Product Review: Equate Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Sun protection is non-negotiable in the summer, even in northwest Ohio. Since I hadn't purchased sunscreen for about a year, I was shocked to find that there were few under $8, and most brands were more costly.

I found the Equate brand and decided the money savings was worth giving it a chance.

SPF
My local Wal-Mart offers both Equate brand sunscreen sprays and lotions. The lotions are offered in an SPF 30 and an SPF 50. I chose the Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50. The tube lists this sunscreen as a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection lotion that is water and sweat resistant, hypoallergenic and fragrance free.

Price
The price for an eight ounce tube of sunscreen was $5.18, before sales tax. This price was about $3 lower than all other brands in the same size and level of protection.

Ease of Use
The tube has a flip top cap at one end. This allows the user to squeeze out larger amounts than with a small flip lid. The tube itself is sturdy and the cap shuts tightly. This tube design has survived one day in a beach bag and one day being jostled around in a backpack in an amusement park.

Product Consistency
The lotion is the consistency of a thick cream, and spreads smoothly and evenly over skin. The lotion rubs into the skin easily, and did not leave any grease marks on swim suits or clothes. There is no fragrance, and my daughter who has severe eczema did not have any reaction to the sunscreen on her skin.

Product Performance
My family first tested the Equate Kids Sunscreen Lotion during an afternoon of swimming. In two hours of swimming, I applied the sunscreen to my two children twice, once prior to swimming, and once an hour into swimming. Neither child showed any sun burn after the afternoon of swimming. I applied the sunscreen to myself only once, and was in the water for two hours without suffering any sunburn.

Our second test was a day at an amusement park, in full sun. I applied the Equate Kids Sunscreen lotion to all family members liberally. My son had three re-applications over a six hour time frame, and my daughter had one re-application over a six hour time frame. Neither of the kids showed any sunburn at the end of the day, despite limited time in the shade during the peak sun hours. I applied the sunscreen to myself and my husband only once for the entire six hour time frame, and neither of us suffered any sunburn.

With a daughter with severe eczema and a sun who has albinism, sunscreen is important not just for protection, but also for avoiding irritation. Equate Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 worked perfectly for my eczema sufferer. Because its fragrance free and hypoallergenic, it did not irritate her skin or cause any itchiness, even with repeated applications. It also smoothed dry areas such as her elbows and knees.

My son, who has albinism, is a true testimony to this product's effectiveness. In spite of six hours, most of which were during peak sun hours, with limited shade available, the Equate Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 kept him sunburn free without leaving him feeling sticky and smelling like a coconut. One word of caution for use is to be sure and reapply often.