Sabine’s Organic Baby Food Blog

Lavera Baby and Child Suncream

With the arrival of British summer, sales of the Lavera suncare range have been high amongst concerned parents wanting to protect their babies from the effects of the sun with the most natural suncreams on the market.

Lavera is the market leader for natural sun protection and has won many awards. Lavera was the first manufacturer worldwide to produce 100% natural mineral-based sun protection and is one of the only suncreams I will use on my own children.

Several parents have been asking about Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) and what they mean. We passed on your enquiries to Lavera and here is their reply.

With the introduction of the recent EU regulations, SPFs are now much more specifically declared on sun protection products.  The highest claimed SPF will be SPF 50+.

A sunscreen’s SPF is basically the degree to which it protects the skin from the direct rays of the sun. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are in two varieties: UVA, which cause premature aging and damage to the skin and  UVB, which cause burning. Both UVA and UVB in excess can increase the risk of skin cancer in later life. SPF tells you how much longer it will take for your skin to begin to redden with the product on than if your skin was unprotected.

The protection given by sunscreens now has to be in a UVA:UVB  ratio of 1:3. This permits the producer to include the new UVAS symbol on their products.

In the past UVA protection given by a product did not have to be specified on sun protection labels  (SPF refers to UVB rays). A manufacturer could have  said UVA and UVB protection but the UVA may have been only the equivalent of 5% of the UVB. The protection now has to be in excess of 33%.

So far the only mineral sunscreen company to have achieved this standard (and use the symbol)  is LAVERA.

Apparently Ulula  has received several  comments regarding the Lavera’s new sun protection range and its maximum SPF of 20.

To clarify, as UVB radiation is the main cause of sunburn, we all look for a product that will protect us from this. A product with SPF 15 blocks out about 92% of UVB rays, while a product with an SPF of 20 blocks about 95% of UVB rays.

Sunscreens with higher SPF’s only provide minimal more protection. For instance, a suncream with SPF 50 will only provide another 2-3% more protection. Therefore Lavera sun creams with SPF 20 generally provide sufficient protection against harmful UVB rays, whilst remaining 100% natural, which is always a bonus.

The following sun care products from Lavera are now available for purchase.

• Family Sun Spray SPF 15, 200ml, £14.50
• Baby & Child Sun Cream SPF 20, 125ml, £13.50
• Neutral Sun Cream SPF 20, 50ml, £8.70
• Anti-Age Sun Cream SPF 15, 50ml, £8.69
• After Sun Lotion, 150ml, £6.75

Protecting Your Baby From The Sun

We all love the sunshine but it is so important to keep your baby safe, even on less sunny days during the summer. Always apply sufficient sun cream or spray through hot and sunny days as well as following a few other sensible precautions:

• Babies under six months should never be exposed to the sun – always keep them in the shade;
• Keep babies and children out of direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm;
• Make sure they always wear a hat, preferably one that covers the top of the neck too;
• Keep babies and children well hydrated;
• Make sure they wear loose clothing made from close-weave fabric to prevent sun rays from penetrating;
• Use natural sunscreens designed for children and apply frequently and in sufficient quantity;
• Explain to your little ones why you are protecting them.

If you have any further questions about the Lavera suncare range, please do get in touch. Enjoy the summer!