Susncreens Revisited

We've been slathering ourselves in screen for a couple of weeks now. Between summer camp and the beach, we feel like we've given all our products a fair shot. We also pulled out some remaining sunscreens from last year, curious to see how they held up to our newest additions.

First, a look at our new purchases. Eco Logical has become hands down our family's favorite beach sunscreen. We love the ease of application, the lack of white residue and the nice texture. We still wish more came in the tube, and we're already on our second container. It definitely goes fast. As the summer progressed, we became less enamored with Goddess Garden. It separated, making it almost impossible to rub in. Everyone had streaky white lines down their body, and we wondered if it was actually still offering universal protection.

Last Year's Leftover Sunscreens:

Lavera Sun Sensitive Neutral Baby & Children Sun Spray (SPF 20, 200 ml for $35.00): This was my kids' favorite product for years. Unlike other natural brands, it uses a pump spray, making it a breeze to apply. It is waterproof and works instantly making it ideal for beach and pool days. But last year Lavera changes their formula. They now use nano-particles, which they claim are coated and 'safe.' The SPF numbers reflect European standards rather than American ones, which is confusing. Customer service insists their 20 is equal to an American SPF 30, but I'm still uneasy. $35.00 is steep, but this bottle honestly lasts far longer than any of the tubes we've had making it worth the price. EWG ratings are unclear. Older formulations were a "4", meaning they were not as safe as some, but newer versions seem to be rated "2" making them safe. Our biggest issue is that for the first time (in three bottles) our sunscreen changed consistency over the winter making it impossible to use the pump and difficult to remove by hand. I fear we'll need to throw out 1/3 of a bottle unused. Still, Lavera is the best spray option in natural sunscreens.

Loving Naturals (5 oz for $14.00): This SPF 30 waterproof sunscreen has a thin consistency, but leaves a white coating on the body. My kids don't mind it, but it irks me that I can't even get it off my hands once it is applied. My biggest gripe, however, is that the sunscreen contains nut oil making me fearful about using it at camp or at a public pool. There are just so many kids with severe nut allergies these days. I probably won't order this product again for that reason alone.

California Baby Everyday Moisturizer SPF 18 (4.5 oz for $20.00): I bought this sunscreen last summer and barely used it. We spent most of our summer at the beach, and the sunscreen just didn't seem strong enough. I began using this lotion on my kids for longer errands or playground visits. I love it! I just pumped and rubbed it in quickly. It doesn't leave the skin slimy or white and it goes on easily. To be clear, I don't recommend this product for the beach as it isn't strong enough.