If you're looking for the best sunscreen for your kids and your whole family, I've got you covered — literally. 😂 I take sunscreen seriously in our house. Between living in Texas and having kids who are outside year-round, I've tried more sunscreens than I care to count. These are the ones that actually made the cut.
Why Sunscreen is a Must for Your Family
While sunlight is important for our health (Vitamin D is your friend), practicing safe sun care is key. I remind my kids that if they want to minimize those wrinkles as they age, start using sunscreen now!
But really, UV exposure and continuous sunburns just aren’t worth it. Not only can they damage your skin, but they can also lead to more serious issues, like skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
This is why it’s so important for everyone to wear sunscreen. In fact, most experts say you really should wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin — even on cloudy days. It may not seem like it, but up to 90% of UV rays can penetrate clouds!
Now that we have the scary stats out of the way, let’s talk about how to choose the best sunscreen for your family.
How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Your Family
As parents, we always want to protect our children. But even something that seems simple, like choosing a sunscreen, can feel overwhelming when you start your Google search. Especially if you’re a first-time parent researching all the things.
So hopefully this post with all of my favorite sunscreens helps you save some time! Living in Texas and having kids who swim outdoors all year long means I’ve tested a lot of options to find the best sunscreen for different situations as well as preferences among family members.
These are the products I use on my kids (or on myself), before they head to school and when they are at the pool or on the playground. From lip sunscreen to scalp sunscreen, sunscreen to apply on wet skin and more, I’ve got your whole family covered! ☀️🎉🏖️
Also, a quick tip for those of you who like to tan. No sunscreen is 100% effective, so you can still get a tan while wearing sunscreen. Now onto my list!
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Best Sunscreens for Kids and Families
Best Sunscreen for School Bags
Getting kids to reapply before PE or recess is a whole thing — so the key is keeping it simple and in their bag. These are the ones my kids actually use independently (and that won't explode in a backpack 😅):
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Sun Bum Lip Sunscreen: My kids keep this SPF 30 lip sunscreen in their backpacks so they can apply before heading outside for PE or recess. It's a no-brainer.
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Sun Bum Sunscreen Stick: Stick sunscreen is the ultimate school-bag win — no mess, no cap disasters, easy enough for kids to use themselves.
Best Sunscreen for Toddlers
Toddlers are a whole category of their own — wiggly, sensitive-skinned, and deeply opposed to having anything applied to their face. 🫠 These are my go-to picks for the toddler years:
- Thinkbaby Clear Mineral Sunscreen: A reader favorite — and yes, it's clear mineral sunscreen, which means minimal white cast. Reef-safe, non-greasy, and gentle enough for sensitive toddler skin. Win, win, win.
- Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen: Gentle, baby-safe, and easy to rub in. Great for toddlers transitioning out of the baby stage who still have super sensitive skin.
- Sun Bum Wet Skin Sunscreen Stick: The stick format is everything for toddlers. Fast application, tear-free, and it works on wet or dry skin — which, if you have a toddler, you know is non-negotiable at the splash pad.
- Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator: If your toddler hates sitting still for sunscreen (same), this roll-on applicator is a game changer. Let them "help" apply it and suddenly everyone's on board. 🙌
Ali Approved Tip: For toddlers who really resist sunscreen application, try roll-on or stick formats over lotions — they go on faster, which means less wiggling and crying for everyone involved.
Shop My Favorite Sunscreens for Kids 👆
Best Water-Resistant Sunscreens for Kids Who Swim
If your kids are basically part fish in the summer (same 🤦🏻♀️), you’ll definitely want to pair this with my favorite pool toys and essentials—it makes pool days so much easier (and way more fun).
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EltaMD UV Sport: My holy grail for swim days. SPF 50, water-resistant, and tear-free — which matters a lot when your kid surfaces and immediately looks at you. This is the one I reach for first every single time.
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Sun Bum Sunscreen Stick: A long-time favorite of mine. Perfect for the face. I keep it in my purse (and diaper bag at one point) for easy on-the-go application.
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Sun Bum Wet Skin Sunscreen Stick: The genius of this one? You can apply it while your kid is still wet — no more fighting them out of the pool just to reapply. Tear-free and absorbs fast.
