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Just like adults, kids also need sunscreen to protect their skin against the damaging effects of the sun's UV rays. This is especially important for children because their skin is more sensitive than adults. The right sunscreen for kids reduces the chance of having sunburn and other skin-related diseases, keeping your little ones' skin healthy.
Below, we've mentioned our top 10 picks of the best sunscreen for kids that you can get online. Plus, we've listed down some considerations that you should look into before buying one. We've also included some comments and tips from dermatologist Dr. Katrina Erika Habaluyas Luz and some of her answers to some of the most-asked questions on the web.
Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
It is a known fact that children have more sensitive skin than adults. As such, their skin can be easily irritated and damaged. The use of sunscreen is significantly important for kids because most of their activities take place in broad daylight such as going to school, playing sports, or merely going outdoors.
Applying sunscreen on your children's skin can reduce the risk of sunburn, irritation, and other skin-related diseases caused by the harmful UV rays. Most sunscreens available in the market also have other benefits such as moisturizing and hydrating the skin.
Additionally, the sun's rays can pass through clouds, so it is still necessary to use sunscreen even on cloudy days. Just because the naked eye cannot see UV rays does not mean they are not present in the environment.
Sunscreens protect the skin by preventing and minimizing the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays. Now, children aren't exempt from the harmful rays of the sun. In fact, because the skin of infants and toddlers is thinner, has less melanin, and is immature, UV radiation can penetrate the skin more deeply with less of an immune response against UV damage, putting them at higher risk for cumulative UV damage and skin cancer.
On the other hand, consideration must be made given the greater susceptibility to absorption of chemical sunscreens via the skin of children. Thus, making sunscreen use in children is a bit of a challenge! At the end of the day, the benefits outweigh the risk - as sunscreens provide children the necessary protection from sunburns, UV damage, and skin cancer.
Sun protection is important, and that includes kids too! Before letting them play outdoors or hitting the beach, don’t forget to slather on a layer of sun protection. If you’re not sure about which sunscreen to get, read our buying guide below!
The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) indicates how well a sunscreen can safeguard the skin against harmful UV rays. Thus, children should use sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 and above. The higher the SPF, the more protection it can provide.
It is also essential to look for the broad-spectrum label on the product’s packaging. This means that the sunscreen is capable of protecting your little ones' skin from both UVA and UVB rays. A good quality sunscreen must be capable of filtering both these rays to prevent skin related-diseases.
SPF basically refers to the amount of UVB protection offered by sunscreen. Simply put, the amount of time your skin will need to burn when using that sunscreen. For example, it takes me 10 minutes to burn in the sun without sunscreen. If I use an SPF 15, it will take 15x longer for my skin to burn.
Now, you might think that SPF 15 would be enough as it gives you 150 minutes free from burning. But this actually only filters ~94% of UVB rays. You would need at least an SPF 30 as this would filter ~97% of UVB rays.
Aside from SPF, look also for a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Remember, the SPF rating corresponds to UVB protection. So you need to look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen because 'broad spectrum' means that the sunscreen protects your skin from both types of harmful UV rays - the UVA and the UVB rays.
Go after a sunscreen with a water-resistant feature. This simply means that you should get a formula that can work on wet and sweaty skin. This is an essential consideration since children are innately active, making them sweat a lot.
Sunscreen can usually last on the skin for about 60 to 80 minutes before re-application. However, even with a water-resistant sunscreen, it may wash off before reaching the maximum time, especially when you're drying the skin with a towel or scrubbing frequently. This will require you to re-apply the formula as often as needed.
It is definitely recommended that you look also for a "water-resistant" sunscreen. This means that the sunscreen will stay on wet or sweaty skin for a while before you need to reapply. This is especially important for kids since they tend to be more active or runabout, causing them to sweat more.
Fun Fact: A sunscreen is generally considered water-resistant if the SPF level is deemed effective after 40 minutes of water immersion. So reapplication of the sunscreen every 2-3 hours is a must!
There are various types of sunscreen available in the market, including creams, lotions, gels, sticks, and sprays. Just remember to choose one that's compatible with your little one's skin to prevent irritation.
