When it comes time to choose a sunscreen for your baby, you want something that is safe and effective and something that doesn't deliver a chemical concoction. We searched high and low for the best baby sunscreens on the market. For us to select a sunscreen, it had to rate as a low hazard on the cosmeticdatabase.com. It also had to be effective, not feel like you were trying to rub glue onto your child and not leave your child looking like they just rolled around in a tub of powdered sugar. The two sunscreens that we chose were Episencials' Sunny Sunscreen and ThinkBaby.

Episcencials is:

• Environmental Working Group top-rated sunscreen!
• Blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
• Protects sensitive skin with natural minerals zinc and titanium (no harmful nano-particles).
• Milky texture creates a protective layer with no harsh chemicals and minimal white residue.
• Fortified with organic green tea extract to prevent sun-damage.
• Organic sesame, safflower and avocado oils to moisturize and nourish the skin.
• Beeswax and organic shea butter increase water resistance and sun protection without the use of petroleum or chemicals.

According to Episcencials' determining the right SPF for your baby comes down to the following: "An SPF of 35 with mineral blocks such as the zinc/titanium combination we use protects from 97% – 98% of the harmful wavelength of UV rays. This protective value gives Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF35 a 4-star critical wavelength rating, which is the best possible rating. An SPF of 50 or even 70 using the same blocking agents only adds 2%-3% additional protective value. The use of enough mineral ingredients to achieve an SPF 50 or more using a mineral block makes the end product chalky white, very cumbersome to use, and very expensive."

ThinkBaby's goal is to create safer, non-toxic products for children and adults so it came as no surprise that they created a sunscreen without all those harmful chemicals.  In fact, according to ThinkBaby, research shows that "Not only are ingredients in sunscreen able to interact with skin, but data shows that some chemcials maybe able to go through the dermal layers in as fast as 26 seconds after application of lotions, and can then be detected in the bloodstream."  Hmmm, really makes you think about what you are putting on your baby's skin.  With ThinkBaby's Sunscreen, you don't have to worry.  You can protect them from the sun without giving them a healthy dose of chemicals too!

ThinkBaby's Features:

• Free of biologically harmful chemicals
• Broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
• Very stable under sunlight
• Not chemical based
• Micronized Zinc Oxide – Average particle size >100micron  
• Very Water Resistant - Highest level as determined by FDA
• Paraben Free and PABA Free
• Very High Zinc content
• Sunscreen produced in the USA
• New 2011 formulation applies easily and absorbs easily despite having such a high Zinc content. SPF 30+
• First sunscreen to pass Whole Foods Premium Care line requirements
• Does not have an obtrusive smell that many organic sunscreens have.
• No chemicals utilized for UV absorption
• A member of the Safe Cosmetics Campaign Compact
• Top Rated on Environmental Working Group database Skin Deep of 1400 sunscreens.