- Alba Botanica Sunscreen While Wet Sunscreen Spray: Same idea — applies right to wet skin. I spray it on, rub it in, and we're done in 30 seconds.
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Alba Botanica Sunscreen SPF 50 Spray: Our all-around outdoor spray. Easy to cover a lot of ground quickly when you've got multiple kids who need to be re-sunscreened before heading back outside.
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La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Water Sunscreen: This lightweight, cooling sunscreen feels more like a hydrating skincare step than a greasy SPF, making it perfect for everyday wear.
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La Roche-Posay Anthelios Kids: This gentle, fragrance-free sunscreen is perfect for kids' sensitive skin, providing high SPF protection without the greasy mess or dreaded white cast.
- Alba Botanica Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45: Mr. Kids prefers lotion sunscreen and this is a favorite. It absorbs quickly and is non-greasy.
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Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen: Budget-friendly and works well for the whole family. My philosophy: the best sunscreen is the one your family will actually wear.
For Kids Who Hate Greasy Sunscreen 🙅
You know the kid. The one who wipes sunscreen off immediately and announces it's "too slimy." These are the formulas that converted my most sunscreen-resistant children:
- EltaMD UV Sport: Non-greasy, absorbs fast — even my pickiest kid doesn't complain about this one.
- Vacation Classic Sunscreen Spray: It’s a super lightweight spray, smells amazing (like summer in a bottle), and dries quickly—so there’s way less complaining.
- Sun Bum Sunscreen Stick: No lotion = no complaints about greasiness. Stick format is the answer for kids who are sensory-sensitive about texture.
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Kids: Fragrance-free and specifically formulated to not feel heavy or sticky. A great gateway sunscreen for resistant kids.
- Alba Botanica Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45: Absorbs quickly with zero grease. Even Mr. Kids (who is very opinionated about this) approves.
Best Sunscreen for Babies
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Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen: This baby-safe mineral sunscreen is gentle on sensitive skin, easy to apply, and packed with SPF protection—perfect for sunny park days and outdoor adventures.
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Thinkbaby Clear Mineral Sunscreen: If you've been Googling "does Thinkbaby leave a white cast" — the answer is no, not really! It's a clear mineral formula, so it rubs in much more cleanly than traditional zinc-heavy sunscreens. Reef-safe, non-greasy, and great for sensitive baby skin.
Best Everyday Face Sunscreens
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EltaMD UV Clear: I wear this sunscreen 365 days a year, rain or shine. My tween loves it too.
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Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen: This totally invisible, weightless sunscreen goes on like a silky primer—no white cast, no greasy feel, just smooth, SPF 50 protection that works under makeup or on its own.
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Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield Flex: This tinted mineral sunscreen blends seamlessly, providing SPF 50 protection with a natural, skin-perfecting finish—no heavy makeup required. This and a touch of mascara and blush are the only makeup I wear frequently during summer.
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Supergoop! (Re) setting 100% Mineral Powder: I use this lightweight, mineral-based powder sunscreen to set my makeup along with being used for touchups throughout the day.
Sunscreen You Can Apply on Wet or Dry Skin
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Alba Botanica Sunscreen While Wet Sunscreen Spray: Easily applies and sticks to wet or dry skin!
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Sun Bum Wet Skin Sunscreen Stick: Easy to apply, tear-free formula. It quickly and reliably absorbs into wet or dry skin.
Best Scalp Sunscreens
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Sun Bum Scalp Sunscreen: This convenient spray application is perfect for protecting the scalp. Great for kids who don't want to wear a hat at all times!
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Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder: I love this non greasy scalp sunscreen, that feels similar to dry shampoo.
Ali Approved Tip: For little ones with a ton of hair (hi, my kids 🙋), the Sun Bum spray is the easiest way to get scalp coverage without a fight. Just spray along the part lines and go.
Best Lip Sunscreens
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Sun Bum Lip Sunscreen: My kids and I both love this SPF 30 lip sunscreen. Great for school backpacks, purses, diaper bags and more.
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Supergoop! PLAY Lip Sunscreen: This reef-friendly, SPF 30 lip balm is super hydrating. I keep this in my purse.
