Kids and Ice-cream. That was what they they were having lots of last week. I brought them out for 1-to-1 ice cream dates. It has been quite a while since I went on a mom- daughter/ Mom-son date with my kids.
Monkey boy with his ice-cream
Most of the time I bring the kids out together and it isn’t that easy to get to bond with them with their siblings around. They were glad with their solo dates with me and I had fun visiting 3 different ice-cream places with them.
Tiger girl with her ice-cream waffle and new bubble toy
Ice-cream is certainly not cheap these days especially when the kids request for gourmet or freshly made ice-cream.
The sweet treats set me back by almost $100 in total as they requested for meals /presents too during their dates.
Monkey boy with his Kaya Toast + Ice Milo
This is one of their favourite “snack foods” or breakfast when we are out.
Japanese Set meal
Doggie boy requested for Japanese food when we were out and promptly ordered this set meal- pork with rice.
The boys can really eat as they are eating adult portions now as compared to a few years back. This certainly makes eating out more expensive with them.
Living in tropical Singapore the kids and I get many opportunities to have fun at the pool. I’ve been taking them swimming since they were 8 months old and all of them love the water.
Since we are in the pool so often it is very important all of us apply sunscreen before entering the water to ensure that we are adequately protected from the harmful rays of the sun.
With so many different types and brands in the market. Which sunscreen is then is the most suitable one for me and the kids?
There are two main different types of sunscreen- Mineral and Chemical. There are both benefits and disadvantages to each type and preferences may differ depending on your concerns and opinions.
There have been many conflicting reports supporting both types of sunscreen and it is still best to based your choice on your own discretion.
Mineral Based sunscreens I tested
The Coola and Babyganics sunscreen
Chemical Sunscreen I tried
Mary Kay Sunscreens
Sunplay and Biore Sunscreen
I tested out a variety of sunscreens for myself and the kids. We tried both Mineral and Chemical based sunscreens to see which type was more suitable for use.
The kids have a different requirement from me in choosing a suitable sunscreen as they needed one that was water resistant as they go swimming weekly.
Choosing sunscreen- My checklist
These 3 sunscreens are among the more popular sunscreens based on the various reviews that I’ve read and recommendations from my friends.
Here are my findings on the 3 different brands of sunscreen above.
Babyganics Sunscreen
I liked the fact that this sunscreen was made of Zinc Oxide which is a safe mineral for use. However upon further investigation it contained bad ingredients which could be harmful for the kids in the long run.
This sunscreen contained these ingredients.
Active ingredients : Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5.0%, Zinc oxide 11.7%
polysorbate 60: Commonly used in fragrance, this emulsifying and solubilizing agent is one of several varieties of polysorbates, which some experts claim are reproductive toxins.
phenoxyethanol: A preservative found in nearly every type of cosmetic and various cleaning products. Proven organ system toxin in animals (even at low doses), and suspected to be carcinogenic. Some studies say that it can be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin and that it can cause reproductive damage. (Read about the different studies on it here)
Conclusion = Unsuitable for the kids just considering the ingredients list.
My findings
Being a mineral based sunscreen it formed a thick white paste which was difficult to apply. The ingredients inside the tube also separated easily and many times water came out upon squeezing instead of the white paste even though I’ve shook the tube a few times before squeezing it.
What the kids say
They find applying it very cumbersome and it seems to peel off even before they hit the pool making it’s usefulness in sun protection questionable.
Coola Sport Mineral Sunscren Spf 30
Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 4.8% Zinc Oxide 3.1%
There are no known carcinogens in this list and it certainly is safer as compared to the Babyganics sunscreen listed above.
My findings
I loved the texture and light fragrance of the product. However it still left a white sheen after application which the kids didn’t like. It also felt sticky to the touch. The good thing is that it can last up to 80 mins which is more then sufficient for the hour long swimming lesson that the kids go for weekly.
I find this product easy to apply and I love the scent of it. The kids too find this chemical sunscreen the easiest to apply compared to the 2 other mineral sunscreens.
The questionable ingredient in this product is Oxybenzone 5%. and Phenoxyethanol. There are conflicting reports about Oxybenzone a as a controversial chemical that is used in a lot of sunscreens and skincare products because of its ability to absorb and dissipate UV light. While the chemical is effective, some studies suggest that when it gets absorbed into the body, it can trigger harsh reactions. Oxybenzone has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption and cell damage. It can also absorb through the skin into the bloodstream, affecting hormone levels as according to reports stated in EWG. FDA however have approved it for use since in the products if the percentage is less then 6%.
Other products/brands which have Oxybenzone
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid
La Roche-PosayAnthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Body Cream
In the 2nd part of this post I will be comparing the how the other sunscreens – SUNPLAY, Biore UV , Mary Kay Sun Protector , Coola Face and Mary Kay TimeWise Day solution.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are based on my personal findings. I am a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. If you are interested in testing out or purchasing any Mary Kay products you can contact me.
