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You might not have given a thought to the best baby sunscreens until you became a parent; if so, you’re not alone. While I have an extensive lineup of sunscreens that work for my own olive-toned, breakout-prone skin, my daughter—who’s very fair and has eczema—needed something entirely different.
This wasn’t an instance where I could just share a tube among us; rather, infants and toddlers merit their own formulations—namely, those that are gentle, fragrance-free, and powered by mineral sun filters. Now that I’ve found my favorite non-toxic sunscreen for my daughter, I keep one tube in the garage for easy slathering on the spot and another in her diaper bag for impromptu park visits. Here, both I and dermatologists share the ones gentle enough for your little one.
Vogue’s Favorite Baby Sunscreens
- Best Overall: Mustela Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, $18
- Best Tear-Free: Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, $42 (3-pack)
- Best for Eczema: Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 50, $14
- Best Fragrance-Free: Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+, $15
- Best Water-Resistant: Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+, $16
In This Story
- How to Choose a Baby Sunscreen
- At what age can babies wear sunscreen?
- What SPF level is best for a babies?
- Do I need to use sunscreen if I keep my baby out of the sun and in SPF-rated clothing?
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Mustela Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
- Why We Love It: I’ve tried a lot of sunscreens on my 22-month-old daughter, but nothing but the Mustela Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 has remained in my rotation. The French brand adheres to European formulating standards, which are stricter than those in the US, and I’ve found that the formula itself is just really good: It blends in quickly, so I can smear it on her face, ears, and neck in a matter of seconds, and it doesn’t have a noticeable smell. She also gets really rashy (the ultimate mystery), but this has yet to cause any redness; on that note, it has the National Eczema Association’s seal of acceptance, which means a panel of experts vetted it and that it underwent testing for sensitivity, irritation, and toxicity. Best of all, since her hands are almost always in her mouth, I’m comfortable knowing that 93% of the sunscreen is made of naturally derived ingredients.
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral (24% zinc oxide)
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin E
- SPF Level: 50
- Format: Lotion
- Size: 3.4 oz.
Best Tear-Free: Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
- Why We Love It: Neutrogena is known for its excellent (yet accessible) sunscreens, and this version formulated specifically for babies is no exception. It’s a favorite of San Antonio, Texas–based pediatric dermatologist John Browning, MD, who likes that it’s “hypoallergenic, tear-free, and gentle on eczema-prone skin.” (It also has the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association.) Meanwhile, Latanya Benjamin, MD, a pediatric dermatologist in Coral Springs, Florida, also points to this sunscreen as a good option, as it checks all the boxes for both skin safety and SPF protection.
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral (21.6% zinc oxide)
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, feverfew extract
- SPF Level: 50
- Format: Lotion
- Size: 3 oz.
Best for Eczema: Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 50
- Why We Love It: Aveeno is a staple brand for babies—I swear by its bubble bath and baby wash—so it’s no surprise that its baby sunscreen is excellent. Dr. Browning likes that it’s formulated with oat extract, which means it’s especially good for dry or sensitive skin skin. And because it’s mineral-based and free of harsh chemicals, it “can be applied on both the face and body,” says Dr. Benjamin. “I like that I can also recommend it for children with eczema-prone skin.” (It has the National Eczema Association’s seal of acceptance.)
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral (21.6% zinc oxide)
- Key Ingredients: Oat extract, feverfew extract, glycerin
- SPF Level: 50
- Format: Lotion
- Size: 3 oz.
Best Fragrance-Free: Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Why We Love It: The Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen stands out for its fragrance-free, water-resistant, and reef-safe formula, which is why Dr. Browning recommends it. But he also likes that the cap “changes color in UV light—fun and educational,” he says. (The cap starts clear, but when it turns blue, consider that a cue to apply.) It’s also infused with aloe and calendula extracts, which are soothing to skin and help quell redness.
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral (8% titanium dioxide, 10% zinc oxide)
- Key Ingredients: Aloe extract, calendula extract
- SPF Level: 50
- Format: Lotion
- Size: 3 oz. or 5 oz.
