Have you tried the Avon wipes for faces. We've used these for several years now and are really good. Only thing is I havn't seen any in the books yet

I doubt that you'll find such a thing - nearly all suntan creams actually advise you to avoid the eye area. The next best thing would be to use a specialist suntan cream for the face. Boots do them in both their No7 cosmetics range and their Soltan range which includes products for sensitive skins. Both include high SPF ones in the range - the Soltan sensitive range includes a face cream with an SPF50.

Encouraging them to wear a hat with a brim or a sunvisor on its own so that their eyes are protected without the need for suncream close to their eyes might be the even better and safer bet. If you still really want to use some sort of chemical protection then I would go with a cream designed for use on the skin around the eyes from the cosmetic ranges that also has an SPF rating but to the best of my knowledge most of these go no higher than SPF15 and I suspect that this is because anything higher increases the risk of eye irritation.

In the end, the best protection for kids is to cover them up and use a hat which shades their face from the sun in some way rather than relying on chemical protection in the form of high factor suncreams.

SM

I would have thought that there's a more natural product on the market these days? Hats are fine but they do not guarantee that they won't burn, in the pool for instance where the sun reflects back on to their faces.

There simply is no such thing as a 'natural' sunscreen apart from a physical barrier. All suncreams are based on chemical ingredients which are designed to prevent absorption of UVA and UVB rays by the skin. Products which help prevent burning but do not prevent this absorption are probably even more dangerous in the long run than wearing nothing at all because it is the action of the radiation on the sub-surface levels of the skin which damages the skin and causes skin cancers. A tanned skin is still a sun damaged skin.

Also, what few people seem to realise is that cataracts are also caused by long-term sun exposure - it's the eyes way of protecting itself from excessive sun damage. So you really do need to think about how you protect your kids eyes and not just the surrounding skin from sun damage. UVA and UVB safe goggles/sunglasses are something that people should be thinking about more and more with respect to kids and you might want to go down this route depending on the age of your kids. Tinted sports goggles such as those recommended for skiing would probably be suitable.

In the end, you either need to use chemical based sunscreens or keep them out of the sun. Certainly I would want to minimise kids exposure to the sun between 11.00am and 3.00pm on very sunny days. I even minimise my own exposure during the hottest part of the day.

SM

Thanks SM.

We always used P20 with our kids. Shower them in the morning, dry them and apply. leave for 30 mins before putting clothes on top and it will last all day. It does not wash off in pools or the sea either.

I have found the same problem with my children. The sun tan cream in the stick variety works best for us, it doesnt seem to run as much when mixed with water.

We usually buy boots sun cream as they are always on buy one get one free and are very good.If we run out in resort we use nivea as well.

I also try to get the kids to wear hats so you dont have to put sun cream in their eyes.
I know that boots soltan do one or two which are facial ones especially for the face but couldnt find any last year, maybe they're new?
Theres that many different ones this year it all gets confusing theres soltan, soltan kids,soltan extreem and soltan once!

I've been using the Soltan facial suncreams for a few years now but haven't bought this year's batch just yet. Last year's 'sun sensitive' one was in a white dumpy tube with blue lettering. Expensive for the quantity compared to their bottles but worth it to my mind.

But I regularly use their No7 face suncream too - last year's was in an orangey-gold tube - same colour as their bigger bottles for the body. Price was a little more than the Soltan equivalent but I on the whole I prefer the texture - it seems to rub in easier.

SM

you dont have to put sun cream in their eyes

I think people have got the wrong end of the stick, we don't rub it in their eyes but the 2 yo rubs her eyes when the sun cream runs in to them!

I think your best bet is to get some of the facial sun lotion which is usually found with the beauty products, although Boots Soltan do a SPF50 face lotion HERE. I have used the L'Oreal one too HERE
I have also used a face cream from the Avon Bronze range but it was a SPF30, you may want a higher SPF for kids.
Hats and large frame good quality sunglasses are best for children

The colour Ambre Solaire one has been great for mine - even the oldest who has very dry skin and odd bursts of excema x

Bought lots of Soltan yesterday at Boots for our family holidays and noticed there was lots of face creams for kids they had different colours, Pink, green and blue (I think),spf factor 50 Approx 6 quid for one with one free.

We bought two bottles got two free and was also given a half price sunglasses voucher and another skincare voucher.

So I'll get my Glasses then get another voucher for him to get his too!