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COOLA Tinted Lip Sunscreen: Sun protection and a little color. Yes please!
Sunscreen Tools & Accessories for Easy Application
In addition to these amazing sunscreens, some products make applying sunscreen even easier and more effective:
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UV Detection Stickers: These simple stickers change color to indicate when your sunscreen is wearing off or when it’s time to reapply. They’re a fun way to keep track of sun exposure and ensure your family is properly protected.
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Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator: This mess-free applicator holds up to 100ml of sunscreen, making it perfect for kids and adults who need quick, easy application without the hassle.
Sun Care Tips for Families
Wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) daily, even on cloudy days. If you’ll be outside for a while, reapply every two hours. Especially if your kids are running around nonstop (yard games, bike rides, going through sprinklers, all the things), you’ll want something quick and easy to reapply. These are the same kinds of activities I included in my favorite yard games for kids and outdoor play ideas posts.
Apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before you go outside to all uncovered skin — don’t forget your ears, lips, scalp, hands, and feet.
Be generous! Most people use less sunscreen than needed. It takes about 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to cover your body when wearing a swimsuit.
Apply it well. Whether you use a lotion, spray, roll-on, or stick, make sure to rub in the sunscreen until it’s absorbed.
If possible, limit your time in the sun, especially from 10am-4pm. This is when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest! If you need to be outside, look for a shady spot.
Cover up when you can. There are so many options for UPF clothing now!
Don’t forget to protect your head! This wide-brimmed hat is easy to take with me to the beach or pool. If your kids allow hats on their heads, this UPF 50+ baseball cap comes in lots of different colors. And this sun hat is perfect for babies.
Choose sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. This goes for kid’s sunglasses, too! Here are my favorite kid’s sunglasses and baby sunglasses.
Keep babies out of direct sunlight. Only kids 6 months and older can wear sunscreen.
Use roll-on sunscreens for toddlers and preschoolers who have trouble staying still when you’re trying to apply sunscreen. A roll-on sunscreen will go on much faster. And you can even let them roll it on themselves!
Your body needs more water when it’s warm outside, so take a water bottle with you to stay hydrated. This Hydro Flask is my favorite water bottle for kids.
Check the expiration date on your kids sunscreen (and yours too!) to make sure it’s not expired. Toss any expired sunscreen as it may no longer be effective.
FAQs About Sunscreen for Kids & Families
Can babies wear sunscreen?
Only babies 6 months and older can wear sunscreen. For younger babies, use shade, protective clothing, and hats instead.
What’s the best sunscreen for sensitive skin?
Look for fragrance-free, mineral-based sunscreens like Thinkbaby, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Kids, or Blue Lizard Baby.
What sunscreen is best for kids who swim every day?
For daily swimmers, look for a water-resistant formula with SPF 50 and reapply every 40–80 minutes. My top picks are EltaMD UV Sport (tear-free + water-resistant = swim day MVP) and the Sun Bum Wet Skin Stick or Alba Botanica While Wet Spray because you can apply both while your kid is still dripping. No dragging them out of the pool required. 🙌
What is the best sunscreen for toddlers?
The best sunscreen for toddlers is one that goes on fast and doesn't cause a meltdown. I love stick formats like the Sun Bum Wet Skin Stick and mineral options like Thinkbaby and Blue Lizard Baby for sensitive skin. If your toddler hates the application process, try the Solar Buddies applicator — letting them "help" is a total game changer.
Can I still get a tan while wearing sunscreen?
Yes! No sunscreen is 100% effective, so you can still tan while protecting your skin from burns and long-term damage.
Do I need to wear sunscreen on cloudy days?
Absolutely! Up to 90% of UV rays penetrate clouds, so you should wear sunscreen every day.
Is spray sunscreen as effective as lotion?
Yes, but make sure to rub it in after spraying to ensure full coverage and reapply frequently.
More Ideas
As they say, the best sunscreen is the one you'll wear — and after testing more options than I can count, these are truly the ones we keep coming back to summer after summer. If you have a favorite that isn't on the list, drop it in the comments — I'm always looking for new things to test! ☀️
For more posts like this one, check out my beach must-haves and my summer activities for kids.
