If you’ve ever had to apply sunscreen to a young child, you know that it’s…not easy. For that reason, we often reach for the sunscreen sprays, which are fine, but not as good as other options. Add to that the fact that we often overlook certain problem areas, and we must admit that overall, our kids probably aren’t wearing enough of the stuff.
I’ve broken down what types of sunscreens work best for different scenarios:
To make sure they’re getting the best coverage possible, you’ll first want to consider using the best type of sunscreen for the situation and body part. Sunscreens generally fall into four categories: creams, gels, sticks, and sprays. Creams are best for (dry) skin and faces; gels are good for hairy areas, such as the scalp; sticks are good for around the eyes; and sprays can be an easy solution for parents—with some caveats.
Parents often prefer spray sunscreens because they’re the quickest and easiest to apply; however, it can be especially challenging with spray to know whether you’ve applied enough or covered all of the skin. Sprays should not be inhaled, and some of them are flammable and shouldn’t be applied near heat, an open flame, or while smoking.
Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating—whichever comes first—even on cloudy days. And don’t forget to hit the tops of the feet and hands, the ears, the back of the neck, the top of the head, and the lips. (You can use a lip balm with an SPF 30 or higher.)