Looking for a sunscreen that’s safe for both mum and baby? Let me introduce you to Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40.
Gentle on the skin? Check.
No irritating UV filters that penetrate the blood stream? Check.
A lightweight texture that absorbs instantly? Check.
Intrigued? Read on:
What’s In Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40?
ZINC OXIDE
Zinc oxide is my fave UV filter. This white mineral protects, on its own, from the entire UV range.
The best part? It’s so gentle on the skin, even babies can use it. It stays on top of the skin (where it needs to be to act as a defence against UV light) and doesn’t irritate it.
But… there’s a catch. Or two. Zinc oxide is thick and leaves a white cast behind. Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40 solved the white cast problem by adding a light tint to the formula. No risk of looking like Caspar The Ghost.
Related: Why Zinc Oxide Is My Fave UV Filter
ANTIOXIDANTS
Did you know that antioxidants boost the protection of your sunscreen?
FYI, they’re not UV filters, so do NOT use them as a replacement for sunscreen. They just make it more effective. Here’s how:
No sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays. Even SPF 100 blocks only 99%. SPF 40 blocks roughly 97%. So what happens to those 3% that make it through to your skin?
They start generating free radicals, the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles and make your skin sag. But, don’t fret. 3% is such a small %, you can neutralise these nasty buggers before they wreak their damage.
Enter antioxidants. They fight off the few free radicals that make it onto your skin, slowing down the aging process.
Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40 has its fair share of antioxidants. Here are the highlights:
- Broccoli Sprout Extract: According to a 2007 study, it “reduces the inflammation and cell damage caused by UV rays” by boosting “the production of a network of protective enzymes inside cells that defend cells against many aspects of UV damage”.
- Black Tea Extract: According to a study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, it helps to prevent “the skin damage and sunburn by absorbing UV rays and secondly, it repairs UV induced damage to the skin cells.”
- Astaxanthin: The reddish antioxidants that gives salmon and lobster their beautiful colours. According to Truth In Aging, it’s an “efficient absorber of specific ultraviolet sunlight rays that may contribute to skin aging and cancer.” It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Kigelia Fruit Extract: Derived from the big fruits of the kigelia africana plant cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa, it has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Related: How Do Antioxidants Work?
ESSENTIAL OILS
Remember when I said Sunumbra Sunscreen SPF 40 is safe for mum and baby? It is. Sort of. Let me explain…
It’s true this sunscreen doesn’t contain harsh chemical filters, preservatives, colourants or other common allergens that are known to trigger a reaction.
But… it has essential oils. Geranium and cedar wood, to be precise.
Wait, Gio! Essential oils are natural. That means they’re good, right? Not so fast…
There’a reason why these oils smell so good: to keep predators away. Their fragrances are their defence mechanism.
For most people, they’re harmless. But if you have sensitive skin, they can irritate skin or give you a rash. Don’t say I haven’t warned you!
Texture
For a mineral sunscreen, it’s rather lightweight. It’s not as liquidy as that of a mineral sunscreen, but it’s not a super thick goo either. It dries quickly, too.
Fragrance
A lovely herbal, floral scent.
How To Use
Apply it liberally over every area of exposed skin 20 minutes before leaving the house. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
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Performance & Personal Opinion
Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40 has a beige tint, so there’s no risk of it leaving a white cast on the skin. It doesn’t leave a brownish one either, in case you’re wondering.
The texture’s fairly lightweight for a mineral sunscreen, but not very moisturising. It won’t dry out your skin but it won’t hydrate it, either. If you have dry skin, you definitely need a moisturiser underneath.
I don’t mind that because the sun protection it gives me is top notch. Even on the hottest summer days in Italy, it keeps me safe from sunburns (and all the other evils the sun causes).
FYI, it’s water-resistant, too and will last you for around 40 minutes even after sweating (don’t ask me how I know). But do reapply it after that. Water-resistant doesn’t mean it’ll last forever.
I didn’t experience any irritation or anything, but then my skin is pretty resistant. Unless you’re sensitive to geranium or cedar wood, you won’t have any problem with it.
One last thing: this sunscreen didn’t clog my pores or give me breakouts. Phew!
Related: Do You Really Have To Reapply Sunscreen Every Couple Of Hours?
Who Is This For?
- Oily skin
- Combination skin
- Anyone looking for an all natural sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast behind
Who Is This Not For?
