Choosing the best SPF cream for children can be a challenge. And since high-quality creams with broad-spectrum UV protection aren’t exactly cheap, we decided to help you decide. Here is a test of seven sunscreens for kids that you can definitely choose from. Tried and tested on our own offspring!
It’s always a challenge! You need to be in full body armour to get your child coated in SPF creambefore going out. Nobody has yet managed to explain to me convincingly why children (and mostly men too, for that matter) cannot stand putting any body products on. So for children up to a certain age, you’ll need a variety of manipulative techniques, favourite songs, videos on your phone (you may disagree, but it works – tried and tested!) or maybe some sweets.
Once they get past the age of eight or so, these parenting tricks won’t help. By this point, you need to have explained patiently and systematically the need for SPF protection every day when we are outdoors, so that children form healthy habits for the future. And get the kids their own travel pack of sunscreen for all trips or outdoor adventures so that they can reapply it regularly. There is also a range of tinted roll-on sunscreens so children can see exactly where they have applied the sunscreen.
We sought out the best sunscreens for children, which are suitable for even the most sensitive, delicate skin, can cope with sweat, sand and water and, above all, provide the highest possible SPF protection.
You should ideally opt for broad-spectrum sunscreens for children. They provide protection against UVB and UVA rays. What’s more, those that contain mineral filters do not penetrate the skin but instead form a protective layer that reflects the harmful rays. Creams with mineral filters also protect them immediately after application.
What I liked most: Mineral filters and instant protection when applied, vegan, spreads easily, packs superbly for trips or your carry-on luggage.
Advantages: It is easily spread, absorbed and applied, partly because of its spray format. The consistency is nice and light, more of a fluid. When you first apply it, the skin feels oilier, but this feeling disappears almost immediately. The Naif Baby & Kids Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 spray for children from birth hydrates perfectly and did not bother my daughter, whose skin has allergic tendencies. It coated the drier spots on her body beautifully and didn’t sting.
Disadvantages: For me personally, the more pronounced and not very pleasant fragrance. The sunscreen is meant to be OK even for the smallest babies, but personally I can’t imagine applying something that smells like this.
What I liked most: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Pediatrics is completely fragrance-free, which is a huge, significant plus for me (as is the 50+ protection). It is ultra-lightweight and instantly absorbed. It didn’t sting the eyes at all (when my daughter accidentally applied a larger amount).
Advantages: Broad-spectrum protection, it can withstand more than an hour of swimming (we used a towel after drying) and is resistant to sand friction (tested!). It does not dry out and keeps the skin beautifully supple. It absorbs perfectly into the skin and does not leave any white marks.
Disadvantages: None that I found. For me personally, the best sunscreen for children.
What I liked most: It is fragrance-free, does not sting even in areas with allergic rash, it’s not sticky and it’s quick to apply. High protection and waterproof. And it is friendly to aquatic ecosystems.
Advantages: It is suitable for children from one year old, but the whole family can use it (so logically 200 ml won’t last very long). I also applied it to my face while on holiday and it moisturised it wonderfully. With the Bioderma Photoderm Pediatrics 50+ children’s sunscreen, we never once in ten days at the seaside experienced even mild skin irritation from the sun, salt or sand. If you apply it diligently, it’s top SPF protection. The sunscreen test for children has its silver medal!
Disadvantages: It may just have been the specific one I had, but the spray had pretty wide dispersion and the cream did not just go on our bodies, but all over the place.
What I liked most: Spreads well and absorbs quickly, proven to soothe the skin without drying it out, silicone-free.
Advantages: The Avène Sun Kids children’s SPF 50+ sun lotion for children surprised me by how quickly it was “sucked” into the skin and it felt very pleasant, even on the face. Even though it contains a minimal quantity of filters, it really does provide great protection (we tried it high up in the mountains) and not a single ear, nose or shoulder went red. The 250-ml size is great for the whole family for a short holiday. The manufacturer claims that this baby sunscreen soothes and protects the skin thanks to the Avene thermal water, which I can definitely confirm. If only it calmed the kids too...
Disadvantages: Slightly sticky, but nothing unpleasant. Some people might be bothered by the (subtle) perfume and its format of a classic lotion in a tube.
What I liked most: The pleasant fluid consistency and application using a spray. This children’s tanning spray, SPF 50+ Nivea Sun Kids, is fragrance-free and moisturises well.
Advantages: It goes on beautifully, and as far as normal sun exposure goes (trips, the garden, etc.), there was not a single problem with any skin irritation from the sun, let alone sunburn, for the entire test period, which was over a month long (in May). The spray smells nice and even our youngest son, who’s 5, likes it because of the fragrance.
Disadvantages: We didn't find any.
What I liked most: It does not dry out and is quickly absorbed after application. It hydrates well, isn’t sticky and is fragrance-free. For me personally, it is also important that it is environment-friendly, for the oceans and coral reefs.
Advantages: Uriage Bariésun Bariésun-Repair SPF 50+ hydrates the skin beautifully and, thanks to the Skin Shield technology and the Telomeres Protect patent, it prevents cell damage and provides broad protection against UVA and UVB rays. And even against blue light. It leaves no white marks on the skin after application and it also feels pleasant on the face (I have used it several times as a primer).
Disadvantages: The 100-ml version is fine for reapplying and for trips. With our consumption and daily application, the SPF cream lasted 14 days.
What I liked most: The liquid consistency in a spray and very fast absorption. The A-Derma Protect Kids 50+ protective sunscreen spray protects against UVA and UVB rays and also protects skin cell DNA.
Advantages: One of the ingredients in the sunscreen is organically grown Rhealba® oats – specifically the oil extracted from this plant, which has restorative, soothing and regenerative effects. Which I can confirm, because we tested it in the period during which my daughter is allergic to spring pollen and her skin is incredibly reactive, perhaps even to touch. We used the spray lotion almost daily and not only did her skin tolerate the sun, it also stopped itching and really regenerated faster in the areas where she had a rash. For me it’s a great children’s sunscreen for sensitive skin.
Disadvantages: Although it is fragrance-free, I thought it had a not-so-pleasant scent. But it had no negative effect on sensitive skin.
So now do you know how to choose the best sunscreen for children? If so, we’re glad we could help and the review was helpful. And don’t forget – apply SPF at least 20 minutes before you let your kids out in the sun or water. And reapply it after bathing, towelling dry, heavy sweating, or every two to three hours.