best non-toxic sunscreens for your little one

Looking for the BEST list of Non-Toxic Sunscreen for your kids, either for island life here at home or your next vacay? Here are the safest sunscreens for you and your little ones.

We know living here in Grand Cayman on a sunny Caribbean Island how important being sun smart is! We also know how easy it is to be fooled by deceptive marketing and hard-to-understand ingredient list when it comes to protecting children from the sun.

It’s surprising to find that so many sunscreen brands out there are filled with super harsh chemicals. Even ones that claim they are a ‘mineral based sunscreen’, or has 5* reviews!

Toxic chemicals found in many sunscreen brands are even more damaging when used on children. An infant’s skin is up to five times thinner than adults, meaning toxic chemicals found in sunscreen lotions and sprays will potentially absorb into your child much faster and easier.

To make the hunt for a safe non-toxic sunscreen easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best ones for you to get your hands on! (All available on Amazon US).

1.Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen & Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SFP50

Babo Botanicals is one of our favourite lightweight fragrance-free sunscreens! It’s a bit higher priced than other nonchemical sunscreens but worth every drop.

Most paediatricians will recommend Babo Botanicals Baby mineral sunscreen for babies (or adults) with sensitive skin because it uses 4 organic botanicals (meadowsweet, calendula, watercress, and chamomile) to soothe delicate skin.

The active ingredient is 100% zinc and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes!

This brand also offers a Baby Face Sunscreen Stick SPF50!

Babo Botancis sunscreen stick is perfect sun protection for kids (or adults!) that have sensitive skin and hate applying thick sunscreen creams that cause irritations. This formula is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic and comes highly recommended by dermatologists.

2. Think Baby Clear Zinc Sunscreen

The Think Baby Clear Zinc Oxide Sunscreen has it all when it comes to looking for a safe and effective sunscreen for your kids!

Think is a broad-spectrum sunscreen protecting from UVA and UVB rays. And best of all, there are no harmful chemicals that you will find in most chemical sunscreens (like parabens, phthalates, and oxybenzone). The reef-safe formula is made up of non-nano zinc oxide, glycerine, castor oil, and sunflower oil.

Does it go on clear? Not exactly… we have fair skin, and despite the fact that this sunscreen applies smoothly and evenly, it does indeed leave a very minor white cast on our skin.

 3. Badger Organic Mineral Sunscreen Cream

Like many other mineral sunscreens on the list, the Badger Organics mineral sunscreen is made with non-nano zinc oxide to protect your baby’s skin from UVA and UVB sun rays!

Badger products are all made without oxybenzone, octinoxate (hormone disruptor), and other harsh ingredients found in chemical sunscreens making them safe for you and your whole family!

You will feel good knowing that this line of sun blockers is also reef-friendly and sustainable, certified cruelty-free, and USA-made with clean solar power.

4. Hello Bello Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Shea Butter

The Hello Bello Mineral Sunscreen line was created by actress Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard to give all parents access to affordable, premium products for their kids!

This broad-spectrum sunscreen for babies and kids is a bit thicker than most but still rubs easily onto the skin. It provides full coverage sun protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays with minimal effort, though it does leave behind a slight white cast on the skin afterward.

We love that this baby sunscreen uses natural ingredients like shea butter, avocado, and apricot extracts! And is free from harmful chemicals like synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone, and octinoxate.

Basically, this sunscreen is made with eco-friendly ingredients without sacrificing quality!

5. Pipette Baby Broad Spectrum SPF50

You will love that Pipette Baby Sunscreen checks all the boxes! The formula is hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, pediatrician approved and EWG verified.

The Pipette Sunscreen is made with unique ingredients like sugarcane and wild gooseberry extract.

The sugarcane is derived from squalane, which is proven to nourish the skin and help the product glide on easier, making it the perfect solution for your squirmy toddlers. While the gooseberry extract has a calming effect on the skin adding a range of benefits for those with sensitive skin.

6. Earth Mama Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF40

Earth Mama Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion is a nongreasy formula that is the perfect sun protection solution for those that have kids with super sensitive skin! The formula has broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays.

What makes this product unique is that it contains organic red raspberry seed oil which is said to have the highest naturally occurring SPF value in plants! The organic colloidal oatmeal helps keep your kid’s skin rash free and protects again eczema breakouts.

Although the best way to protect your child’s delicate skin is by reducing sun exposure, wearing protective sun clothing and staying in the shade; sometimes this isn’t always possible, especially during a swimming lesson in pools with no shade. Therefore, parents must carefully select which sunscreen their babies should use as protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

What are the differences between chemical & mineral sunscreens?

You’ll find two types of sunscreens on the market: chemical & mineral. Both are designed to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, but there are some key differences to look out for!

 Mineral sunscreens contain active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which form a physical barrier on the skin to physically deflect harmful UV rays (UVA and UVB rays). Mineral sunscreens are usually thicker and harder to spread.

Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, contain active ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone which absorb UV rays to protect the skin. Chemical sunscreens are generally easier to apply and usually come in a lighter consistency than mineral ones.

What to avoid in chemical sunscreens:

Chemical sunscreens are packed with harsh ingredients that you could potentially avoid by using a mineral based one instead.

 These active chemical sunscreen ingredients should be avoided at all costs:

• Oxybenzone

• Avobenzone

• Octisalate

• Homosalate 

• Octocrylene

 Many sun products like Banana Boat and Hawaiian Topics contain these dangerous chemicals which can throw off your body’s metabolism, energy levels, or reproductive growth. To ensure you and your kids stay safe in the sunshine steer clear from chemical sunscreens altogether!

A general rule when looking for safe sunscreens:

• Avoid chemical sunscreens that contain active ingredients with oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, homosalate, and octocrylene.

• Avoid Parabens, Propylene Glycol, added fragrances or essential oils, and sulfates.

• Avoid Sunscreen sprays. Inhaling even small amounts of titanium dioxide can cause lung damage to you and your little ones.

• Look for sunscreens with Zinc Oxide as the ONLY main active ingredient.

• Look for sunscreens with broad spectrum coverage to protect against UVA and UVB rays.