Summer Skincare For Kids

Summer Skincare for Kids and Babies (& Moms Too!)

Summer is officially here, and while it may be a little different than years past, it is still as sunny and warm as ever. We may be staying closer to home, but most of us will likely still be outside a fair bit. So, I figured I’d talk Summer Skincare for Kids and Babies.

Summer Skincare for Kids and Babies (& Moms Too!):

Choose the Right Sunscreen

Of course sunscreen is at the top of this list. Aside from staying hydrated, it is the number one thing we can do to keep our skin healthy all summer (and all year) long. 

We are ethical and clean beauty and skincare people. For years, I have asked myself a few questions when it comes to skincare for me and the kids. “Can I eliminate it? Can it double up? Is it simple? And can I eat it?” and even more recently, “is it low- or zero-waste?” I try to find skincare products with 4 or fewer ingredients that I can understand. 

Sunscreen is a different story altogether. I am more lenient with my guidelines. The results of not wearing sunscreen, no matter what kind it is, are both immediate and painful and long-term and dangerous. So, I would rather wear the wrong sunscreen than no sunscreen at all. I can’t say the same thing about any other product. But, I still want to put the safest, most effective sunscreen on my kids, of course!

Use a Physical Sunscreen

We use only physical sunscreens (they sit on top of the skin and form a barrier, not allowing the sun to penetrate, rather than a chemical sunscreen, which actually absorb the UV rays. Yikes!). Physical sunscreens also block both the UVA and UVB rays, unlike their chemical counterparts. I look for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Yes, sometimes they leave a white goopy layer, and sometimes they are too thick and greasy. But they work. And I have a few recommendations below on ones that aren’t white and goopy. Also, for our little one, I’d rather have a goopy greaseball than a sunburned cranky pants.

Avoid any sunscreen with Avobenzne, oxybenzene (sometimes listed asbenzonephenone-3), and retinyl palmitate. Especially on your kids. We don’t know how risky these are, but again, I’d rather have a goopy greaseball than to risk the potential toxicity.

Also, regardless of the ingredients, I avoid sprays. There is a difference between what gets absorbed from the skin and what gets absorbed when you inhale.

Try a Brush-On Sunscreen

Ok, toddler moms, you have to try this! 

If your kiddos are anything like mine, applying sunscreen is a STRUGGLE. 

So, my eco-friendly, safe, toddler-wrangling free solution? Brush-on sunscreen. 

A few years ago, I started applying my makeup to my preschooler because he would go bananas every time I tried to sunscreen him, so my powder was an easy solution. I decided a toddler in makeup seemed a little inappropriate (and way too expensive) so I did my research and found this. I bought the adult version for all of us because the ingredients are the same and it is refillable. 

It takes some getting used to and there is a bit of a technique to make sure that you get full coverage, but it is still much easier than a cream sunscreen. It is also great for your part and for your face when you are feeling a little greasy. 

The Cleanest Cream Sunscreen

If your kiddo doesn’t struggle, Badger Sunscreen is my favorite clean, safe, effective sunscreen around. It is absolutely the best as far as chemical-free, safe, and simple ingredients. 

I also love Coola and Babyganics. I keep a Babyganics sunscreen stick in the car and my purse during the summer months. 

And for the mamas, I love Drunk Elephant’s SPF tint for a little extra coverage and Ilia’s SPF Tint Serum (this stuff combines a serum, a tint, and sun protection and makes my skin about as dewey as a 40 something’s skin is going to be. It quickly became a new favorite! 

Invest in UPF Clothing 

As I mentioned, my little one gets sunburned after about 10 to 15 minutes outside. It happens so fast that there are days when I think, “we weren’t even outside, how did this happen?” and “He had sunscreen on?” and “I put him in a long sleeve today and he’s still sunburned. How does this keep happening?”

Well…he just needs a lot of sun protection, and I haven’t been as good about reapplying sunscreen or keeping him in the shade as I should. So I picked up a few UPF shirts for him. I love these Patagonia ones (eco-friendly and cute!).

I also love the Cat & Jack rashguards, and just melted (and added to my cart) when I saw this adorable sloth rashguard. It is UPF 50 and made from recycled plastic. It’s also from Target, so is reasonably priced. There are tons of really cute ones for all ages. 

Wear a Hat or a Hat Alternative.

If you are lucky, they will keep it on, right? So it is always great to have one around. 

My little one won’t wear one, so he almost always has sunscreen head and my big one will only wear his favorite Giants baseball cap, but if your kiddos will wear one, find a wide brimmed, UPF hat that fits well. I haven’t done much hat shopping (my kids…), but I do love these ones from 

For the moms: Take a look at this foldable (packable!) Panama hat from Cuyana. I just put it in my cart. 

Instead of a hat, I often use a kerchief. As I mentioned above, my little ones won’t keep their hats on. And I am forgetful, so that hat would often be right by the door, where I left it (until I started leaving a “sun kit” in the car). So, I tied a little bandana around the diaper bag and used it as a head covering. It isn’t as easy to take off as a hat, so my babies were stuck with it. Plus, they are so cute! I used a burp cloth from Milkbarn. It is so darling.