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Test : Kids Sunscreens

About this test

If you’re whisking the kids off somewhere hot this year, a good quality
sunscreen is your number one holiday essential. In fact, even if you plan
to go no further than your back garden, you still need to cover them up
- recent news revealed that more people get burnt whilst at home in the
UK, so it’s essential to stay protected.

This month’s panel have been busy testing six different sunscreens on
their tiny tots. Products range from traditional creams (‘a good option
for all the family’) to sprays (‘fast, effective and easy to apply’) and
chemical-free, natural lotions (‘great for sensitive/allergic skins and
ethically-minded parents’)

The panel agreed that thicker lotions ‘take longer to rub into your child’s
skin’ but ‘provide reassurance that they’re giving a good level of coverage
and won’t come off after a few splashes in the pool’.

They also found that ‘natural options are a good alternative to traditional
sun creams and provide a perfectly acceptable level of protection – without
any of the chemicals’

We tested for

  • Application/consistency
  • Child appeal
  • Effects/ingredients
  • Quality
  • Value for money

Points to consider

Application/Texture : It might seem like a non-important factor,
but the way the cream is applied, its texture, smell and longevity will
all play a part in whether you and your child want to use it again.

Our panel found spray on creams like the Lavera
Sun Neutral Spray the easiest to apply and agreed they ‘worked best
for kids who hate sun lotions as the ordeal is over in a few seconds!’

The mini testers showed a particular fondness for the Sun
Sense Toddler Milk as ‘the roller ball makes the application process
fun whilst the small bottle is easily gripped by tiny hands’.

The panel advise to ‘always check the instructions before heading outdoors
as some lotions like the Banana Boat Kids Ultra
Mist need to be applied at least fifteen minutes before exposure to
the sun’.

They also found that ‘it can be tricky to know how much to use’ and showed
a preference for the thicker creams like Organic
Children Sun Lotion and Lil Kids Sunscreen:
‘Both of these took longer to rub in, but at the same time, provided a
greater level of reassurance that they were doing the job properly as
you can physically see the lotion dissolve into your child’s skin’.

Packaging: If you’re after an ethical option, look for biodegradable/recyclable
packaging like the Lil Kids Sunscreen and
Yaoh Hemp Seed Sunblock. Our panel also
liked the Lavera Sun Neutral Spray as the
spritzer bottle can be re-used afterwards.

If you’re flying somewhere, it’s important to consider size and weight
- especially if you want to keep your luggage to a minimum. Our panel
felt the Sun Sense Toddler Milk was a good
value buy for holidays as it’s ‘neat and compact whilst a little goes
a long way’. Other bottles like the Banana Boat
Kids Ultra Mist and Yaoh Hemp Seed Sun Block
were ‘heavy in comparison, though good for long-term use at home’.

Chemicals: The panel agreed that ‘children are exposed to enough
chemicals as it is, without us actually applying it to their skin!’ And
since two of the children suffer from sensitive skin and eczema, they
were naturally drawn to the chemical-free options like the Lavera
Sun Neutral Spray and Organic Children Sun
Lotion . Both of these offered ‘a good level of coverage and left
a more natural scent on their child’s skin’. The only negative was ‘the
need to re-apply them more regularly than some of the more conventional
creams on test’.

Value for money Our panel felt that ‘price shouldn’t be a contributing
factor – especially if you want a chemical-free sunscreen or your child
has sensitive or allergic skin’. The more expensive options were generally
very good though they did find that prices varied widely – especially
with the natural options. Lil Kids Sunscreen
was liked by all members of the panel but so was the Yaoh
Hemp Seed Sun Block which, at £2 less contains double the amount of
cream and would probably last the entire summer.

Awards – which products won

The Organic Children Sun Lotion won the
Best Buy award with our panel citing it as ‘a gentle, natural lotion that’s
perfect for sensitive skins that need a lot of care and protection’. Best
Value was awarded to the Yaoh Hemp Seed Sun
Blockfor its ‘paraben-free ingredients, yummy smell and recyclable
packaging – all at a refreshingly reasonable price’.

See how the other sunscreens faired in the full
test results

Where to next?

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