10 best sunscreen for kids to protect their sensitive skin
If you’re planning on jetting off on a sunny holiday with the kids or are just preparing for a fun-filled summer, you’re probably thinking ahead to stocking up on the essentials – including sun protection.
When choosing a sun cream for babies and children, there’s a few variables to consider such as UV star rating and SPF (sun protection factor). These elements will tell you the strength of the formula and how much defense they offer against long-wave UVA and short-wave UVB rays. It’s a good idea to get clued up on the basic details such as why a sun cream’s UV rating is so important, so we’ve created an in-depth guide here.
In terms of the basics, the NHS recommends that babies under six months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight completely, and all babies and children should wear an SPF of at least 30 – preferably 50 – from March to October in the UK. It’s important to also be aware that UV radiation is present all year round, so children’s skin can still burn even when it’s cloudy.
“Children’s delicate skin is more vulnerable to the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation compared to adults and so it is particularly important to keep children protected when out in the sun,” Dr Hiva Fassihi from OneWelbeck Skin Health & Allergy explains.
Dr Fassihi also advises protecting your children’s skin with additional measures: “Parents should not rely on sunscreen alone for their children. Sunscreens should be used in conjunction with sensible sun-exposure behaviour and appropriate use of UV protective hats and clothing (UPF50), especially when on sunny holidays abroad.”
Finally, don’t forget that whichever sunscreen you choose, it should be applied generously 20 to 30 minutes before your children go outside, particularly during the spring and summer months, and re-applied regularly especially after swimming.
How we tested
We tested a range of sun creams suitable for newborns, toddlers and children on a week-long holiday in the sun as well as day to day. We also included formulas that were suitable for extra-sensitive skin as some of our little testers were eczema-prone. As well as value for money, our favourites were selected based on their UV rating, ease of application, feeling on the skin and gentle yet efficacious ingredients. It’s also worth noting that they were all used by the whole family, not just our little ones.
The best sunscreens for kids in 2022 are:
Best kids sunscreen overall – La Roche-Posay anthelios dermo-kids invisible mist SPF50+: £20.50, Boots.com
Best value for money kids sunscreen – Cien Kids sun spray SPF50+: £8.49, Amazon.co.uk
Best kids sunscreen for babies with eczema – La Roche-Posay anthelios dermo-paediatrics lotion SPF50+: £11, Boots.com
Best ocean-friendly formula kids sunscreen – Organic Children sun lotion: £21.50, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Best kids sunscreen for enhanced protection – Ultra Sun extreme kids SPF 50+: £30, Marksandspencer.com
Best kids sunscreenfor exotic destinations – Incognito mineral sun cream insect repellent SPF30: £21.99, Hollandandbarrett.com
Best kids sunscreenfor babies and toddlers – Child’s Farm sun lotion spray SPF50: £8.40, Childsfarm.com
Best kids sunscreenfor the whole family – SOS serum: £16, Sosserum.co.uk
Best natural kids sunscreen – MooGoo natural sunscreen SPF30: £15, Moogooskincare.co.uk
Best kids sunscreen with organic ingredients – Alteya Organics kids and baby sunscreen SPF30: £14.15, Amazon.co.uk
La Roche-Posay anthelios dermo-kids invisible mist SPF50+
We love La Roche-Posay’s anthelios suncare range, so we found it hard to just choose one of its sun creams. The dermo-kids invisible mist SPF50+ is our top choice for older children due to its high sweat, water and sand resistant formula that’s also suitable for very sensitive skin. The mist texture is also formulated with intellimer technology that means it creates a light, even layer on the skin for more complete protection. It is very invisible however so be careful to not miss any bits when applying to wriggly tots.
It is out of stock at the moment, but Boots assures us it’ll be back soon. In the meantime you can use its “find in store” option to see if it’s available in a store near you.
Buy now £20.55, Boots.com
Cien Kids sun spray 3 SPF50+
We’re big fans of being able to pick up high quality skincare while doing the weekly shop, and Lidl’s Cien Kids sun spray SPF50+ is one product to stock up on next time you’re in store. While this is just a snip of the price of some of the other sun creams on this list, it feels just as high quality. It has a great spray applicator that works from just about every angle our toddlers wanted to challenge us with, plus a lightweight texture that soaks in easily. Offering very high SPF50+ with both UVA and UVB protection, this is an absolute no-brainer.
Buy now £8.49, Amazon.co.uk
La Roche-Posay anthelios dermo-paediatrics lotion SPF50+
This lightweight, water resistant sun lotion is designed specifically for the needs of babies with the most sensitive of skin. At the time of testing, one of our babies was six-months-old and suffering with a really bad eczema flare up, so we had to be very careful with what we applied to their skin. We found this sun lotion to be particularly good to use on our baby’s face where dry patches were the worst, plus it rubbed in easily which we were really grateful for – even on top of their normal emollient.
This formula also offers exceptional broad spectrum protection, covering UVA, UVB and infrared rays of SPF50+, so we felt confident that their skin was comfortable and safe when we were out and about. We also liked the small size of the bottle which is great for travel and slipping in your baby bag when you come home. This will definitely be a product we use again and again.
The sun lotion is currently out of stock online but is restocking soon – in the meantime, check in-store to get your hands on this gentle formula.
