Just why is Green People's Organic Kids Sun Lotion so good?

Everybody loves the sunshine!  And at last, the sun has come out.  Everyone is coming in to buy sun-hats, buggy shades, parasols and sun lotion.  For the last 13 years we have sold Green People Organic Kids sun lotion.  It is fantastic stuff and we don’t think enough people realise how great it is, so we decided to find out a bit more and spoke to Emily,  Green People's Product Manager.

The most asked question we have about the Green People Organic Kids Sun Lotion is: ‘Why is it only factor 25’ ? *

When protecting children in the sun it is always tempting to go for the highest SPF. The common misconception is that an SPF50 sun lotion offers twice the protection of an SPF25 but this is NOT the case.

In fact, an SPF25 sun lotion offers 96% protection against UVB rays, while SPF50 offers 98% protection against UVB - a marginal difference. In fact, the highest SPF100 still only offers 99% protection.

For the vast majority of people, SPF15 offers adequate protection, provided that commonsense measures are taken, such as applying sufficient sun lotion, reapplying after swimming and strenuous activity, and avoiding the sun between 11:00 and 3:00 when it is as its strongest.

The use of very high SPF products can lead to a false sense of security - although the skin may not show visible signs of burning, UVA rays will still be affecting deeper lying skin cells, leading to potential long-term damage.

Under new EU Recommendations, sun products must now offer protection against UVA equal to at least 1/3 the level of their claimed UVB protection. Green People sun creams  comply with the latest EU Recommendations and which are rich in naturally protective antioxidants.

* see update at the end of this blog


It would be good to have some clarity over what the SPF relates to? We say that 1 SPF = 5 minutes of coverage so that an SPF 25 gives you about 2 hours, is that correct?

The term SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and gives a guide to the length of time you can stay in the sun without burning.

For example, if unprotected skin starts to redden after 10 minutes sun exposure, then, when properly applied, an SPF25 sun lotion will allow 25 times this before the skin starts to burn – 10 minutes x 25 = 4 hours protection before you would need to re apply.

Can you tell me what makes the sun lotion effective? What are it’s active ingredients?

Our Children’s Sun Lotions use a unique blend of ingredients. The natural filters we use are Titanium Dioxide (natural earth mineral) and Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate (a derivative from cinnamon) and Edelweiss (plant found high on the Swiss mountains known for its natural sun protection properties).

The beautiful soft feeling on the skin comes from Olive, Sunflower and Palm Oil
To promote skin health and provide antioxidants we use Aloe Vera, Avocado, Rosemary and Myrrh Oil

What’s the difference between UVA and UVB coverage?

UVA Radiation
This is potentially the most damaging form as it penetrates deep into the skin where it can cause changes to the living cells in the basal layer. It is now understood that these changes to living skin cells are the primary cause of the most serious forms of skin cancer.  UVA also damages collagen and elastin, the main cause of wrinkles and premature aging in skin that is often exposed to sunlight.

UVB Radiation UVB radiation causes the appearance of a tan after sun exposure. It does this by stimulating the formation of the pigment 'melanin' in the deeper layers of the skin. Melanin acts as a skin protector by filtering out UV light - it is in fact part of our natural defence against sun damage.  UVB is also what causes sunburn.  It plays a key role in the development of skin cancer and damages the skin's more superficial epidermal layers.  It also contributes toward skin aging.

The Organic Babies Sun Lotion costs more than many mainstream brands. Why are parents happy to pay this premium ?

The fact that it is a non-greasy, easy to apply natural sun lotion for babies and children. Which offers adequate UVA & UVB protection using only natural ingredients. Not only does it protect the skin from cell damage (using antioxidants), but also moisturises and soothes the skin.  Its scent-free formulation makes it the best choice for babies and children with sensitive skin including eczema.


UPDATE JULY 2015:

Why have Green People moved from an SPF25 to an SPF30 for their children's sun tan lotion?

Green People have made some changes to their sun lotion. These are the addition of an extra sun filter (which gives protection specifically against UVA radiation), changes in the level of the existing sun filters, and a new preservative system.  Having made these changes the products were submitted for independent SPF testing which showed that the children’s and adult SPF25 lotions were in fact offering much higher protection against both UVA and UVB rays.  This has enabled Green People to re-launch these products as SPF30.