Why We Chose It

I don’t love slathering products all over my baby’s skin, and our first line of defense is always shade, clothing and a bucket hat. But sometimes there’s a long beach day where the hat alone just isn’t going to cut it.

This sun balm uses a short, recognizable ingredient list instead of the long list found in many conventional sunscreens. It is made with 20% non-nano zinc oxide in a base of grass-fed tallow and organic olive oil, creating a thick mineral barrier while also helping keep skin moisturized.

This has become one of those products our whole family uses. We keep it on hand for baby, but I also reach for it when I’m working out in the garden and know I’ll be in the sun longer than expected. The small glass jar makes it easy to toss into a diaper bag or carry outside for exposed areas like cheeks, shoulders, arms and legs.

Toups & Co says the balm provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and up to 35–60 minutes of water-resistant coverage. However, the product page does not list a standardized SPF rating, so we do not claim that it provides a specific SPF level. We still use hats, protective clothing and shade whenever possible, and reapply the balm frequently during extended sun exposure.

Highlights

• Made with 20% non-nano zinc oxide
• Short ingredient list with no synthetic fragrance
• Made without parabens, sulfates or synthetic preservatives
• Used by our whole family for beach days, gardening and everyday outdoor time
• Toups states that it provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection
• Packaged in a reusable 2-ounce glass jar
• Handmade in small batches

Ingredients

 100% grass-fed tallow, organic virgin olive oil, 20% non-nano zinc oxide, coconut CO2 extract and vanilla extract

Real Talk

This sun balm now lives in our diaper bag because of how regularly I use it. It does leave a slight white cast at first, which is pretty normal for a zinc-based balm, but it blends down as you rub it in. Also, it smells like frosting. Enjoy.