The 10 Best Sunscreens for Kids

Swimming, leaping, climbing, running in sand, grass, mud, and water — it takes a serious sunscreen to hold up to everything kids do. Just in time for summer vacation, I tested out countless kids sunscreens that will keep little ones protected from sunburns. Using my own kids and their friends as guinea pigs, I narrowed it down to 10 of the best. While I did include an oxybenzone-free chemical-based sunscreen on the list, most of my picks are mineral-based products. There are several advantages to mineral sunscreens for kids. First, they work instantly as physical blockers, going on top of skin to reflect rays. Therefore, you don’t have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for them to activate as you would with chemical versions. They also don’t contain questionable chemicals like oxybenzone, which according to the Environmental Working Group can cause reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies, and organ system toxicity — not things you want to expose your kids to.

Whether your kids are psyched to play in their backyard or swim the afternoons away the summer, here are 10 standout sunscreens that will keep them safe from the sun.