Sunscreens for children: passed and failed

With the arrival of summer and the long hours of sunshine, sunscreens for children become essential with a protection factor of 50+, to avoid erythema and even more serious skin problems.

Unfortunately, however, not all products, even those from well-known brands, are reassuring in terms of safety and potential side effects. Quite the opposite. A comparison of the ingredients of 11 products conducted by the magazine Il Salvagente reveals some dangerous and undesirable ingredients. For example, zinc oxide in physical filters, declared "very toxic" by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Then there's perfume, which is absolutely not recommended in children's cosmetics. And then there's phenoxyethanol, an alcoholic preservative that's highly irritating and has neurotoxic effects. And polyethylene glycols (indicated on labels by the acronym PEG), which can cause allergies to the eyes and mucous membranes.

Based on these variables, Il Salvagente has drawn up a ranking in which 6 sunscreens for children fall below the passing grade.

Avène Baby Milk SPF 50+

Rating 10 

Bionike Baby&Kid Fluid Milk SPF 50+

Rating 9,2

Chicco Baby Moment's Sun 50+

Rating 9,7

Rilastil Baby Transparent Spray SPF 50+

Rating 9,2

Io Coop Sun Milk for Children 50+

Rating 6,9

Bilboa Sunscreen SPF 50+ for Kids

Rating 5

Leocrema Children's Sun Spray SPF 50+

Rating 5

Nivea Maxi Solar Spray Kids Protect & Care SPF 50+

Rating 4,7

La Roche Posay Dermo-Pediatrics Lotion for Wet Skin SPF 50+

Rating 4,7

Bottega Verde Sol Bimbo SPF 50+

Rating 3

Eucerin Sensitive Protect 50+ Kids

Rating 4

It goes without saying that the use of these creams should always be combined with some precautions to protect children from the sun's rays. Rinse your hair frequently, avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and always wear a hat. Here's a summary of the recommendations.

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