Doting parents across the country want the best for their kids. It’s only natural. They want them to have the ability to play out all day during the Summer without worrying about ending the day with painful sunburn. That means buying the safest sunscreen for kids. The question is, is that mineral or chemical?
They’re the two main types of products you’ll find being sold on the market, and they both offer a good degree of safety for your little ones. Here, we look at the differences so you can make an informed choice about which to apply to their delicate skin. The founders of FrenchPharmacy FlashRx are passionate about providing high-quality products for people that love to take good care of their skin.
Is the Safest Sunscreen for Kids Chemical-based?
Okay, so the first option is chemical sunscreen. We’re yet to find out whether it’s the safest sunscreen for kids, but it surely is widely used. Created with artificial ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate, it works by being absorbed into the skin, something that needs to happen before the skin is protected. Other things to know about chemical sunscreen include:
- The absorption process can take up to 30 minutes, and going outside into the sun is only advisable once it’s complete.
- Around a shot glass of the product is needed to cover the body.
- You should look to buy broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever possible, as there are UVA, UVB and UVC rays to contend with.
- It’s a runny product that should be applied over every part of the skin that may be exposed to the sun’s rays.
- It’s been linked to the erosion of marine habitats such as coral reefs.
Chemical sunscreen has been used for decades by many families, so it would be logical to assume that it’s the best thing for the job. However, that’s before you see what mineral sunscreen has to offer.
So, What’s Great About Mineral-Based Products?
Your average mineral sunscreen product is made with either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, and it works from the skin’s surface – meaning no absorption is required. As such, there’s no need for your kids to stay inside for 30 minutes after application. Other things to know about mineral or physical sunscreen (as it’s otherwise known) include:
- Zinc oxide occurs in nature, so there’s no ecological impact.
- It’s thicker than a chemical brand and needs to be applied in a different way.
- Regular application every 2 hours is needed (as is the case with chemical sunscreen).
- It’s generally more gentle on the skin, as it doesn’t contain fragrances.
- Some people are sometimes put off by the misconception that modern brands leave behind a white cast after application.
Sheer brands of mineral sunscreen go on invisible, meaning you get all the same protection and more, in a more gentle way than with chemical types.
The Verdict: Mineral Brands Represent the Safest Sunscreen For Kids
This is a hotly debated topic in the sunscreen industry, however, all the evidence points towards mineral brands being the safest for your children. They work straight away, they’re more gentle on the skin, and cause no kind of damage to the environment. Throw in the fact that they tend to last longer – due to not having to use as much, and it becomes pretty clear which is the best choice.