes
Aveeno Kids Continuous Protection Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Witt cited Aveeno as another quality brand when looking for a kids' sunscreen — its mild formula has skin-soothing oat and won’t cause irritation or stinging, according to the brand. The lotion has a non-greasy and fragrance-free formula.
SPF rating: 50 | Water- and sweat-resistance: 80 minutes | Sunscreen type: Mineral | Consistency: Lotion | Fragrance-free: Yes
Related
What is the safest sunscreen to use on kids?
Dermatologists told us 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,” Mancuso says.
Mineral sunscreen vs. chemical sunscreen
The dermatologists we spoke to recommend sticking to mineral (also known as physical) sunscreens rather than chemical ones, the latter of which Carter explains are absorbed into the skin and can be more irritating. “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,” Mancuso says.
Some sunscreens labeled “mineral-based” may contain some chemical components, but are still suitable for older kids, according to Carter (just make sure to check the ingredients list). However, babies and young children between six months old and 2 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 an unsightly white sheen on the skin, some people may prefer to use chemical sunscreen. Experts told us that older children, teenagers and adults should be fine to use chemical sunscreens as a last resort — 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.
What is the best type of sunscreen for kids?
While sunscreens can be sprays, gels, lotions and creams, our experts recommend creams and lotions since they provide the most amount of coverage. Witt says she also loves applying stick sunscreens on her kids’ faces — “they have fun doing it themselves and they’re more water-repellent, so they’re less likely to get in their eyes if they're sweating,” she says.
Though spray sunscreens can be a popular choice for older kids and teens, Graber doesn’t recommend them due to poor coverage (on top of possibly being inhaled in the application process). “Even though they seem really fast and easy to apply, you rarely get good coverage over the whole body because it just doesn't go on evenly — any slight bit of wind will blow it away,” she says. If you do use a spray sunscreen, “make sure to spray it into your hand — away from your child's face and eyes — to apply instead of spraying directly onto your child's skin,” Carter says.
How to best apply sunscreen to your kids
Kids, especially younger ones, may need to rely on adults to apply and reapply sunscreen. Lal recommends following the “9 teaspoon rule”: 1 teaspoon for the face and neck, 1 for the torso, 1 for the back, 1 for each arm and 2 teaspoons for each leg. And just like adults, sunscreen on kids should be reapplied every two hours, he adds.
All sunscreens tend to be washed off when swimming or sweating, so it’s important to reapply your child’s sunscreen every time they get wet. Mancuso says this still applies to sunscreen products labeled as "water-resistant" (which means your child’s protected for 40 minutes of activity in water or while sweating) or "very water-resistant" (meaning they’re protected for 80 minutes). “It may help to set an alarm on your phone to remind you to reapply it,” she suggested.
There are a few ways to gauge whether your child is using enough sunscreen. “It should be hard to blend in — especially with the creams or lotions — so you should have a lot of white streaks on your skin or else you didn't use enough,” Witt says. You also should go through bottles of sunscreen within a couple of weeks if you're using it every day on multiple family members.
Can kids use the same sunscreen as adults?
Yes, kids can use the same sunscreen as teens and adults as long as they contain mineral-based formulas with broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection or higher, according to our experts. Some older kids, teens and adults may prefer a higher SPF chemical sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white residue on the skin, but Lal recommends only using adult sunscreens labeled as pure mineral-based on young children.
Other sun-safety tips for children
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. Our experts highlighted a few additional tips, such as how to handle exposure during peak sun times and opting for sun-safe clothing.
- Avoid taking your child out during peak UV hours. “Seek shade whenever possible and avoid prolonged sun between 10 AM and 2 PM when the sun is strongest,” Lal says.
- Opt for protective clothing and accessories. This includes UPF clothing, which will offer full coverage, like long sleeves and sun-protective rash guards, along with wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses when they’re outside, according to King.
- Ensure there’s always a covered area. “I recommend purchasing a kid tent to use at the beach to help their kids stay protected during downtime,” Lal says.
Meet our experts
At 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.
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
- Dr. Amy Witt is a board-certified dermatologist at Derrow Dermatology in Maitland, Florida.
- Dr. Emmy Graber is a board-certified dermatologist and president of The Dermatology Institute of Boston.
- Dr. Rebecca Carter is a pediatrician at the University of Maryland Medical Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
- Dr. Jennifer Mancuso is a pediatric dermatologist at University of Michigan Health.
- Dr. Karan Lal is a board-certified dermatologist and committee chair of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology.
Why trust Select?
Mili Godio is an editor at Select who has covered a variety of children’s wellness topics, including electric toothbrushes, bikes and rolling backpacks. For this piece, Godio interviewed six dermatologists and researched dozens of sunscreens for kids on the market. We included seven products recommended by pediatric dermatologists.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
