Written by Erika Bloom & Photographed by A Wild Dove
Now that you’ve grabbed those first rays of summer, it’s time to get serious about sun protection. There’s nothing better in the summer than playing in the outdoors, but we should protect our little ones’ skin while doing so. Organic, all natural sunscreens ensure we are nourishing them with effective coverage without adding harmful toxins. I choose products that are not only organic, but free of chemicals (phthalates, petro-chemicals, synthetic preservatives and parabens), and full of the right kind of effective physical sunscreen. Zinc oxide is great, but we must also consider particle size. Larger zinc particles are better for us and our kids, as non-nano particles can enter human cells, interact with our biology, and confuse our immune systems.
After these important considerations, I won’t compromise on luxury, feel, and experience. I look for something with a lovely scent, that rubs in without a white shadow, won’t cause breakouts, and stays put for continual coverage.
Here are my faves, selected from a lifetime of trying organic sunscreens and wandering the world in the sun, and from the clear and opinionated feedback of my two little adventurers, Alexander and Anabella.
Loving Naturals Adorable Baby Sunscreen SPF 30
Loving Naturals Adorable BabySunscreen SPF 30 is my favorite all around bottled sunscreen. Yes, it says it’s for babies, but my big kids don’t mind, and I love this one for me as well. It exceeds my non toxic standards and has a physical sunscreen but truly goes on clear. It is the least white of any liquid zinc sunscreen I’ve ever used.
TruKid Sunny Days sport Daily sunscreen SPF 30
My daughter loves the citrus scent (which comes from natural, perfume free oils) of TruKid Sunny Days Sport Daily Sunscreen SPF 30. I love that it goes on white so I can see she’s fully covered but then can be rubbed in to barely there for lasting coverage. It’s packed with organic ingredients and lasts through a 60-minute swim.
Purple Prairie Botanicals Sunstick
I’m obsessed with Purple Prairie Botanicals SunStick. The ingredient list is so pure and organic you could almost eat it. The cocoa butter gives it a subtle, chocolaty smell that’s delicious. It moisturizes skin with coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and sunflower oil leaving skin soft and glowing but not shiny. The diameter of the stick is larger than most so it’s easy to apply on the whole body. Because it’s 2oz and a solid, I can take it in my carry-on when we travel so I don’t have to check luggage but can ensure I have healthy sun protection for my family no matter where we are.
Badger Sport SPF 35 Face Stick
At SPF 35 and 80 minutes of water resistance, Badger Sport SPF 35 Face Stick is the strongest of the bunch. Still it is 98% organic, doesn’t feel thick, and can be rubbed in for no white cast. It says it’s for face but it’s also good for adding on to more likely to burn spots on the body, like the tops of the shoulders. For the scent averse, this one has virtually no smell at all. The small and slim package means I can keep it in my purse or even in my pocket for on-the-go application.
BeautyCounter Protect Lip Balm SPF 15
SPF for your lips is equally as important as the rest of your body. Sun damage and sunburn can affect this sensitive area. Beautycounter Lip Balm features aloe, shea butter and a plethora of rich natural oils that hydrate beautifully. The sun protection is zinc non-nano particles, which are super effective and healthy. You and your kids will love reapplying it throughout the day.
Basket Bag by Vanessa Seward
As modern mamas living in the over information age, (where everyone is an expert and parenting opinions are shared as freely and easily as an Instagram post) it can be tough to filter through the white noise to find the facts. Naturally, we’d love to consider ourselves wise in all sorts of ways, but the truth is sometimes we’re scrawling SOS in the sand. Good thing we’ve got the guidance and expertise of our own personal rockstars: the people who inspire us on the daily. Our rockstars (our flock) are enthusiasts, professionals and influencers in the fields of wellness, travel, education, style—the list goes on. Each one brings a profoundly different perspective to the table, one informed by their own experiences and outlooks. And that perspective is priceless.
They say it takes a village…we say it takes a flock.