Best Water-Resistant: Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Why We Love It: If you want a water-resistant formula that can last a bit longer when swimming—roughly 80 minutes, per the brand—Dr. Browning points to the Thinkbaby sunscreen. (However, “the thicker formula can be harder to rub in,” he says.) The formula has natural oils to impart a subtle fruity scent, which kids might love more than the typical sunscreen smell, and feels moisturizing on skin, thanks to ingredients like sunflower and jojoba oils.
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral (23.4% zinc oxide)
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, raspberry seed oil, papaya extract
- SPF Level: 50
- Format: Lotion
- Size: 3 oz.
Everything You Need to Know
How to Choose a Baby Sunscreen
The most important thing to know about baby sunscreen is that it should be a mineral, or physical, sunscreen, meaning it uses zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or some combination of the two. “These deflect UV rays rather than absorbing them, and are less likely to irritate sensitive skin while providing broad-spectrum protection, meaning they blocking UVA and UVB rays,” says Dr. Browning. And because baby skin tends to be more sensitive, “fragrance-free and hypoallergenic formulas are also ideal for this age group,” says Los Angeles pediatric dermatologist Carol Cheng, MD.
While chemical sunscreens are considered safe for adults, “recent studies have found some chemical sunscreen ingredients can potentially be absorbed into the bloodstream and may be more irritating on sensitive skin,” explains Dr. Cheng.
Next, consider the texture—specifically, something that rubs in easily. (And keep in mind that a slight white cast is typical for mineral sunscreens. “Stick or lotion formats tend to work well for toddlers because they allow more controlled application,” says Dr. Cheng. I haven’t had much success using sticks myself, since they can be too large to get around my daughter’s nose, under her neck, and on her ears. But Dr. Cheng also recommends using a makeup or foundation brush to apply liquids, which I’ve found to be much more successful.
At what age can babies wear sunscreen?
Babies can start wearing sunscreen at six months old. Earlier than that, it’s not recommended “mainly because of the increased risk of irritation because their skin barrier is not as developed,” says Dr. Cheng.
Instead of using SPF for a newborn, consider dressing them in UPF-rated clothing, hats, and sunglasses, says Dr. Benjamin. “Other coverings include stroller canopy coverings, beach umbrellas, trees and other shaded structures,” she says. “Avoid direct sun rays at peak times of the day.”
If you truly have no other shade or clothing option, “a small amount of sunscreen can be applied to exposed areas—preferably with a mineral-based sunscreen,” says Dr. Cheng. But consider it a last resort, not the rule of thumb.
What SPF level is best for a babies?
The sweet spot of SPF for babies is anywhere between SPF 30 and SPF 50. “SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks around 98%,” says Dr. Cheng. “The difference in protection is slight, but the higher number offers a bit more margin of safety, especially since sunscreen is often under-applied.”
Whatever the SPF you choose, however, it’s critical to reapply it every two hours—or even sooner, if your little one is sweating or swimming. (In the case of the latter, you might want to reach for a sunscreen with a “water-resistant” label, according to Dr. Cheng.)
Do I need to use sunscreen if I keep my baby out of the sun and in SPF-rated clothing?
Both are good steps, and “for the most part, they do a great job of reducing UV exposure,” says Dr. Cheng. But if your child is older than six months, consider applying a layer of sunscreen anyway. “UV rays can reflect off surfaces like sand, water, snow, and even concrete on a playground, so sunscreen is still an important extra layer of protection for any exposed skin, even in the shade or on cloudy days,” she says. That, or maybe your child has figured out to walk—in which case, they probably won’t stay in the shade for very long, as I’ve learned.
Meet the Experts
- Carol Cheng, MD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist in Santa Monica, California
- Latanya Benjamin, MD, a double board-certified pediatric dermatologist in Coral Springs, Florida
- John Browning, MD, a triple board-certified pediatric dermatologist in San Antonio, Texas
