Summer is finally here, meaning plenty of outdoor activities, afternoons at the playground and trips to the beach are in your future. That’s why it’s important to remember how crucial sun safety is for you and your little ones. Applying sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine as it protects skin from harmful ultraviolet rays (and, let's be honest, sunburns are the worst). If possible, physical barriers—like hats, sleeves and umbrellas—are best, but for active kiddos, effective sunscreen is crucial.
To help us better understand the quality of the sunscreen we use, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group releases its Guide to Sunscreens every year. For 2018, the group tested roughly 650 sunscreens, analyzed them and rated them. Out of all the sunscreens EWG tested, 216 (yes, only 216) met all their criteria.
Among the most-perfect sunscreens are Adorable Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+; Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Lotion Sunscreen; Hawaiian Sol Sol Kid Kare, SPF 50; and TruBaby Water & Play Sunscreen, SPF 30+. And, parents, you don't have to splurge on fancy sunscreen either—the Walmart brand Equate Baby Zinc Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, SPF 50 even made the list. Also interesting is EWG's advice on sunscreen application—according to their dos and don'ts, it's best to avoid sprays due to the risk of you missing a spot. Instead, stick to creams.
On a scarier note, the guide found that oxybenzone, a common chemical found in sunscreen, poses a hazard not only to the environment but to human health. The chemical is an allergen and a hormone disruptor that easily soaks through skin, and it was found in roughly two-thirds of non-mineral sunscreens EWG assessed. In order to avoid this scary chemical, stick to buying one of the sunscreens on EWG's list.
It's important as parents to be extra curious about the products you choose for your little ones, especially when it comes to sun safety. To read the entire sunscreen guide and to learn more about the sunscreens in your cabinet, visit the EWG website.