10 Best Baby Sunscreens, According to Dermatologists

_{Photo courtesy of Glamour tester Brigitt Earley}

Badger may be familiar to parents as the one they used as kids; the Certified B Corporation has been making trusted products for nearly 30 years, after all. This also has a high score of 1 from the EWG. It’s made with über-sensitive skin in mind and with just seven ingredients: zinc, chamomile, calendula, sunflower oil, sea buckthorn, beeswax, and vitamin E.

Earley says it's a bit hard to squeeze out of the tube but it's well worth it. “The cream differs from others, because it has a slight yellow tint to it, but it truly spreads like butter,” she says. It's not at all tacky, either. “At first, it feels a little greasy, but it absorbs readily, leaving skin silky smooth—zero white cast,” she adds.

Size: 2.9 oz. / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Type: Lotion

• Pros: Minimal ingredients; high EWG rating; B Corp Certification; skin-nourishing; water-resistant; reef-friendly; recycled packaging
• Cons: A bit hard to squeeze out

For over 20 years Blue Lizard has been making standout sunscreen that's safe for the whole family. We like the Baby Mineral Stick, recommended by Shari Sperling, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, in particular, because it feels and acts more like a balm that melts into skin. And when you're putting product on a squirmy baby or fidgety kid, that matters.

It checks all the sensitive-skin boxes (no fragrances, no parabens) with the addition of aloe vera, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E to give it that silky feel. “I've been using this sunscreen on my kids since they were babies,” says Earley. “Now that they're a little bit older (between the ages of three and six), I pop the stick in their backpacks for camp, so they can easily do it themselves.” PS: The lotion version (Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide) is the number two bestseller on Amazon, so you know it's good.

Size: 0.5 oz. / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Type: Stick

• Pros: Compact; fast-absorbing; reef-friendly; spreads easily; moisturizing ingredients; high EWG rating
• Cons: On the small side

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If you already use Aveeno products, you'll be pleased to know the brand makes a great baby sunscreen for sensitive skin. The formula is water- and sweat-resistant (for up to 80 minutes!) but still manages to be unscented, hypoallergenic, and paraben- and phthalate-free. It's also made with oat, an eczema favorite to help soothe itchy skin.

Our tester said she has double the challenge of finding the right SPF for her family because her child is fair and has sensitive skin. “This sunscreen is one of the few that doesn't irritate his skin,” she says. “Plus, it really does seem to offer the broad-spectrum protection it promises. We've yet to get a burn—knock on wood.” The only downside? She says it does tend to leave a slight white cast, even on pale skin, but it's a trade-off she says she's willing to make for the superior protection.

Size: 3 oz. / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Type: Lotion

• Pros: Lightweight; nonirritating; skin-calming ingredients; National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance
• Cons: Some users say it leaves a slight white cast.

For sunscreen that doesn't feel like sunscreen, look to Pipette. It offers the same sun-blocking benefits as the other mineral options but sets itself apart for its inclusion of squalane, a skin-barrier-loving emollient that may already be in Mom's favorite face moisturizer. Because it's a noncomedogenic formula (i.e., it won't clog pores), this sunscreen is a favorite for everyone in the family.

“My kids' skin tolerates Pipette's products, including its sunscreen, very well,” says Earley. “And I like how lightweight this SPF is. It makes it easier to apply and keeps my dry skin nice and dewy, not caked with heavy sunscreen.”

Size: 4 oz. / Active ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide / Type: Lotion

• Pros: Hydrating; hypoallergenic; fast-absorbing; sheer; reef-friendly
• Cons: Not water-resistant

If you're familiar with La Roche-Posay's top-rated skin care, you'll be excited to try the brand's sunscreen specifically formulated for kids. Made with sensitive skin in mind, the product is both fragrance- and paraben-free. And although it's a chemical sunscreen, it doesn't contain oxybenzone or octinoxate—two ingredients flagged by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and environmental groups.

Like the (nearly identical) adult version recommended by Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Shafer Clinic in New York City, the texture is lightweight and nongreasy. And after you rub it in, it dries down matte (meaning no sand sticking to skin!).

Size: 6.7 oz. / Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene / Type: Lotion

• Pros: Invisible finish; water-resistant; fragrance- and paraben-free; reef-friendly
• Cons: Expensive

_{Photo courtesy of Glamour tester Brigitt Earley}

More than in a pretty product, this ever-so-slightly tinted formula is a fantastic option for the whole family. For starters, it has a built-in clip that allows you to hook it onto your purse or diaper bag, so you'll never leave home without that all-important SPF.

The formula itself is also super lightweight and absorbs in a flash, leaving absolutely no white cast behind. “When it dries, my skin feels so soft and silky—not at all tacky like so many others,” our tester tells us. “My only complaint is that the bottle is so small, because I can’t get enough of this stuff.”

Size: 2 oz. / Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide / Type: Lotion

• Pros: Leaves skin silky soft; has a clip to attach to a bag
• Cons: Bottle is very small.

“Recent FDA guidelines indicate that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are two ingredients that are regarded as safe and effective for adults and babies,” says Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. “I like this brand because it is non-nano, fragrance-free, and reef-safe.”

You can get this product in other formulations, like lotion, but Dr. Gohara says the stick is the perfect option for babies, especially the small areas of their face, like around the eyes. “It provides a great seal and is a bit thicker, so sweat doesn't make it run into their little eyes,” she says.

Size: 0.6 oz. / Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide / Type: Stick

• Pros: Mess-free application; long-lasting
• Cons: Greasy texture

“CeraVe's mineral sunscreen stick is good for kids and adults,” says Pearl Grimes, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of the Grimes Center of Medical and Aesthetic Dermatology in Southern California. “It applies with ease, is nongreasy, and is a 100% mineral product.”

Commit this one to memory, because you'll find it on nearly all drugstore shelves for when you're in a pinch. We also love that it's relatively inexpensive compared with some of the other all-stars on the market. Our tester said it spreads well but initially leaves a slight white cast, though it's nothing a little rubbing can't remove.

Size: 0.47 ounces / Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide / Type: Stick

• Pros: Suitable for all skin types; widely available and relatively affordable; spreads well
• Cons: Very small bottle