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Now that summer is officially here, it's time for pool parties and beach bonanzas — but don't even think of sending your little sunray outside without a thick coating of sun protection. Dermatologist Jacob Lau, M.D. helped me wade through the good, the bad and the ugly of sunscreen. The good: Lau says that application method doesn't impact effectiveness, so you can spray, slather or stick sunscreen on your squirmer. The bad: while a lot of available sunscreens contain decent UVB defense (these types of rays are associated with sunburn), many lack adequate UVA protection (UVA rays can lead to premature aging and the development of skin cancer). The ugly: as Strollerderby blogger Karen noted, to be effective, sunscreen needs to be applied twenty to thirty minutes before sun exposure and reapplied throughout the day. All that hassle is worth it, however: Lau shared a study that showed a 78% decrease in two types of skin cancer in people who used any type of sunscreen regularly during the first eighteen years of life. Pick up one of the sunscreens below and slather away. — Katie Bayless
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California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion
2.9 oz for $18
Full disclosure: I am a California mother. That bias nothwithstanding, I was thoroughly impressed with the sun protection line by California Baby. Available in both a fragrance-free and a lightly fragranced everyday/year-round formula, the California Baby sun protection line includes an SPF 30 lotion, an SPF 18 moisturizing lotion and an SPF 30 stick. Great for sensitive skin, each product is PABA-free and contains no nut oil, gluten, soy, oat or dairy. One of my favorite features of this line is their ingredients list, which is integrated with layman's terms: "cyclomeythicone (water repellent), candelilla wax (protects against moisture loss)." Thanks to California Baby, I can get great sun protection and make poolside smalltalk about the benefits of candelilla wax.
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Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55
3 oz for $12
Neutrogena has brought one of the latest advances in sunscreen to the drugstore shelves with the Helioplex technology found in their Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. In a nutshell, many sunscreens contain UVA protection that lasts two to three hours; Helioplex is a stabilizer that increases the sunscreen's UVA effectiveness for five to seven hours. Keep in mind that this is a chemical sunscreen as opposed to a physical barrier like zinc, and so there is more potential for irritation or allergic reaction, especially in children with sensitive skin. That said, if you're going to use a chemical-based sunblock, this is one of the longest-lasting options on the market. In addition to being waterproof, sweatproof and PABA-free, this dry-touch formula leaves you and your little one grease-free and protected for hours. |
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Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55
4 oz for $10.50
One of my recent favorites this summer has been Aveeno's Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion. It boasts an "active photobarrier complex" that is supposed to maintain broad UV protection over time. Note, however, that it lacks any of the newer stabilizing technologies, and so it needs to reapplied every few hours. Easy to rub in and with no greasy residue, this mild, waterproof sunblock is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, and also by my one-year-old.
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Doctor T's Supergoop SPF 30
1 oz for $9
The fabulous name didn't hurt, but Doctor T's Supergoop made the list because of its ease of use. A few years ago, I wouldn't have dared slather myself in sticky-feeling sunscreen every day — but this lightweight lotion makes it easy to turn sunscreen into a daily parent-and-child habit. You'll be glad for what Supergoop has (SPF 30, water/sweat resistance, hypoallergenic ingredients) and what it's lacking (PABA, fragrance, oil). Thumbs up as well for its packaging: eco-friendly, recyclable bottles in multiple sizes. |
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