Exposing the Safest Sunscreens for Kids

sunscreen

There’s nothing like a gorgeous, sunny day. However, when it comes to the topic of sun protection parents can feel torn between wanting to keep children slathered in sunscreen or just letting them strip down naked and get a huge dose of Vitamin D. Sunscreens themselves can seem like a mystery with all of their strange ingredients and acronyms and unfortunately, like all skincare products, are almost entirely unregulated by the U.S. government.

One common sunscreen ingredient in particular to watch out for is the synthetic chemical oxybenzone. It is an endocrine disruptor which affects the nervous system, has been linked to cancer in some laboratory studies, and creates harmful free-radicals from sun exposure. Another area of potential concern that has arisen is that of nanomaterials. These are widely used in sunscreens to eliminate the chalky appearance of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Reports indicate that nanomaterials small size makes them more able to enter the lungs, pass through cell membranes, and possibly penetrate damaged or sun-burnt skin.

The good news, however, is that there are many great products out there that actually do protect from both UVA and UVB and don’t contain potential cancer-causing ingredients or nanomaterials.

TAKE ACTION

  • Use sunscreen in moderation. Try to use clothing, umbrellas and shade as the most natural sun protection.
  • Avoid sunscreens that contain Oxybenzone, DMDM Hydantoin, Triethanolamine, Parabens, Fragrance, and spray sunscreens (with nanoparticles)
  • Look up your sunscreen in the Cosmetics Database, an extensive list run by a science non-profit that tracks what is healthy and what is not in skincare products.

At MightyNest we’ve done the homework for you by only offering sunscreens that are free of known toxins.

Click here to check them out!