After running out of my usual face sunscreen, I went through it trying to find a replacement that wouldn’t tick off my extremely dry, sensitive skin. It took me months to find my current favorite (shout out, Beauty of Joseon)—so when I decided to switch gears and find a body sunscreen that I loved just as much, I took a shortcut.
I asked my sister, the parent of small children, what sunscreen she’d been using for them. Surely, SPF formulated with the tender skin of babes in mind would appease my cranky skin, right? For once, my hunch was correct. As soon as I tried Babo Botanicals’ Sensitive Baby Mineral Sunscreen, I knew I’d found The One.
The application
This sunscreen comes in a tube that has a nice matte finish (and the words Sensitive Baby emblazoned across the label, which feels slightly accusatory—but I digress). It’s easy to apply a sizable blob with a single squeeze, and the lotion itself has a great consistency. It isn’t thick or caulk-like, like some mineral sunscreens, but it isn’t watery, either. It feels like a regular old body lotion you’d use for moisturizing purposes. Case in point: In addition to zinc oxide (which is a reliable, dermatologist-recommended sunblock that works well for all skin types), Babo Botanicals’ mineral SPF also contains nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter.
Since it’s a body sunscreen, I’ll use it all over my arms, legs, neck, and back when I’m going to be outside for hours at a time (say, if I’m heading to the park). But even when I’m wearing long pants or only popping outside for a quick dog walk, I’ll make sure to slather some onto my shoulders and chest if they’re exposed—I tend to tan very easily in these areas, so I make a point of protecting them as much as I can.
The finish
Mineral sunscreens are known for the white cast they can leave on skin, even after minutes of thorough rubbing and blending. So imagine my relief—and, frankly, shock—when I saw how easily this stuff sank into my skin. Considering it’s a sunscreen made for babies, it has a pretty elegant formula. As someone who regularly drew on and stamped herself with ink pads as a toddler, I don’t know if kids notice or care about this pleasant finish, but I certainly appreciate it as a sensitive-skinned adult.
One minor drawback: I have noticed a very, very slight residue on my skin after using this sunscreen, but it goes away after a while. And when it does fade, that’s usually my cue to reapply. Although it’s technically fragrance-free, it has a very subtle smell—it reminds me a bit of oatmeal, which I find comforting (but might not be for everyone).
The results
Judging by my noticeably fainter tan lines this summer, I do believe that, in the three months I’ve been using it, Babo Botanicals has made it harder for the sun to turn me to a crisp. I haven’t tried it at a pool or beach yet, so I can’t fully vouch for its water resistance (the brand states that it’s good for 80 minutes of swimming). But I have used it before heading to the gym—and, even after some seriously sweaty workouts, I could still feel it on my skin on the way home.