Buy now £11.00, Boots.com
Organic Children sun lotion
Green People is one of our favourite organic skincare brands and its children’s range is equally impressive, with formulas created especially for very sun sensitive and eczema-prone skin. This Organic Children sun lotion is suitable for babies from six months and comes with both UVA and UVB protection with SPF30. It also contains 84 per cent organic ingredients, and we loved the rich, creamy texture that was easy to apply, if slightly tacky which we knocked a point off for. If you like to use the same cream as your children, you’ll also be pleased to know that this cream is non-comedogenic so won’t clog the pores or leave you with a breakout if applied on your face. We also love that it has an ocean-friendly formula and recyclable sugar cane plastic packaging.
Buy now £21.50, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Ultra Sun extreme kids SPF 50+
A standout during our holiday, Ultra Sun’s extreme kids SPF 50+ sun protection is a great option for active children over the age of three. We loved its very lightweight texture that went on really easily (making it ideal for applying to wriggling toddlers) and the soothing lamellar formula that absorbs just below the skin’s surface – this stops it from leaving greasiness behind on the skin or an ashy finish.
Ultrasun also prides itself on its high-factor protection and very high UVA, UVB and infrared filters which really helped set our minds at ease when the kids were in the pool. Its trademarked ingredient, active celligent, also offers enhanced protection and additional cell and DNA protection. This is one of the most expensive sun creams in our line-up, but it definitely stood out as a favourite and was one of the creams our adults kept reaching for.
Buy now £30.00, Marksandspencer.com
Incognito mineral sun cream insect repellent SPF30
If you’ve ever travelled with a baby or child to a holiday destination where mosquitoes are rife, you’ll know how tricky it can be to find a repellent that’s safe while also not gassing out the hotel room. So, when we heard about Incognito’s new broad spectrum mineral sun cream SPF30 that’s also formulated with insect repellent, we were keen to know more.
Created by a team of scientists and researchers, it’s DEET-free formula that contains rigorously tested ingredients that are also vegan and certified by the Natural and Organic Certification for Cosmetics (COSMOS). As such, it can be used on babies from the age of six months and upwards and has a lovely, lightweight non-greasy formula that rubs in really easily. One major brownie point for this natural sun cream is that surprisingly, unlike many other insect-repelling products, it also smells quite nice while being kind to the environment.
Buy now £21.99, Hollandandbarrett.com
Child’s Farm sun lotion spray SPF50
If you’re looking for a great all-round sunscreen that you can use on babies and older children, Child’s Farm sun lotion spray is our top pick. With an SPF50, it has the recommended protection for even the smallest members of your family as well as a UVA star rating of three. It has no fragrance and is both dermatologist and paediatrician-approved, so we found this was gentle enough to use on a very sensitive baby. In short, this is a really lovely product with very high protection and an easy-to-use spray function. There’s also a cream version that was equally pleasurable to use and we enjoyed alternating between the two.
Buy now £8.40, Childsfarm.com
SOS serum
Minimally packaged, we didn’t expect all that much from SOS’s SPF50 sun cream but were very pleasantly surprised. Boasting a high SPF50 and a five-star UV rating, this moisturising sun cream for the face and body had one of the best textures with a super-smooth balm feel that leaves the skin feeling hydrated, without any stickiness.
While this sun cream isn’t specifically for children, SOS’s range is designed to be used by the whole family with pared-back formulas and natural ingredients. This particular one contains plant stem cells, mineral based filters and a sheer form of zinc oxide that protects the skin from UVA/UVB and blue light. It’s also formulated with the natural anti-inflammatory antioxidant vitamin E to help soothe and calm the skin. We all loved using this sun cream, especially on our faces, so it’s definitely proof that you should never judge a skincare product by its packaging.
Buy now £16.00, Sosserum.co.uk
MooGoo natural sunscreen SPF30
If you’re looking for a broad spectrum sunscreen that provides powerful protection in the most natural way possible, MooGoo should be on your radar. What sets this natural sunscreen SPF30 apart is its inclusion of naturally derived clear zinc which provides broad spectrum protection without the use of UV filters. The downside of mineral ingredients such as zinc is that while they’re excellent at reflecting UV, they do leave a white sheen on the skin, which this one does. We did find this to be quite helpful when applying to the kids as it allows you to see where you’ve applied the cream initially before rubbing in clear. The extra bonus of this sunscreen is that it’s safe to be used by the whole family – from newborn to adult – so you don’t have to pack multiple bottles in your suitcase.
Buy now £15.00, Moogooskincare.co.uk
Alteya Organics kids and baby sunscreen SPF30
We’re big fans of Alteya’s organic nappy rash cream so were excited to try this sunscreen. One of the major plus points of this formula is that it’s made from 95 per cent organic ingredients and enriched with lovely things such as lavender and calendula oils and emollient botanical butters. As such, it has quite a thick texture that is ideal for very delicate and dry skin, and creates a thin protective layer that restores and nourishes in a similar way to a barrier cream. It also comes with a sheer tint that makes it easy to see where you’ve applied the cream, but this was a little bit messy on towels and bed sheets, so we had to be careful where we applied it. It’s water resistant for 40 minutes and has both UVA and UVB protection too.
Buy now £14.15, Amazon.co.uk
The verdict: Kids' sunscreen
We chose La Roche-Posay anthelios dermo-kids invisible mist SPF50+ as our overall winner due to its very high UV protection and impressive texture that is just so effortless to apply on children. There’s no white cast, stickiness or grease which is pretty impressive for a kids sunscreen. Cien Kids sun spray SPF50+ comes in very close second and is a fantastic budget version.
Now that your little ones are protected, invest in one of these facial sunscreens that are non-greasy and will give you daily protection
