When you’re a parent, you have to learn to see the sunshine in a slightly different way, particularly when your children are young. As their skin is so much more sensitive than that of adults, choosing the right sunscreen for kids is really important, as you want to be absolutely sure that they’re protected.

The great news for parents everywhere is that whether using mineral baby sunscreen or mineral-based sunscreen for kids that are a bit older, your kids will get complete protection. That’s because it’s made with zinc oxide, which sits on top of the skin and reflects UV rays away from the body.

How Mineral-based Sunscreen Works

Mineral-based sunscreen contains either Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as one of its active ingredients. These minerals protect skin by reflecting harmful UV rays away from the body – acting like thousands of tiny mirrors. Mineral sunscreens contain only these active ingredients, while mineral-based sunscreens may include a chemical active ingredient.

Both types of sunscreens have advantages and disadvantages. Mineral-based sunscreens tend to have higher water resistance ratings, however, new technology is helping mineral sunscreens to catch up.

Not Absorbed Into the Skin

One of the main reasons why parents may fall in love with mineral sunscreens rather than sunscreens that only contain chemical active ingredients is because of the way they work. The Zinc Oxide in mineral sunscreens sits on the surface of the skin, rather than being absorbed, meaning that the active ingredients are not absorbed into the body.

Chemical sunscreens use chemicals to protect against UV rays with the most common being Octinoxate and Oxybenzone. Unlike mineral sunscreens, most chemical varieties work by being absorbed into the skin and turning UV rays into heat. There is some data that suggests these chemicals may absorb into the bloodstream. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to determine what effects this may have.

The best of both worlds

While mineral sunscreens tend to be gentler on sensitive skin, there is a way you can have the best of both chemical and mineral sunscreens. Mineral-based sunscreens combine chemical and mineral UV filters. Why? Chemical sunscreens do have some advantages. They tend to be thinner and spread easier. When combined, they offer a unique sun safety experience that can offer the broad-spectrum protection of a mineral sunscreen and the convenience of a chemical sunscreen.

So, which one is best for your child? Most pediatricians recommend a mineral sunscreen for babies older than six months. When your child is more active and needs a higher water resistance or sweat resistance, you may consider switching to a mineral-based sunscreen unless they have sensitive skin or any skin allergies.

Bleaching of Coral Reefs

Another reason why many believe that the best sunscreen available is mineral is the damage that some chemical sunscreen ingredients are believed to do to coral reefs in oceans around the world. Oxybenzone and Octinoxate are believed to cause whitening or ‘bleaching’ of marine coral and it can happen quickly.

This happens because of the disruption that occurs to the wonderfully symbiotic relationship that exists between the coral and the algae that lives on it. The algae’s habitat is made unsuitable by Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, making the algae leave the coral, taking away its vivid color and life-sustaining nutrients. 

A Wide Range of Sunscreen for Kids

At Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, we have created a wide range of high quality sunscreen for kids and baby sunscreens that keep your little one’s skin protected - without the use of any potentially harmful chemicals like those we’ve just mentioned.

We have SPF 30+ mineral  baby sunscreen  and mineral-based sunscreen for kids in a tube, in bottle form and in handy sunscreen sticks. We also have baby sunscreen and sunscreen for sensitive skin in a stronger SPF 50+ for extra protection for your children, meaning that you can safely allow them to enjoy the sun - as it should be.

Sun protection is just a swipe away

As a parent, you already know that getting kids to sit still for anything is a challenge—to put it mildly. Mineral-based sunscreen sticks can help ease the headache with the same strong protection without the potentially irritating ingredients.

Mineral-based sunscreen sticks allow you to apply sunscreen to little noses, cheeks and ears without the mess while your sunscreen lotion covers the big areas such as arms, backs and chests. This also makes reapplying a cinch! Most water-resistant sunscreens have to be reapplied every 40 to 80 minutes. Check your sunscreen’s label to make sure of how often you’ll need to reapply.

Here’s some other things you can do to keep your child safe when out in the sun:

• Try not to let them out in the sun between 10am and 2pm when the sun is at its hottest
• Apply your sunscreen for kids at least 15 minutes before you go out into the sun
• Also take the same steps during overcast weather, as UV rays will go right through clouds!
• Make a game out of putting on your mineral or mineral-based sunscreen and make sure you practice what you preach by putting some on yourself!

UVA and UVB rays can cause all sorts of damage to your child’s skin, so keeping them protected is crucial to their short and long-term skin health. Mineral and mineral-based sunscreens are simply the best option for anyone wanting the kindest, most ingredient conscious and most effective sun protection.

Want Some Mineral Sunscreen For Yourself?

So, it’s obvious even after spending just a few minutes on the subject that mineral and mineral-based sunscreens represent a much better option in terms of sunscreen for kids.

Not only are they kinder to your child’s skin, but they contain none of the chemicals believed to harm coral reefs that so many traditional sunscreens contain. By making the switch, you do your bit to make sure that coral reefs will still exist when your kids grow up.

If you’d like some of our eco-friendly, Zinc Oxide-based mineral sunscreen for yourself and your family, you should visit us online at www.bluelizardsunscreen.com and take a look around. There you’ll find a wealth of information about us, the mineral-based UV protection products we offer and the fact that we’re the proud sponsors of Sesame Street!

Alternatively, if you’re having difficulty deciding between the mineral and mineral-based sunscreens available, give us a call on 800.877.8869 and we’ll guide you to your ideal choice. Thanks for reading our blog. We’ll be back again soon with more advice from the home of natural UV protection.

In the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful, safe time in the sun! Until next time.