- Dry skin (unless you’re willing to wear a rich moisturizer underneath)
- Sensitive skin that reacts badly to essential oils
Packaging
Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40 comes in a sleek yellow and red tube that keeps its contents safe from sunlight (it would make the sunscreen go bad!).
Does Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40 Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Effective, stable, high level protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. | True. |
| 40 minute water resistance | True again. |
| Contains a natural tint from the botanical ingredients. | Yes – it neutralises the white cast. |
| Can be used by anyone with dietary, environment or sensitive skin concerns. | Yes – unless you’re allergic to one of the ingredients (always check the label!). |
| It still contains our unique combination of plant extracts as the key ‘hidden secret’ to being able to substitute the harmful chemical filters found in almost all sunscreens sold today. | I love Sunumbra sunscreens, but not their marketing. Plant extracts are NOT a substitute for harmful chemical filters. They can’t block UV rays. While we’re on the subjects, chemical filters are NOT harmful. There’s no evidence they cause cancer, damage DNA and whatever other nonsense the natural brigade comes up with. |
| Protection from free radical damage and atmospheric toxins. | Yes, antioxidants help protect skin from free radical damage and pollution. |
| Active natural nutrients to reverse the effects of radiation damage. | There is evidence that antioxidants can reverse some of the damage, but they’re not miracle workers. That’s why you need sunscreen to prevent the damage in the first place! |
| Maximizes UVB, without burning, to maximise vitamin D. | I’m not sure what this means or why you’d want to maximise UVB. Sunscreens are formulated to protect you from them, not to maximise them! |
| Helps prevent sunburn. | True. |
Related: Vitamin D: How To Get Your Dose Without Skipping Sunscreen
Price & Availability
$28.70 at Sunumbra
Do You Need It?
If you’re looking for an all-natural mineral sunscreen, Sunumbra Sunkids SPF 40 is one of the best I’ve come across. It protects you from UV rays, free radicals and even pollution!
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 19% (non-nano, non-coated), de-ionized water, baobab seed oil, oliv oil glutamate, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, carnauba wax, allantoin, kigelia extract, aloe vera extract, green rooibos extract, black tea extract, broccoli sprout extract, astaxanthin, xanthan gum, geranium oil and cedarwood Atlas oil
Im always looking for pure mineral sunscreens that have an spf of at least 40 and are not greasy so this is an excellent option. But do you think it has enough zinc oxide?, or do you think theres a way to check with the manufacturer?.
Thanks!
Alejandra, this would be a great option for you then. Personally, I believe it has enough Zinc Oxide to effectively protect skin, but you can always contact Sunumbra and ask them. I’m sure they’d reply to you promptly. 🙂
Hello Alejandra – If you are looking for an SPF40 then the sunumbra sunkids is certified at SPF40+, effectively meaning that the zinc oxide present has been tested and found to be sufficient enough to provide the protection level you are looking for.
Hello Alejandra. I am not sure how to answer your question specifically, apart from to say that the percentage of zinc oxide used in the SPF40 products is 19%. They are all also fully certified using the ISO / COLIPA/ FDA standards required.
Some additional protection is offered through some of the botanical ingredients which also provide a boost to your own body’s internal protection capabilities. Contact us directly anytime with further queries as we are always very open to sharing information.
Sue Ingram, CEO, Sunumbra
I wish I could try this one 🙂 !
Ana, I believe they ship worldwide. 😉
I will definitely look into this, it’s on the pricier side for me but worth it if it does work, as ss is one of the most important in skincare. The ing. list looks good, I just hope it’s not too dry for my slightly dry skin!
Julia, it’s not drying but not moisturizing either and may feel a tad uncomfortable on dry skin. It’s nothing a moisturizer applied beforehand can’t fix though. 🙂
I’m going to put this sunscreen on my interested list. I have so many products I want right now haha. I don’t mind if a sunscreen isn’t moisturizing. Heck, the one I’m using right now is a bit drying but I apply moisturizer after it sinks in and my skin is pretty happy. So that’s what coated zinc oxide means. I was always curious but didn’t look it up since I didn’t care whether it was coated or not–I only cared the product protected my skin. 🙂
Reading further…. WOW I WANT this sunscreen! It has so many nice ingredients in there. I have never even heard of astaxanthin or broccoli sprout extract. You teach me so much, seriously! I feel less smart when I don’t read your blog. Time to catch up I promise.
