The best sun creams for babies in the UK 2023

If summer rhymes with idleness, it is necessary to remain careful and to protect oneself when going out in the sun, especially at the beach. in the UK, nearly 1500 people die each year from skin cancer, mainly due to UV rays. Baby's skin being fragile, it is necessary to apply sun cream to avoid after-effects and burns. But which baby sunscreen to choose? Through this guide, we help you make the right choice among our selection of the best baby sunscreens.

Mustela - Sunscreen Milk SPF50 1
8/10

Best value for money

Mustela - Sunscreen Milk SPF50

The best baby sunscreen in 2021

Without perfume and without harmful products, the Mustela SPF50+ sun milk is perfect for your little one's skin. This cream ensures a double protection UVA and UVB to guarantee a total effectiveness.

13,10 £ on Amazon

This sun cream for babies is based on avocado perseose. This fruit improves the skin barrier and protects against UV rays. Made with the greatest delicacy, Mustela Sun Milk SPF50+ is suitable even for children of all ages. It is used from birth and really protects the fragile skin of baby. This cream is water and perspiration resistant and lasts for 2 hours, after which it must be reapplied. To be spread on the body and the face, this product is characterized by a fluid and non greasy texture. With this milk, total absence of sunburn is guaranteed.

Garnier Kids Sensitive Expert + 2
9/10

Best value for money

Garnier Kids Sensitive Expert +

The best entry-level baby sunscreen

Delivered in a 200 mL bottle, Garnier Enfant Sensitive Expert + baby sunscreen is also accessible to most people. What better way to take care of your little one?

7,19 £ on Amazon

Garnier Baby Sunscreen Sensitive Expert + has a soft texture that makes it easy to apply. It spreads comfortably and evenly over the entire surface of the skin thanks to its bottle format. Its components penetrate more quickly in the skin to accelerate their effect. We appreciate its non-sticky finish in addition to the high protection SPF 50+. There is no risk of irritation even in contact with sand. This product is also suitable for other users with sensitive skin and poor sun tolerance. Note that Granier Enfant Sensitive Expert+ is fragrance-free, paraben-free and dye-free.

Acorelle - Very high protection sun cream for babies 3
8/10

Best premium value for money

Acorelle - Very high protection sun cream for babies

The best high-end baby sunscreen

Acorelle offers us this very high protection sun cream for baby. It is an organic sun cream, usable from the third month of the child. This format of 50 mL is very good.

16,57 £ on Amazon

Acorelle baby sunscreen is to be applied on the face and body. However, it is better to put it on the hand first to cover the face to avoid contact with the eyes. It is necessary to spread it again after a bath to guarantee its effectiveness. It is suitable for children from 3 months to 3 years. It is a hypoallergenic product which does not cause any inconvenience to the sense of smell. If the texture is quite fluid, the cream leaves nevertheless white traces on the skin, but which are removed easily after a shower. In addition to being a good protective cream for babies, it is also environmentally friendly.

Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play 4
8/10

Hydrating

Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play

The best full-size baby sunscreen

Not only is this spray flawless against UV rays, but it also fights allergens and irritations. Add to that its moisturizing function to be convinced of its usefulness.

10,03 £ on Amazon

The spray bottle containing Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play is easy to use. This baby sun spray is therefore very practical to protect your child during his first outings to the beach or simply in the sun. Like all sun protection products, this one needs to be applied every two hours for maximum protection. For older children, this format allows them to do without parental assistance for application. They will love the soft and pleasant scent of this product. However, some users complain about the fatty residue it leaves on the skin.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best baby sunscreen

Any specific needs?

