Natural sunscreens?

[karryb]

What do people think about natural sunscreens/sunblocks? Do you think they're that much safer than the Coppertone, etc. that was probably used on us as a kid?!
If so, what brands do you recommend? Where to buy them?

I've seen Jasen's brand for kids at BabiesRUs, but not much else at the big chain stores...

[YuOr]

I never used this sunscreen, but i just found Kids Lizard
And you can win it here

[Bukvochka]

Originally Posted by karryb

What do people think about natural sunscreens/sunblocks? Do you think they're that much safer than the Coppertone, etc. that was probably used on us as a kid?!
If so, what brands do you recommend? Where to buy them?

I've seen Jasen's brand for kids at BabiesRUs, but not much else at the big chain stores...

I've been using California Baby sunscreen (both stick and creme) for the past 2 years. Before that I also used Mustela and Dr. Haushka children's sunscreens.

I regard California Baby and Dr. Haushka as most natural.

This is a link taken from another forum about the rating of various sunscreens based on the level of hazard they present Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database - Browse.

I pasted it here as well:

Below is the list of sunscreens. The last 3 numbers are level of hazard: with 0 - saftlest and 8 - most dangeros.

Browsing 37 products product (formulation year) health hazard - sun hazard - score
1. Trukid Sunny Days Facestick SPF 30+ Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum * (2008) 1 0 0
2. California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year-Round * (2007) 1 0 0
3. California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick No Fragrance * (2007) 1 0 0
4. Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen * (2007) 1 0 0
5. Baby Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30+ * (2007) 4 0 1
6. California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance * (2007) 2 0 1
7. UV Natural Baby SPF 30+ New Formula 2007 * (2007) 2 0 1
8. California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion Everyday/Year-Round * (2007) 2 0 1
9. UV Natural Baby SPF 30+ (old formulation) * (2007) 2 0 1
10. UV Natural Sport SPF 30+ (old formulation) * (2007) 2 0 1
11. UV Natural UV Golf / Ultra * (2007) 2 0 1
12. Lavera Sun Block Baby & Children SPF 30 * (2006) 4 1 2
13. Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion (SPF 45) * (2006) 6 1 2
14. Trukid Sunny Days SPF 30+ Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum * (2008) 4 1 2
15. UV Natural SPF 15 New Formula 2007 * (2007) 2 3 2
16. Baby Blanket Sunblock Spray Lotion for Babies, SPF 45 (2005) 5 2 3
17. Banana Boat Baby Tear Free UVA & UVB Sunblock Lotion SPF 50 * (2007) 5 2 3
18. Baby Blanket Sunscreen Spray Lotion for Babies, SPF 45 (2006) 5 2 3
19. AVON SUN Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40 (2005) 6 1 3
20. Avalon Organics NATURAL MINERAL SUNSCREEN, SPF 18 * (2006) 3 3 3
21. Avalon Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 18 * (2007) 3 3 3
22. Reviva Beach Baby Lotion, SPF 25 (2005) 5 4 4
23. No-Ad Babies Sun Block, SPF 45 * (2005) 5 3 4
24. No-Ad Sunblock, Babies, Waterproof, SPF 45 * (2006) 5 3 4
25. No-Ad Babie Sunblock Lotion Spf * (2006) 5 3 4
26. Coppertone Water Babies Stick SPF 30 (2007) 4 3 4
27. Bronze Sensuale Bambino Carrot Lotion SPF-30, Broad Spectrum (2006) 3 6 5
28. Baby Blanket Sunblock Spray Lotion for Babies, SPF 45 * (2006) 7 1 7
29. Rite Aid Baby Sunscreen, SPF 45 (2005) 8 2 7
30. Banana Boat Baby Magic Sunblock Lotion, SPF 50 * (2006) 7 1 7
31. Coppertone Water Babies Lotion Spray SPF 50 (2007) 8 1 7
32. CVS Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 (2007) 8 1 7
33. CVS Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 (2007) 8 1 7
34. Banana Boat Baby Sunblock Tear Free Spray Lotion, SPF 50 * (2008) 8 1 7
35. Coppertone Water Babies Quick Cover Lotion Spray SPF 50 (2007) 7 1 7
36. Banana Boat Baby Magic Sunblock Spray, SPF 48 * (2005) 9 1 7
37. Walgreens Baby Sunblock (2006) 8

[YuOr]

Originally Posted by Bukvochka

I pasted it here as well:

Below is the list of sunscreens. The last 3 numbers are level of hazard: with 0 - saftlest and 8 - most dangeros.

Wow! thank you for this information!

I just went to the pediatrician with my 18 m.o. son. She told me that good sunscreen made for aging skin is better then any baby sunscreen

[karryb]

thanks for the great info!

How scary to know that most of the common baby sunscreens are the most dangerous!

[Bukvochka]

Originally Posted by karryb

thanks for the great info!

How scary to know that most of the common baby sunscreens are the most dangerous!

Definitely scary, but not that difficult to predict though.... "Mass-produced" normally means "not great in terms of quality".... especially when we talk about cream formulations, etc. ....there are exceptions of course, but rare....

[CheshireCat]

Originally Posted by Bukvochka

Definitely scary, but not that difficult to predict though.... "Mass-produced" normally means "not great in terms of quality".... especially when we talk about cream formulations, etc. ....there are exceptions of course, but rare....

I doubt that the reason is mass production....I think one of the reasons that baby sunscreens are amongst least safe is the fact that they HAVE to have very high SPF, and because that is achieved by using chemicals they end up with the highest concentration of the chemical used to "up" SPF level. Unfortunate, of course.

We have used Lavera and Sisleya sunscreens for past 2 years, as California Baby gave my son rash.

[Bukvochka]

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

I doubt that the reason is mass production....I think one of the reasons that baby sunscreens are amongst least safe is the fact that they HAVE to have very high SPF, and because that is achieved by using chemicals they end up with the highest concentration of the chemical used to "up" SPF level. Unfortunate, of course.

We have used Lavera and Sisleya sunscreens for past 2 years, as California Baby gave my son rash.

In "mass-production" there is less control over those dangerous ingredients, less concern about them either - that's what I meant

It is quite scary to just read the list of ingredients in those BananaBoat/Coppertone sunscreens.