There are cherry-stained drips that fall from the corners of their mouth. In between, there’s choclate ice cream and layers of dirt from digging that assign themselves a good spot on their cheecks. On their foreheads, are streaks of something or another. And the remenants of it all on and under their masks, remain scenes from movies.
Underneath all of it, smudged early in the morning before heading out, is their sunblock. While my own skin can cast with gray or blue, theirs remain only slightly tinged, and almost non-existant with a rub or two. Between all the fruit and treats, another layer gets lathered on mid-day. I’m not sure it works, with the dirt an all. And for sure, the technique leaves more to handle by day’s end. But I still do.
They’ve gotten used to doing it themselves too. On the stoop, they push a zinc stick into the cracks of their knees. I remain hopeful for the tasks I no longer have to hover over.
With what can only be described as a Babyganics horror story floating around instagram last week, I’ve been meaning to ask: What sunblock are you using for your kids this summer?
The post points to carcinogens that can be found in many versions of sunscreen. Even the most natural ones. It seems that once applied and reapplied again and again, as our kids move spaces and activities, the ingredients in these products can attack children through the skin. Though it isn’t thoroughly scientifically proven, I don’t need one too many stories to make me throw a product away.
We spent last summer hauling a few bottles of Hello Bello wherever we went. Their sunscreen is creamy and doesn’t leave a cast. It also smells divine and is the sustainable brain child of Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
And more recently, a tiny Baby Bum stick that we throw in our pockets for reapplication whenever we may need.
What are you using?
I heard the Innisfree daily defense sunscreen doesn‘t leave any cast! I don‘t know much about what chemicals are good/bad but I do know they are cruelty free!
It is interesting how we are learning to better care for what we love – we’ve always been careful (more or less, yikes!) about our offspring, and now we add protecting our coral reefs, recycling for the planet’s sake, refining what we know scientifically.
The rate of change seems to have accelerated, and that seems like a good thing.
Hi Susan! Yes, exactly! I’ve always thought of this or that for the kids. And have tried to make it better at times (some less than others). But i think the change in overall offering (The coral reef!) that has you connecting what you use and it’s presence in the earth at large, is such a profound and necessary change.
c
I tried a new sun screen this summer from Black Girl Sunscreen. I really like it and they have one for children too.