The best baby sunscreen in 2021

The best entry-level baby sunscreen

The best high-end baby sunscreen

The best full-size baby sunscreen

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best sun creams for babies

TOP OF THE LINE CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Mustela - Sunscreen Milk SPF50 5
8/10
Garnier Kids Sensitive Expert + 6
9/10
Acorelle - Very high protection sun cream for babies 7
8/10
Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
Mustela - Sunscreen Milk SPF50
Garnier Kids Sensitive Expert +
Acorelle - Very high protection sun cream for babies
Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play
Without perfume and without harmful products, the Mustela SPF50+ sun milk is perfect for your little one's skin. This cream ensures a double protection UVA and UVB to guarantee a total effectiveness.
Delivered in a 200 mL bottle, Garnier Enfant Sensitive Expert + baby sunscreen is also accessible to most people. What better way to take care of your little one?
Acorelle offers us this very high protection sun cream for baby. It is an organic sun cream, usable from the third month of the child. This format of 50 mL is very good.
Not only is this spray flawless against UV rays, but it also fights allergens and irritations. Add to that its moisturizing function to be convinced of its usefulness.
Texture
Protection Index
FPS 50+
FPS 50+
SPF 50+
FPS 30
Quantity
40 mL
200 ml
50 mL
300 mL
UVB/UVA protection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Scent
No
No
No

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Buying guide - baby sunscreen

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How to choose your baby sunscreen

It's important to choose a baby sunscreen carefully to ensure that it effectively protects your little one's fragile skin. Here are the main criteria to consider.

#1 - The protection index

The sun protection factor or SPF, also known as the sun protection index, is a fundamental criterion when choosing a sun cream for babies. The higher the SPF, the higher the level of protection. An SPF of 30-50 is recommended, but 50+ is the ideal choice. In Europe, SPF 50+ means that the index is higher than 50. It should be noted, however, that the SPF index corresponds to protection against UVB rays only. It is therefore strongly recommended to use a cream with a mention of double UVA and UVB protection.

#2 - Dual UVA and UVB protection

To effectively protect the skin against ultraviolet rays, a baby sunscreen must offer double UVA and UVB protection. The UVA protection factor is expressed as a "UVB/UVA ratio" or "PPD" (Persistent Pigment Darkening). The amount of PPD ingredients must be at least equivalent to one third of the SPF value, i.e. a UVB/UVA ratio of less than 3. If the SPF index allows you to know the level of protection against UVB rays, don't hesitate to read the list of ingredients to know if the cream is really effective against UVA rays. A baby sunscreen that protects against UVA rays must include the following sun filters:

  • Meroxyl SX and XL ;
  • Parsol 1789;
  • Helioplex ;
  • Tinosorb.

Composition Knowing the list of ingredients in a baby sunscreen is important before making a choice. It is therefore important to read the label carefully. In addition to checking the protection factor and the presence of anti-UVA components, make sure that the formula does not include the following ingredients:

  • 4-methylbenzylidene camphor;
  • Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate ;
  • Retinyl palmitate;
  • Cyclopentasiloxane;
  • Oxybenzone;
  • Benzophenone;
  • Octocrylene;
  • Octyl-methoxycinnamate.

They are potentially responsible for endocrine disorders. In addition, to avoid skin irritation, make sure the cream is hypoallergenic and does not contain any of the following substances:

  • Alcohol;
  • Paraben ;
  • Perfume;
  • Dye.

The sun protection format Sun protection products for babies come in a multitude of formats. Depending on the brand, you can choose between cream, milk, lotion and foam formats. Nevertheless, the cream is the most frequently proposed for the toddlers, because its application is easy and homogeneous. You will find baby sun protection in spray or tube form.

#3 - The intended use

The skin of baby being still fragile, it requires a more specific care and protection. In this case, it is better to choose a sunscreen specially designed for babies, rather than a sunscreen suitable for children and babies at the same time.

Why use a sun cream to protect your baby?

There are plenty of opportunities to go out with baby. On hot summer days, the risk of getting sunburned is high without adequate sun protection. Even indirect sunlight can be harmful, especially in the mountains. In addition to covering your little one with appropriate clothing, a hat and baby sunglasses, you should also apply a sun protection product. A sun cream for babies is therefore essential to avoid any risk of sunburn and other skin damage.

Why is it important to protect your baby's skin with a sun cream?

Protecting baby's skin is crucial because :

  • Baby's skin is still very lightly pigmented and therefore very fragile;
  • Baby's skin is still very thin and sensitive to the sun;
  • In very young children, the natural regeneration of the skin is not yet active.

