4 Reasons To Use Natural Sunscreen On Children

Whether you have a brand new bub taking its first step on your beach towel, a little toddler building sandcastles, or a handful of kids running in and out of the water like there’s no tomorrow, it is undeniable that our little Joeys love spending time under the sun. 

But it is no secret that in Australia, the sun can be really harsh.

So when it’s time for you to pick the perfect sunscreen protection that can be applied easily, and protect your kids in their sandy exploration, things can get a little confusing. Between regular cream, baby advertised sunscreen, or spray bottles, how do you choose the right protection for your bubs? 

The Reality of Sunscreens

Before you let yourself be swayed by poor advertising, it is important to understand the difference between what’s on offer at your local chemist. 

You might have find sunscreens specifically made for babies and kids so it would be fair to assume that these would be ideal to protect them right? The reality is that when you look at the composition, you might find warning signs urging caution or a doctor visit before using. Why? Simply because the “baby” label is just marketing, and the sunscreen probably contains a handful of chemicals that will not do good to your child’s skin. 

The thing is that there is no difference between children’s and adults’ sunscreen when it comes to SPF protection. The SPF is an indication of how long the sunscreen is effective on your skin. You can read more about it in this blog. 

The problem with any sunscreen for children will come down to the chemicals included in it. Pediatric Dermatologists have observed that harsh ingredients like Oxybenzone in sunscreens can be detrimental to a child’s skin, triggering irritation, sensitivities, and potential oxidation. 

Thankfully, there are ways to protect your child from the sun safely, thanks to natural sunscreens.

Using Natural Sunscreens For Children

It is better for sensitive skin

Natural sunscreens like our Sun & earth zinc cream only contains ingredients made from the earth. Whether that natural oil, wax, butter, and minerals, natural sunscreen is less irritating for a child’s skin. In fact, natural ingredients provide moisturising, anti-inflammatory and protecting properties that are safe and ideal for sensitive skin. 

It keeps children safe from chemicals

As a natural sunscreen only contains organic and raw ingredients, this type of sunscreen doesn’t add extra chemicals to enhance the efficacity or protection of a cream.  Oxybenzone, Parabens and other chemicals are a big no-no for a natural sunscreen, so you can rest assured that you’re not feeding your child’s skin with unwanted oxidation.

It doesn’t absorb in the skin

While chemical sunscreen gets absorbed onto the epidermis layer of the skin, natural sunscreen will contain zinc oxide. This mineral settles on top of the skin without penetrating it, creating a UV barrier that won’t trigger your bub on a cellular level. 

It protects from both UVA and UVB

The mineral Zinc oxide found in natural sunscreen is efficient at providing what is called Broad-spectrum SPF protection, meaning it protects from both UVA (ultra-violet ageing) and UVB (ultra-violet burning). 

So, should you pick a natural sunscreen for your kids?

If you want to keep their skin safe from both the sun and the nasty impact of chemical sunscreen, we definitely think so. But remember, natural sunscreen is only half the picture. 

For the young bubs, it is recommended to keep them in the shade, use hats and loose clothing, and avoid bringing them to the beach during the day - especially from 10 am to 4 pm. For toddlers and children, sunnies, hats, and shades apply, along with re-applying sunscreen every 2 hours. And if they fight you to put on sunscreen, use a product that they will love. 

Ou tinted zinc cream is popular among the kiddies, because it smells like chocolate and they can play with the tinted shade to naturally paint their face!  So give it a try.