No worries about replying to all my comments! 🙂 I know you read them anyway.
Janessa, this is a wonderful sunscreen and very well-formulated. I love that they have treated Zinc Oxide in a way to make it more effective and more pleasant to use, and that every ingredient has a purpose. A lot of companies don’t pay that much attention to their formula, but only demand the inclusion of this or that ingredient, even when it isn’t something necessary, to attract consumers.
But I love replying to your comments! 😉
I’ve read other reviews that say the kids version can leave brown stains on white garments. Not sure if it’s true, but I’m debating whether to order the 30 version or the kids version – have oily skin but it would be really annoying to end up with stains on my clothing. Has anyone else noticed a problem with the kids version staining?
Tiyo, personally I have never experienced any staining, but then I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask. I rarely wear white clothing and am very careful with application. Both versions are tinted though, so potentially, this could be a concern.
The brand has recently released Sumbumbra sport and Sunumbra daily sunscreen, which aren’t tinted. I haven’t tried them yet, so I’m not sure if their textures are suitable for oily skin (of the other two, Sunkids would be better for your skin type), but they are a creamy, off-white colour, so they shouldn’t stain.
Forgot to say that I’ve been using the sport40 version for awhile and it works well, just a bit thick/harder to rub in, it goes on greasy at first.
Tiyo, oops just seen this. I’m glad the sport version is working well for you. Zinc oxide is quite thick and can be a bit uncomfortable at first, but if it doesn’t last long, and you’re concerned about the staining, you may want to stick to this version.
Gio,
It feels like at the end of the day i am not removing the sunscreen thoroughly from my skin. I use bioderma Sensibio to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by la roche posay physiological gel. There are white bits if i look closely at my skin. Not sure if its because my skin is dry.
What do you use to remove physical sunscreen?
Ying, I’m sorry you are having problems removing you sunscreen. I use an oil-based makeup remover, sometimes even just olive oil. It works very well for me.
Can you use this sunscreen on the face also.
Melisha, yes, you can. I do it all the time, and never had any problems.
You’re right…definately not for dry skin. It makes my skin feel look and feel pasty (especially on the face) . Since it’s tinted and i have sensitive skin….I actually broken out with pimples because of this sunscreen….Its the first time I ever broke out before.
Lola, oh no, so sorry to hear that! That just goes to show how different we all are and have even well-formulated sunscreens don’t work for everyone.
Thats true! Do you have any recommendation for a sunscreen that is specifically for the face?
Lola, have you tried Paula’s Choice? She has several sunscreens that are specifically for very dry skin. You may also want to check out Badger Balm. They’re natural and usually good for sensitive skin. Hope this helps.
No I havn’t. I’ll try them both soon…thanks for the recommendation! 🙂
My pleasure. Let me know how you like them!
Hi Gio,
I just bought the Sunumbra Sunkids. While their website lists the same ingredients as you wrote in this article, the tube I got states the following:
Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide 19% (non-nano, non-coated)
Additional ingredients:
De-ionised water; baobab (Adonsonia digitata) seed oil**; Sodium Olivoil Glutamate**; Cetearyl Alcohol; Glyceryl Stearate; broccoli (Brassica oleracea) sprout extract*; carnauba (Copernicia cerifera) wax; allantoin; galactoarabinan**; aloe vera extract**; astaxanthin*; black tea (Camellia sinensis) extract*; green rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) extract** kigelia extract***; geranium oil; cedarwood oil
Just wanted to inform you.
For me this is not good, as I wanted to completely avoid any fragrances (talking about the last two, geranium and cedarwood oil). But using it for three days now I had no negative reaction and guess I will keep on using it as long as nothing bad happens.
Minn, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I have run out of this old bottle a long time ago now obvs but I don’t remember these ingredients being listed there. I always check the label against the ingredients on a brand’s website to make sure they match (sometimes, as you know, the brand also mentions the key ingredients). So, I’m thinking they may have slightly reformulated the sunscreen?
I think so too. I don’t remember any post, so which sunscreen are you using now?
Minn, I’m using this one now: http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/cyberderm-every-morning-simply-zinc-sun-whip/
Hi Gio, would you still recommend this sunscreen even though the formula has changed slightly?
Suzanne, not for sensitive skin. But if you’re not bothered by fragrance, than yes.