The Best Sunscreens For Babies, According To Testing And Expert Insight

Forbes

01-04-2025

Whether you're heading to the park or beach, you'll want your baby to be properly protected from the sun. Along with sticking to the shade as much as possible and dressing your little one in UV-protective clothing and accessories, using the right sunscreen on exposed skin is key. The best sunscreens for babies are easy to apply evenly, gentle enough for their delicate skin and provide broad-spectrum coverage that's a minimum of SPF 30 (ideally SPF 50). Along with my own in-depth evaluation, I enlisted a panel of parents to test 14 versions from top brands over the course of several months; La Roche-Posay's Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 came out on top thanks to how evenly it applies and how it feels softer and less sticky than any other option I tested. My best value pick is the Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ because it also has a nice texture that doesn't feel greasy or oily the way other drugstore options can.
The best sunscreens for babies are easy to apply evenly, gentle enough for their delicate skin and ... More provide broad-spectrum coverage that's a minimum of SPF 30.
Here is the best baby sunscreen, based on our testing.
Interestingly, not all sunscreen is alike, and it's worth noting the differences between sunscreen for babies and adults. Dermatologists recommend mineral-based sunscreen for babies rather than formations based on other chemicals—mineral sunscreen is less likely to irritate infants' much more sensitive skin than sunscreen featuring zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Experts also suggest looking for water-resistant and unscented formulas. Ease of application is also crucial for parents and caregivers, as you want to be able to apply and reapply frequently and evenly. For more information, read our in-depth reviews of the La Roche-Posay and Blue Lizard sunscreens.
Amazon
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Type: Mineral | Price per fluid ounce: $8 | Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 5%, zinc oxide 15% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
Best for:
Skip if:
This mineral sunscreen from La Roche-Posay is our overall winner for a number of reasons. It's a cream formula with just the right amount of thickness to avoid being excessively runny or leaky—helpful when you're applying on a baby on the move. Even if you've nursed a bottle over the course of months, as I have, it never separates in the tube. Going on, it feels like a moisturizing lotion without any greasiness or stickiness, as I found to be common with other contenders we tested. It dries to a soft, almost matte finish and for those with light to medium skin tones any initial white cast blends in seamlessly.
Our testers and I have been using this sunscreen for over a year now on our babies, kids and even ourselves, which is a testament to how much we consistently like it and reach for it over other options. I also appreciate that it's fragrance-free and truly neutral smelling.
Amazon
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Type: Mineral | Price per fluid ounce: $3 | Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 8%, zinc oxide 10% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
Best for:
Skip if:
The formula of this Blue Lizard sunscreen has been updated, with the most noticeable changes being that it's a thicker, less runny formula (like our best overall pick) and also more hydrating thanks to the inclusion of calendula extract and organic aloe. Dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy, who specializes in treating youth skin, is a fan of this formula; it goes on smoothly and blends to practically clear, leaving skin soft and with a slightly dewier finish than the La Roche-Posay sunscreen. It's also completely free of fragrance, which is pleasant compared to some overly scented versions marketed to babies and kids.
Amazon
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Type: Mineral | Price per ounce: $11 | Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 20% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
Best for:
Skip if:
Packaged in convenient stick form, this sunscreen glides on smoothly and is great for touchups (experts all recommend frequent reapplication) and covering hard-to-reach areas. It does leave a faint white cast on my medium tone skin, but for applying sunscreen on babies and kids—especially in stick form where you're swiping it as much as you can before blending—I don't mind this as much because allows you to see where you're applying it.
Although some stick sunscreens can be a bit drying, this one is pretty creamy going on. It's free of synthetic fragrances but has the slightest hint of powder when you really sniff it—not especially noticeable, though.
Amazon
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Type: Mineral | Price per ounce: $6.33 | Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 20% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
Best for:
Skip if:
Much like our top pick, this sunscreen from Baby Botanicals has a thick, creamy consistency that is still very easy to apply. One tester found it to be on the dewier side when first smoothing it on. However, it ends up feeling soft and not at all greasy. Another tester says, 'It rubs beautifully into the skin, so I have the feeling that it's really getting in there and doing what it's supposed to do—and not leaving my son sticky or uncomfortable.'
This one is also completely unscented. One tester says, 'I can't get over how many clean baby products have a scent—even a natural one—so I love that this is truly fragrance-free.'
We tested several top baby sunscreens. Here's why some of them didn't make the cut.
Mustela Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion: We liked this creamy formula but it felt a bit greasy (although not sticky) and had a faint chemical smell.
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Mineral Sunscreen: A good drugstore option with a floral scent, our tester liked how it felt on her skin but preferred the Blue Lizard sunscreen overall.
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen: This is another completely unscented option, but it's not water-resistant, which is something our experts recommend. It can also separate in the bottle, and required some shaking to reincorporate the oils.
Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen: This thick lotion had a faint chemical, was on the oily side and caused minor irritation on our tester with sensitive skin.
Sun Bum Baby Bum Sunscreen Stick: Our tester found this solid version more irritating on her skin than the lotion, plus it took more work to rub in.
Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream: While we liked its subtle, naturally derived herbal-floral scent, this was by far the oiliest sunscreen tested, and it separates easily in the tube, resulting in an unpleasant application.
Bare Republic Baby Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen: Another sunscreen that was on the oily side, it left our tester's skin a little itchy.
At Forbes Vetted, the beauty and grooming team covers a wide variety of skincare topics, which includes evaluating a variety of sunscreen formulas and SPF products.
When researching the best sunscreens for babies, we relied on our market knowledge and personal experience with various formulas and sunscreen brands while sifting through online reviews, product awards and retailer ratings.
There are enough baby-related decisions to make; choosing the right sunscreen can be simple thanks to our guide. Here's what to look for based on our research, in-depth testing and expert insight.
All of the experts I interviewed agree that for infants, it's best to go for a mineral sunscreen rather than a chemical or hybrid version. 'Babies should only use a physical or mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and as few added ingredients as possible," says dermatologic surgeon Dr. Howard Sobel. Compared to adults, babies have a much higher ratio of skin surface area to body weight so their skin can absorb more of the chemicals, and experts tend to recommend avoiding them.
Also, the likelihood of an allergic reaction on sensitive baby skin is another reason to stick with mineral SPFs for little ones. As dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Jane Yoo says, these formulas are much less likely to cause contact dermatitis. Mineral sunscreens are also less prone than chemical versions to potentially burn or sting the eyes.
It's best to avoid scented formulas, as fragrance can commonly be the cause of allergic flare-ups. 'It is recommended to avoid fragrances, dyes and perfumes in sunscreen for babies as they can trigger reactivity in sensitive baby skin,' says Yoo. This includes added scents of any kind, no matter the source. 'Synthetic versus naturally derived fragrance does not matter; both can cause irritation or allergy,' says dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy. 'I would look for products that say they are fragrance-free. I would also avoid any products that contain essential oils and extracts.' There's also the potential for a photoallergic reaction that's more likely in individuals with sensitive skin, including babies. 'Fragrance of all kinds can cause sensitivity, especially in the sun,' says Sobel.
Experts generally recommend going for water-resistant sunscreens for babies. In our testing, we eliminated any formulas that didn't feature this, and all of our winners are water-resistant up to 80 minutes.
In our testing, we focused mostly on sunscreen lotions and creams because they're easiest to apply and give the most consistent protection. It should be applied 30 minutes before going outside. 'The best protection is shade and sun-protective clothing, and that should be the focus for babies and honestly all of us," says Jeffy. 'Sunscreen should be used on areas that can not be covered by clothing, hats and sunglasses. When we are relying on sunscreen, be generous with application and reapply every two hours or after swimming.'
Yoo's rule of thumb is: 'Even some covered areas can get sun exposure, so I would recommend applying sunscreen everywhere—don't forget ears, noses, hands and feet. Be generous with sunscreen and cover your baby up with a UV-protective onesie swimsuit.' Jeffy suggests moving straps around and applying sunscreen underneath them for extra protection. 'Keep in mind that babies overheat very easily so be aware of how long you are out with them,' she says. "Be sure they are hydrated and shaded, and if they seem fussy or you see redness of the skin, take them indoors immediately.'
Out of all the various formula types, sprays are least popular due to how they can aerosolize and not stay on the skin. 'If you have to use a spray, apply to your hand and rub onto baby's skin. I would not spray in a way that could get inhaled by baby or in eyes,' says Jeffy.
A soft, smooth feel and finish tends to be most comfortable for babies as well as parents and caregivers applying sunscreen on them—and then picking them up and holding them on and off. A lot of options tend to feel greasy or oily even a half hour after you apply them, which is not ideal because there's more likelihood of it being rubbed off or rubbed into eyes and causing discomfort.
You might think that you don't want to see a white cast on your baby's skin after applying sunscreen, but it can be reassuring to see it and know you've covered everything. Also, any mineral SPFs become less visible after the first ten to twenty minutes.
A broad-spectrum, water-resistant mineral sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is the safest option for babies over 6 months old. For infants under this age, the FDA, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend waiting to introduce sunscreen and instead focusing on keeping babies in the shade and dressed in UV-protective clothing.
Their skin is so delicate and sensitive. 'There's a risk for irritation and allergy from sunscreen in a baby's thinner and more sensitive skin," says Jeffy. 'Protection should be with sun-protective clothing, shade and avoidance of exposure.' Don't forget the hats, glasses and blankets that are UV-protective. According to Yoo: "This fabric uses a rating system called ultraviolet protection factor or UPF (rather than SPF). As of May 2025, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a minimum UPF 50 for effective sun protection.'
No, 'zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered safe in sunscreen for babies older than 6 months old,' says Yoo. These are mineral sunscreen filters that are less likely to irritate a baby's more sensitive skin.