Friday, September 26, 2008

Which sunscreen is best for kids?


With so many sunscreen products out there, it's very confusing to choose one, especially for young kids. Which sunscreen is the best?
I have spent so many hours researching on this, since I have young kids with sensitive skin.
I hope this will help some of you readers out there.

Here's the general guidelines:
  • Use SPF of 15 or higher
  • Wear sunscreen if you will be exposed to the sun for more than 20 minutes, even in cloudy weather.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies under 6 months be kept out of the sun altogether.
  • Baby Center suggests "physical" or "chemical-free" sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
  • Wear hat if possible.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) made an extensive researched on more than 1000 sunscreens, analyzed both the safety of the ingredients and the effectiveness of the products. According to the result:
..... 4 out of 5 contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays. Some of the worst offenders are leading brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena.
So, beware of what you buy... If might have done more hazard than protecting your skin.

Here's the 10 recommended brands:
  1. Blue Lizard (without oxybenzone)
  2. California Baby (SPF30+)
  3. CVS (with zinc oxide)
  4. Jason Natural Cosmetics (Sunbrellas mineral based sunblock)
  5. Kiss My Face ("Paraben Free")
  6. Neutrogena (Sensitive skin sunblock)
  7. Olay (Defense Daily UV Moisturizer with zinc)
  8. SkinCeuticals(Physical UV Defense)
  9. SolarSense (Clear Zinc for Face)
  10. Walgreens(Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears)
After reading the article, I have tried Blue Lizard and California Baby.
Both are great, easy to put on. California Baby is thinner than Blue Lizard.
If you live in Bay Area, you can find California Baby (#3 on the list) at Target and Wholefoods.
I have yet to find Blue Lizard sold on any store, but you can order online through Amazon.

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