Whether you have a thick or thin sunscreen cream formula, it can penetrate into the skin’s surface, which can hydrate and moisturize it. This makes a perfect pick for kids with dry skin. You can use it on any part of your child’s body, but it is most compatible with the face.
Another nourishing option is lotion sunscreen, which has a thinner consistency compared to cream formulas. But whichever you choose, both can keep the skin soft and smooth while protecting it from harmful UV rays.
Gel sunscreen usually contains more water than any other heavy hydrating components like oil. As such, this formulation can effectively hydrate skin without adding oiliness to it. In some instances, children do not like the greasy feeling of sunscreen, so this is the perfect type of sunscreen for them.
Also, most gel formulated sunscreens are lightweight, which will allow your kids to move freely without them feeling sticky. It is perfect for the Philippine weather as well, since it has a cooling effect.
A gel sunscreen may be a good choice for children, males, and those with oily skin. It's also good for hairy areas. Since children tend to be active and may sweat throughout the day, water-based gels are a good choice because alcohol-based gels can cause burning and stinging of the eyes if the sunscreen enters them.
When it comes to functionality and application, a sunscreen stick makes a great pick. It is easy to apply and allows you to control which specific parts you want to cover. Plus, it’s a fun and hassle-free way to apply sunscreen to your little ones. You can associate the sunscreen stick with makeup or face painting to convince your children to apply sunblock.
Sticks are particularly useful and effective in protecting narrow and prominent areas like the lips, ears, nose, and around the eyes. This can be useful for kids who tend to sweat easily, especially when they are running about or are engaged in water activities, as the formulation tends to last longer and does not have the tendency to melt, which can irritate the eyes.
Spray sunscreen is the best choice for parents with fussy kids. In just a few sprays, it can easily cover a specific area of the body. However, it is important to be cautious with the application since the mist can reach delicate parts like the eyes, nose, and mouth.
If you wish to use sunscreen spray on your child's face, be sure to spray it on your hands first before applying it on their face. To prevent accidental inhalation, it's better to use it in a well-ventilated area.
Spray sunscreens have become pretty popular for use in children, given their ease of application. Personally, I'm not too keen about spray sunscreens - primarily because people have a greater chance of applying them incorrectly and inadequately. And people, in general, do not apply enough sunscreen as it is!
Another problem with spray sunscreen is that a large percent of what is sprayed is sprayed elsewhere rather than the skin, not to mention it can accidentally be sprayed onto the eyes.
When using spray sunscreen, experts recommend making four passes back and forth on each area of skin. Then, rub the spray evenly on the skin. For me, if spray sunscreens are a must, then you're better off spraying it on your hands first and then rub it onto your child’s skin.
As a parent, you want to make sure that your child’s skin is healthy. Hence, selecting a fragrance-free sunscreen is the best choice. Fragrance-free products do not contain harmful chemicals compared to ones with fragrances.
Also, fragrance-free sunscreens are often made with hypoallergenic ingredients, making them suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. This feature is essential for everyone, especially for kids who have delicate skin.
Since a child's skin has unique vulnerabilities compared to an adult's, a fragrance-free and hypoallergenic option would be ideal. But what do you look for? Sunscreens that use the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, aka physical/mineral/inorganic sunscreens, or special sunscreens made for infants or toddlers may cause less irritation to their sensitive skin.
Applying sunscreen is beneficial for your kids. However, allergic reactions are still possible, especially with children's sensitive skin. Although the chances are low, it is still necessary to assess what factors may trigger your kids' allergies if they happen to have a history.
Checking the ingredients thoroughly before applying anything to your little ones' skin is necessary. It's best to avoid ingredients such as oxybenzone, benzophenones, cinnamates, and dibenzoylmethanes to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and prevent contact dermatitis and other skin complications.
Sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are less likely to irritate a child's sensitive skin. Of course, if the child has a known allergy to a particular ingredient, immediately shift to another option.
