Does anyone else feel like buying sunscreen takes a PhD and two hours internet research? I do. And then I'm too tired to swim. That's why we're happy to share some family-tested sunscreens that we've thoroughly tested-- and we checked the EWG Skin Deep list, too, where top sunscreens are rated with the lowest numbers. (But take some of it with a grain of salt - not every ingredient that is of concern to them, like fragrance, is of concern to everyone.)
Sunny times are here again!
Our family of four rotated through three different product lines this summer, and I'm happy to report that none of us had a single sunburn, even after trips to St. Augustine, Disney World, and our neighborhood pool. That's a huge accomplishment, especially when you consider my husband's super fair skin--which he
assures me is just a primer.
1. Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35
EWG rating: 2 Protective ingredients: 5% Titanium Dioxide, 5% Zinc Oxide Where you can get it: Whole Foods, Amazon.com, Target.com, Diapers.com, Ecomom.com How much it costs: $14.99 for 4 oz. Why we love it: Easy to find, great price point, and my kids love the official Eric Carle artwork on the bottle. This great range also includes fantastic balm, butter, and a super-foamy, extra-gentle bubble bath that gets major raves at bathtime.2. Goddess Garden sunscreens
BABY Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 EWG rating: 1 Protective ingredients: 20% Zinc Oxide Where you can get it: Goddess Garden How much it costs: $13.99, 3.5 oz. Why we love it: It boasts the most easy to decode ingredients list of any sunscreen I've ever used-- the Baby sunscreen has only 10, and several are organic. The smell is light and nice. And for a baby sunscreen, it rubs in easily and is tear-free. KID'S Natural Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 EWG rating: 3 Protective ingredients: 7% Titanium Dioxide, 6% Zinc Oxide Where you can get it: Goddess Garden How much it costs: $19.99, 8 oz. Why we love it:: Because it's great for dads! This one is my husband's all time favorite for himself and the kids. Nice, light smell, great spray bottle, rubs in easily. Best spray we've ever used. I also tried the Goddess Garden Kid's Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, which worked just fine and clocks in at $13.99 for 3.5 oz. But the BABY and Spray were our two favs.3. MD Moms Baby Silk SPF 30 + moisturizing lotion
EWG rating: 3 Protective ingredients: 8% Titanium Dioxide, 5% Zinc Oxide Where you can get it: mdmoms.com, Amazon, and a variety of stores How much it costss: $24, 2.7oz Why we love it:: Because it's gentle, approved for infants, sweat-proof, and TSA-approved for carry on luggage. This line was developed by pediatricians and is one of the few truly fragrance-free sunblocks I've tried.
