We try out what’s around instore this summer for sunscreen for baby, for toddler and family, in mineral sunscreens, designed for sports, for sensitive skin, specifically for the face, and the reviewer’s pick…
We try out what’s around instore this summer for sunscreen for baby, for toddler and family, in mineral sunscreens, designed for sports, for sensitive skin, specifically for the face, and the reviewer’s pick…
Baby
The most delicate skin to protect during summer is that of a young baby. With most sunscreens on the market able to be used from 6 months onwards and most babies becoming more mobile around this age it’s important to have a suitable baby sunscreen. I have found Aveeno’s Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55 for baby ($24.99/112g) to be particularly gentle and effective.
Specially formulated for baby’s delicate skin the fragrance free and non-greasy lotion is easy to spread and is very gentle even on the sensitive skin of the 18month old in my care. It contains Oatmeal to help prevent moisture loss and retains the high SPF even after 80 minutes of water activity.
Toddler and family
For my two children under five I have found the roll on style of sunscreen to be particularly effective. It is our practice to entrust them with the roll on bottle, they apply the sunscreen and we spread it. If you think that this small incentive will work for your young people here are two products I’ve tried from a wide range available.
Banana Boat Sunscreen for Kids SPF 30+ Roll-on provides UVA and UVB broad spectrum protection and it’s fragrance free. It retails for $11.50 for 75ml.
With significantly higher SPF there is SunSense Toddler Milk SPF50 ($14.99 for 50ml). We have used this extensively as it contains lower levels of the irritant substances in sunscreen, is free of PABA and its derivatives, and has no lanolin. The roll-on formula is very light and is water resistant.
For those families who prefer to use a spray for ease of application then the new Neutrogena product Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Spray SPF 70+ ($24.99/141g spray) will be an essential item for the beach bag. Applied directly to wet skin the spray is formulated with a waterproof technology that cuts through the water to form a broad spectrum protective barrier. Remarkable to use the spray goes on clear and forms a barrier that visibly repels water. It has a slight citrus scent and caused no undue reactions to my son’s sensitive skin.
Mineral Protection
Banana Boat Mineral Protect Kids SPF30+ ($17.95/120g) offers naturally-sourced zinc oxide to give protection without chemical sunscreen actives. Fragrance-free and paraben-free, the lotion provides UVA and UVB protection. It is a thick lotion and sits heavily on the skin but offered excellent protection on an extremely hot day.
Sport
For the active member of my family, shockingly yes there is only one, we tend to use SunSense Sport Cream SPF 30+ ($32.50/200g). It sits a little heavier on the skin than the Sport Milk but provides very good coverage and protection for my husband when mountain biking.
For the Face
Although I wear a daily face moisturiser with SPF 20+ I recognise that this is not adequate to cope with the demands of a Kiwi summer. As you can imagine I loathe applying the family sunscreen to my face. Aveeno have the answer with their Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 70+ for Face ($24.99/84g). Blended with Soy Proteins and vitamins A, C and E to shield skin from environmental damage the lotion sits lightly on the skin and the high protection factor is very appealing.
Fair’s fair
For those requiring the best protection available Neutrogena Spectrum+ Advanced Sunblock Lotion SPF 100+ ($24.99/88ml) is well worth the investment. Filtering out 99% of harmful UV rays it is ideal for fair skin. With a very gently scent and an oil free formula it offers an extremely high level of protection.
Reviewer Pick
While I recognise the vitally important role that sunscreen plays in our family I do have a confession to make. I can’t abide the feeling of a heavy sunscreen on my skin. Call me fussy, which I am, but I am the other person in my family with ‘sensitive’ skin. This amounts to nothing more than a prickly heat rash on the hot days of summer but that is enough to make me shun all but the lightest sunscreen. I have tried mineral based sunscreen in the hope that the more natural ingredients would be more soothing but to no avail. To suit my budget and my special needs Nivea Sun Light Feel Every Day Sun Lotion SPF 30+ ($16.29/200ml) fits the bill. With the feel of a daily moisturiser and providing four hours of water resistance the non-greasy formula will be my go-to this summer.
Stockists
Aveeno: Major supermarkets, pharmacies and speciality stores
Banana Boat: New World, Pak’n’Save, Foodtown, Countdown, Woolworths, Kmart and Mitre 10
Neutrogena: Pharmacies, supermarkets and department stores nationwide
Nivea: Pharmacies, supermarkets and department stores nationwide ph 0800 800 081
SunSense: Selected pharmacies and speciality stores
By Cara Maria
18 December 2011
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