Buying Sunscreen For Your Bebe? Watch Out For These Ingredients

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It’s Noviembre and the holidays are nearly here, but in many parts of the country, the sun is still shining bright and temperatures are hitting summer digits. This means that you still need to protect your skin – and more so, protect the skin of your little ones.

But given concerning news and research around ingredients that might be inside sunscreen creams and lotions, it’s common to feel a bit lost about what brand to buy. What’s more, Habit, the Latina-led sunscreen brand that went viral on Tik Tok, highlighted the fact that access to a dermatologist isn’t a thing unless you have money and even great, healthy sunscreen is pricey.

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Even the FDA has started to research the safety of sunscreens, and has begun to develop new standards in their search for toxic ingredients in the brands on grocery store shelves.

So what should you look for when buying a good batch to protect yours and your babies’ skin?

#1. AVOID THESE CHEMICALS

European governing bodies have questioned the safety of brands containing problematic ingredients like oxybenzone, homosalate and octocrylene, and found that levels in 2 brands in particular were not safe. But hundreds of creams here in the United States have these ingredients and constantly being exposed to this is a problem given that there isn’t any safety data behind these.

#2 GO WITH MINERAL

When you’re unsure, mineral is always best. Mineral sunscreen includes things like iron or titanium oxide, which is sunscreen in its purest form and without any added chemicals.

#3 STOP USING SPRAYS

Creams and lotions are always best and safest to use, and the FDA has warned that spray-based sunscreen may even seep into the lungs. What’s more, you don’t really know how much you’re actually putting on your kids.

#4 NO NEED TO MAX OUT

Stick to an SPF rating under 60, because higher numbers haven’t been shown to provide greater protection, and appear to be marketing-related claims that have no research to back up its claims.

#5 PROTECT TODDLERS WITH CLOTHING

Even on top of sunscreens, it’s best to always give your toddlers a hat and long sleeves for better protection. This will also help them get used to shielding their skin away from the sun and avoiding harsh chemicals and burns.