A good tip is also to patch test! You can test out the product on a small part of the skin such as the inner arm and wait 24-48 hours and see if a reaction develops. Of course, do this indoors and not when your child is about to be exposed to the sun!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Formulation | SPF | Water-Resistant | Hypoallergenic | Fragrance-Free | ||||||
1 | Beach Hut Kids Sunscreen Body Lotion | ₱339 Mid | The Ultimate Sun Protection for Active Kids | Lotion | SPF 100++ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
2 | Orange and Peach Sunblock for Babies and Kids | ₱399 Mid | Reef-Friendly Sun Protection That’s Suitable for Babies and Kids | Lotion | SPF 50++ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
3 | Sunplay Kids Sunscreen Lotion | ₱390 Mid | Gentle Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin | Lotion | SPF 60 | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
4 | Human Nature SafeProtect Sunscreen for Babies & Kids | ₱279.75 Low Mid | Reef-Friendly Sunscreen with 100% Natural Formulation | Cream | SPF 30 PA+++ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
5 | Dermplus Moisturizing Sunscreen for Kids | ₱344 Mid | A Hydrating Sunscreen for Active Kids | Cream | SPF 80 | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
6 | Nivea SUN Kids Swim & Play Sun Lotion SPF50+ | ₱685 High Mid | Sun Safety Essential for Kids Who Love the Outdoors | Lotion | SPF 50+ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
7 | Verdio UV Mild Gel Sunscreen for Kids and Sensitive Skin | ₱375 Mid | Has a Mild Formula for Your Little One’s Delicate Skin | Gel | SPF 30 PA+++ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
8 | Biore UV Sunscreen for Kids | ₱520 High Mid | Stay Comfortable in the Sun With Its Non-Sticky Formula | Milk | SPF 50+ PA+++ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
9 | Cetaphil Sun Gel | ₱865 High | Lightweight Formula With Sufficient Sun Protection for the Whole Family | Gel | SPF 50+ | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
10 | Sanosan Sun Cream | ₱60 Low | Provides Gentle Sun Protection for Babies | Cream | 50+ | unknown | unknown | unknown |
Shield your kids from the sun's harmful rays while they enjoy outdoor adventures with this SPF 100 sunscreen by Beach Hut. This sunscreen is designed to offer robust protection by blocking 99% of UV rays when applied correctly. Its lightweight formula ensures your children feel refreshed and comfortable, even during active play.
Beyond sun protection, this sunscreen boasts hypoallergenic properties, is enriched with Vitamin E, and is paraben-free, making it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Parents have praised this sunscreen for its effectiveness in safeguarding their children's skin from sunburn and skin diseases. To use, simply apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply at regular intervals for uninterrupted sun protection.
Formulation | Lotion |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 100++ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
Make sure your little ones stay protected and comfortable during your beach adventures with this gentle, reef-friendly sunscreen. It is free from oxybenzone and octinoxate, making it safe for marine life while safeguarding your child's delicate skin. Enriched with cooling coconut water, it not only provides hydration but also leaves the skin feeling soft and refreshed!
It's designed for broad-spectrum protection, guarding against both UVA and UVB rays. User reviews highlight the sunscreen's gentle and effective nature, making it a go-to option for parents seeking reliable sun protection for their little ones. Application is easy as it has a light and non-greasy feel, too!
Formulation | Lotion |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 50++ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
Finding the right sunscreen can be a challenge, especially if your kids have sensitive skin. But with this sunscreen, you won’t have that problem.
Designed with a pH level of 5.5, specifically for children's delicate skin, this is suitable for sensitive skin! Its impressive water-resistant quality also ensures it stays put during water activities, making it an excellent choice for outdoor use.
User reviews underscore the sunscreen's reliability. Its Solarex-3 Advance Technology is a standout feature, offering a comprehensive defense against the sun's harmful rays and skin dryness. They also liked that it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave any sticky residue!
Formulation | Lotion |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 60 |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
For an eco-conscious sunscreen that cares for both your kids' skin and the planet, consider this sunscreen option. Manufactured by Human Nature, it features a 100% natural formulation that won't harm coral reefs when it washes off, setting it apart from many conventional sunscreens. Say goodbye to oxybenzone, octinoxate, benzophenone, and other harmful components, as this sunscreen is devoid of these damaging ingredients.