Without effective protection, exposure to direct or indirect sunlight can cause babies to :

  • Skin burns and sunburns due to UVB rays;
  • Premature skin ageing caused by UVA rays, which could even lead to skin cancer later on;
  • Fever;
  • Dehydration.

How does sun protection work?

In adults with a very fair complexion, the skin is able to protect itself from the sun's UV rays for 5 to 10 minutes. The self-protection time of the skin in babies is the shortest, as their self-protection system is not yet fully developed. For 5 minutes, the skin can withstand direct exposure to the sun, but after this period, it starts to burn and needs to be protected to avoid the harmful effects of UV rays.

The role of a baby sun cream is to multiply the self-protection time according to the SPF index. A cream with an SPF 50 extends the protection by 250 mins (5 x 50), i.e. a little over 4 hours. However, you must apply the product every 2 hours to keep the self-protection active. If your baby is playing in the water, don't forget to reapply the sun cream after swimming and as soon as the skin dries. This also applies after sweating.

Apply a generous amount of sunscreen!

According to experts, you need to apply about 2 mg of sunscreen for each cm² of skin to ensure effective protection. This corresponds to about 15 ml of cream to cover baby's body.

Tips

Take the most protective baby sunscreen

For peace of mind, choose a baby sunscreen that is labeled "double UVA-UVB protection" and "very high protection". An SPF 50 index at least is recommended for baby's fragile skin. If possible, choose a formula that favors only mineral sunscreens. However, some manufacturers combine mineral and chemical filters.

Protect your baby even on cloudy days

Clouds do not stop ultraviolet rays. Therefore, don't hesitate to apply sunscreen to your baby's skin during walks, when you go to the mountains, or to the beach.

Avoid exposing your baby to direct sunlight

The

application of a sun cream for baby does not exempt you from the good gestures to adopt. Do not expose your baby directly to the sun when you go out. Wearing appropriate clothing, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, of course, remains essential. As much as possible, dress your little one in anti-UV clothing.

Apply baby cream to exposed areas

Think about

applying baby sunscreen generously to areas exposed to the sun or strong sunlight. Avoid sensitive areas of the face, such as around the eyes and mouth.

Take the right precautions to better protect your baby

Beyond using sunscreen, other precautions should be taken to keep your little one safe from the sun. Thus, on the beach or in the mountains, it is advised not to expose baby to the sun directly. Always look for shade, or use a parasol. When he is in the stroller, also put a sunshade even if an awning is available. Avoid sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., a time when UV rays are strongest. Finally, give your baby regular drinks to keep him or her hydrated.

FAQ

Which baby sunscreen to choose?

In our opinion, the best baby sunscreen for most people is Anthelios Dermo-Pediatrics La Roche Posay SPF 50+. To find out more, read our buying guide.

What is the difference between SPF50 and SPF50+?

The SPF50 index corresponds to a high sun protection. The SPF50+ index includes all sun protection factors above 50 (60, 70 or even 80).

What protection factor is recommended for my baby?

As baby's skin is still very fragile, it requires the highest level of protection. An SPF50 index is effective in protecting your little one from the sun's aggressions, but many baby sun creams have an SPF50+ index.

Should baby sunscreen only be used in summer?

In summer, when the UV index is highest, the use of a sun cream is essential to protect baby from the sun. However, UV rays are just as dangerous in the mountains because of the reverberation, which is why it is important to apply baby sun cream to your little one.

Does a baby sunscreen with a high SPF completely block the sun's rays?

There are no sunscreens for babies that can completely block ultraviolet rays. So don't assume that even with a high SPF you can keep your baby in the sun for a long time.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , Doctissimo.fr
  2. , Nivea.fr
  3. , Joone.fr
  4. , Economie.gouv.fr
  5. , Leslouves.com
  6. , 20minutes.fr
  7. , Naitreetgrandir.com
  8. , Parents.fr
  9. , Mamababyparis.com
  10. , Doctissimo.fr
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Mustela - Sunscreen Milk SPF50 9
Mustela - Sunscreen Milk SPF50
Garnier Kids Sensitive Expert + 10
Garnier Kids Sensitive Expert +
Acorelle - Very high protection sun cream for babies 11
Acorelle - Very high protection sun cream for babies
Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play 12
Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Play

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