Photo: Thinkstock

While helping your young daughter, nephew or godchild prepare for a day at the beach, you've probably noticed that the trend in kids' sunscreens is the more natural, the better. Many are PABA free, and get UVA protection from a sunblock like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which can be less irritating than common ingredients like avobenzone. Some brands are also free of oxybenzone, which can cause allergic reactions and has been linked to hormone disruption, as well as retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that may speed the development of skin tumors when exposed to sunlight. So if kids' sunscreen is safe enough for those chunky toddler thighs and vulnerable little shoulders, should you be using it, too?

Maybe, says Ellen Marmur, MD, vice chair of cosmetic and dermatologic surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, especially if you have sensitive skin. "Many of the children's products are free of irritating chemicals, which can be good for women who have sensitive skin and are possibly overdoing it with other anti-aging pharmaceuticals throughout the day," she says. However, it's important to do your research. Be sure to compare the kids' brand to the adult version (if the company makes one), noting active ingredients, because both sometimes contain the same chemicals. Marmur adds that the premium adult formulations also tend to be more sheer and easily absorbed into the skin, creating a more natural finish. While a shiny high-beam face might be perfectly appropriate for a day building sandcastles, you may prefer the subtle, matte protection of an adult sunscreen (they come in natural formulations, too) when heading to a grown-up BBQ or deck party.

Looking to go au naturel (or at least "more naturel")? The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit that monitors the use of potentially harmful chemicals in consumer products, recently issued their list of the safest, most effective sunscreens for 2012 (this includes products for kids as well as adults). 

Read more:
Should you apply sunscreen before or after moisturizer?
How much sunscreen do you really need?