The sunscreen I buy in bulk that works for my entire family

Finding a sunscreen that works with my family’s skin sensitivities, sensory processing issues, and diverse range of skin tones has involved a ton of experimentation. Spray sunscreens blew away with the slightest breeze and trying to apply stick sunscreens on wiggly kids was frustrating for everyone. Even after narrowing it down to lotion versions, we still had to decide between chemical or mineral options. While the chemical sunscreens we tried were comfortable to apply and blended seamlessly into our skin, we had to be careful about avoiding irritating ingredients. Even the “clear” mineral sunscreens with the highest safety ratings left a visible white cast and dried out our skin with daily use. 

After forgetting my own sunscreen on vacation a couple of years back, I was relieved to see that the hotel’s spa pool offered a complimentary backup: Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion with SPF 50 ($12-$58). After slathering it all over my body and enjoying an afternoon of swimming, I felt like I had discovered the Goldilocks of non-irritating sunscreens.

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What sets Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion apart

While categorized as a chemical sunscreen, Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion doesn’t include oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, sulfates or synthetic fragrances. It’s also non-comedogenic and intended to be used on the face and body—a convenience my husband and kids appreciate.

Since it’s sweat and water resistant, we rely on it for pool days, little league games, family bike rides, and more. Even with nearly daily visits to the pool these last couple of summers, we’ve avoided sunburns since using it. The key is to apply it 15 minutes before getting wet so that it soaks into the skin, but it can last up to 80 minutes before you have to re-apply. 

While most mineral sunscreens parched our skin, this one includes skin-nourishing ingredients that make a difference. Sunflower, rosemary, and rice bran extracts help to calm, hydrate, soften, and shield skin, so the experience of putting on this sunblock is comparable to lotion.

As someone with reactive skin who battles rosacea, eczema and breakouts, I haven’t had any issues with using this sunscreen, though I haven’t used it on my face. My youngest son also has sensitive skin and hasn’t had any reactions from using this, even after applying it to his face.

With my family’s skin tone variation, avoiding the ghostly residue left by mineral sunscreens is a big win, especially for those of us with dark skin. This sunscreen glides on invisibly for all of us.

It’s not the cheapest sunscreen, but I think that the price is reasonable for the quality, especially if you go for the largest, most economical size. The 18 fl. oz. option comes in a bottle with an easy-to-grip handle and pump. I appreciate how the pump design allows my youngest son to apply his own sunscreen and that I can buy refill pouches for the bottle.

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What to consider before buying Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion

This sunscreen is free of synthetic fragrances, but it’s not fragrance free. The formula includes a blend of plant extracts: basil, eucalyptus, orange, lemon, and wild geranium. I’m pretty sensitive to smell and abhor anything that evokes a tropical cocktail, so I appreciate the subtle, fresh scent. 

While this product is positioned as a sunscreen for families, the Environmental Working Group advises mineral sunscreens for babies and toddlers under 3.  When my youngest was a toddler, we used Evereden Kids SPF 50 Fluid Silk Mineral Sunscreen Pro ($32), which is a mineral sunscreen that can safely be used on babies as young as six months but also works for adults.

One of my children also has sensory processing issues. Full disclosure: I have yet to find a lotion or sunscreen that he has zero problems wearing, but as long as he doesn’t have to touch this sunscreen with his own hands, he’ll allow me to apply it to him, which is a big deal. The fact that it’s fairly lightweight and absorbs quickly helps.

We use the larger size to apply sunscreen at the house before we head to a game or the pool and then carry the 5.5 fl. oz. size to reapply when needed. When we travel, I pump some of the SuperGoop! Play Everyday Lotion into a reusable travel-sized squeeze bottle that’s TSA approved so that I don’t have to bother with buying a travel size version of the sunscreen.

There are a billion factors to juggle while choosing a sunscreen, like efficacy, safety, cost, and comfort, and every family has to choose what works best for them.

Where to buy Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion

Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion is available at Ulta, Amazon, and Supergoop! With varying availability of sizes. 

source https://www.mother.ly/child/child-products/sunscreen-for-families-no-white-cast/