My vote for best mineral sunscreen for kids

Let me start by saying, we went with mineral sunscreen purely out of the fad of moving away from chemical and into mineral sunscreen. I looked more into mineral vs chemical sunscreen and upon that research I am finding that I am not as worried about using chemical as I previously was.

Why I chose mineral

I was writing this post and was almost done when Johnson and Johnson recalled some of their sunscreens due to the ingredient Benzene. It is a voluntary recall and there is much more research to be done, but I do feel this is why many are making the switch early–and why we are doing so.

Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, a substance that could potentially cause cancer depending on the level and extent of exposure. Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment. Humans around the world have daily exposures indoors and outdoors from multiple sources. Benzene can be absorbed, to varying degrees, by inhalation, through the skin, and orally. Based on exposure modeling and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) framework, daily exposure to benzene in these aerosol sunscreen products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling all lots of these specific aerosol sunscreen products.

Johnson & Johnson

My husband, and many others don’t like mineral because it must be rubbed in-cannot spray, and it does not rub in all the way, you look white/pale. I keep researching for back up in my story. This is what I came up with.

The main difference between the two I found is:

… minderal sunscreens use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that sit on the surface of the skin and act as a physical barrier against the sun’s rays, a chemical sunscreen is absorbed into the skin, penetrating on a deeper level.

Part of why chemical SPFs are absorbed so deeply is due to the chemical ingredients used, namely, oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and/or octinoxate, as Green points out. Rather than sitting on the surface of the skin, these ingredients sink into pores to react with UV rays there. While this offers strong protection, many chemical SPF naysayers point out that the very nature of these ingredients draws the damaging rays further into the skin, potentially causing more sun damage.

Dr. Michele Green, The Pioneer Woman: Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreen

How they work

I summarized this to my brothers like this: mineral is like a pig coating itself in mud, chemical is using chemicals to make the rays not harmful in the skin.

One of the major benefits I saw of mineral over chemical is

…there are a few reasons why mineral sunscreen may be preferable. “Mineral sunscreens get to work protecting your skin right away, so you can slather it on and go,” she explains. “Chemical sunscreen, however, requires a little more time. We recommend that patients apply it 30 minutes before going out in the sun to ensure that the sunscreen has had time to activate and fully protect your skin.

Dendy Engleman, The Pioneer Woman: Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreen

Due to this, I made a rule in our house: when leaving the house for the first time, suck it up and scrub on the mineral in and then if you want to use either for reapplications through out the day that is ok, but not preferred. I would rather them be protected first and foremost and if that means a chemical spray by someone else, then I will accept that.

My contenders

Babyganics

• I used this kind last year in the pump kind and I was excited to find it in continuous spray this year.
  • The continuous spray is the easiest of the babyganics to spray in
  • If you let it dry, it is harder to rub in. I recommend not spraying the whole body and going back and rubbing, but spray, rub, and go somewhere else on the body.
• Smells fine
• Kids did not burn
• Did not rub in very well (sticky) and left a lot of white.

Hello Bello

**this is the winner!** Of all of these this would be my favorite and the one I continue to purchase.

• I originally got this in my Hello Bello Diaper subscription box (which was awesome because free shipping AND discount!) but we no longer use our subscription with potty trained kids. Only available at Walmart but I did find you can add it to a grocery pick up order!!
• We have used the stick, tube, and spray. I would say they all rub in equally well.
• I think it smells good
• Kids did not burn
• Rubbed in decent for a mineral. I use the tube and stick for face and spray for body.

State of Sun

• I got this in a FabFitFun add on. It is only available on the State of Sun website that I can currently find.
• I have the stick, tube, and spray.
• Smells fine
• Kids did not burn
• I would say this was the toughest to rub in and left the most white residue. We will use it up, but we will not buy again.

Bare Republic

• I got this in a FabFitFun add on, but is also available at Target. I originally got it for me, but began sharing with the kids.
• We have the spray in a couple of scents.
• Smells the best-really good scents
• Kids did not burn
• Rubbed in ok and would use it again. If I am going to streamline though, I will just get one kind for the whole family now.

Mama Bear Organics

**This is a winner but not for the beach purely for how fast we go through it with this many bodies and the surface area to cover at the beach***

• We are on the MamaBear Army affiliate team, I got this in my welcome box last year.
• I get it in the tube form.
• Smells good and is organic
• Kids did not burn
• rubs in really well
• We use this one to keep in my fanny pack when going on trips outdoors (when less areas need to be covered and we want to avoid the overspray onto clothes)
• I really like this for a quick sunscreen on the go but to use it on the whole body on a beach day it runs out quickly. I will for sure keep it in stock and in my car and fanny pack.

Other Suggestions

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Shop the Sunscreens

some I could not find, **Affiliate links** to those I could find.