Continuous Spray Sunscreen

Putting on sunscreen is like changing the oil in your car. You need to do it and it serves a good purpose, but anyway you slice it, it’s a drag. Oily, greasy, it’s impossible to put on your own back unless you are a member of Cirque du Soleil. And your kids? Putting sunscreen on a resisting two year old is a recipe for disaster. Of course, skin cancer is a far worse proposition, so we grin and bear the apply, re-apply ritual.

Cheer up; there is a quick and easy solution. Continuous spray sunscreens which, as their name implies, spray a consistent mist of sunscreen (even when upside down) allow you to quickly and evenly spray your entire body with no rubbing-in required. Applying it to the kids is a snap as well. The continuous sprays do cost more, but the upside-less time and hassle applying and re-applying which makes you more likely to use them consistently-makes them worth it in our minds. It is also recommended that sprays not be used directly to the face, but you can also spray on your hands and apply. (If you don’t mind buying two products, the sunblock stick - kind of like applying chapstick to your face - is a Clever Parents favorite for face application.)

A number of sunscreen makers offer sprays in various forms—Kids, Sport, sensitive skin, etc. Coppertone’s Continuous Spray line starts from around $9 and Neutrogena’s Cooling Body Mist Sunblock starts from $10. Coppertone Water Babies UVA/UVB Protection Sunblock Stick (30 SPF) starts from $5. All are available online or in retail stores.