It's free of parabens, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrances, too, making it gentle and safe for your little ones. The inclusion of sunflower oil further nourishes their delicate skin. With a PA+++ rating, it provides robust protection against harmful UV rays, whether indoors or outdoors.
Formulation | Cream |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 30 PA+++ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
Keep your children's skin nourished and shielded from the sun's rays with this kid-friendly sunscreen. Offering broad-spectrum protection, it effectively blocks harmful UV rays to prevent sunburn and skin damage, so you can your little ones to enjoy outdoor play with peace of mind.
Dermatologically tested and water-resistant, it's a reliable choice for active kids. Moreover, its versatile formula caters to both the face and body, making application hassle-free and convenient. Users have commended this sunscreen for its ability to provide sun protection while keeping their children's skin well-moisturized while highlighting its suitability for daily outdoor activities.
Formulation | Cream |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 80 |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
Formulation | Lotion |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 50+ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
Enjoy a carefree day outdoors with Verdio's UV Mild Gel Sunscreen, a sunscreen designed for kids and those with sensitive skin. This mild formulation is free from UV absorbers, fragrances, colorings, mineral oils, parabens, and ethanol, ensuring it's gentle on your little ones' delicate skin.
Despite its gentle formula, it is effective in blocking the sun's rays thanks to its titanium dioxide UV filter. Users praise the sunscreen's moisturizing properties derived from natural extracts like coix seed, moringa, ogon, aloe, and green tea, which keep the skin hydrated. They also love how it offers long-lasting water resistance, which reduces the need for frequent reapplication during outdoor activities.
Formulation | Gel |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 30 PA+++ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
For a sunscreen that keeps your little ones comfortable in the Philippines' hot weather, consider this one from Biore. Its soft, milky texture ensures a fresh feeling upon application, and it's sweat, water, and rub-resistant, making it perfect for active kids.
The inclusion of moisturizing ingredients like shea butter adds to its appeal, ensuring smooth skin. Additionally, its alcohol-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and colorant-free formulation makes it suitable for children even as young as 6 months. With SPF 50 PA+++ and a zero UV absorber film, this sunscreen can protect your children's skin whenever they’re outdoors.
Formulation | Milk |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 50+ PA+++ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
Offering broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, Cetaphil’s sunscreen ensures your family's skin stays shielded from the sun's harmful effects. It is formulated with hypoallergenic ingredients, minimizing the risk of allergic reactions, making it suitable for various skin types.
Its paraben-free and fragrance-free formulation has also garnered positive reviews, with many users saying it was suitable for their sensitive skin. Additionally, it is suitable for the face and body, making it an excellent product to bring for family outings and activities.
Formulation | Gel |
---|---|
SPF | SPF 50+ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
This ensures your baby’s sensitive skin is nourished while remaining safe under the sun. Users have praised its eye-friendly formula, quick absorption, and non-sticky feel. They also liked that the sunscreen felt comfortable even after sweating!
Formulation | Cream |
---|---|
SPF | 50+ |
Water-Resistant | unknown |
Hypoallergenic | unknown |
Fragrance-Free | unknown |
We only want the best care for our children. So, if you still have some unanswered questions on your mind, here are some of the most asked questions online, answered by Dr. Katrina Luz.
Yes, you can! I don't see why adults can't use kids' sunscreen. After all, sunscreen for kids would still contain active ingredients that protect both baby and adult skin from the sun's rays. The probable difference would be the product label with those cute animals on it!
The face is definitely not exempt from sunscreen application as the sun will not selectively avoid hitting the face of your child. If you are worried about the skin of the face being too sensitive or the sunscreen entering the eyes here are a few tips:
To keep your children's skin healthy and sunburn-free, you will need more than just sunscreen. Here are some products that can protect you and your family from harmful UV rays. Check out these links to know more!
Author: E. Hubilla
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Beach Hut|Kids Sunscreen Body Lotion
No. 2: Orange and Peach|Sunblock for Babies and Kids
No. 3: Sunplay|Kids Sunscreen Lotion
No. 4: Human Nature|SafeProtect Sunscreen for Babies & Kids
No. 5: Dermplus|Moisturizing Sunscreen for Kids
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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