Similar to certain products separated by gender, there isn’t always a huge discrepancy between children’s and adults’ sunscreen. The main difference is that while all kids’ sunscreens are often mineral, or physical, sunscreens, adult SPF can be physical or chemical. While the first two options are safe for a child, a chemical sunscreen may cause damage to their sensitive skin.
Other than that, the coverage given from a kids’ sunscreen is suitable for an adult. There’s no reason that an adult shouldn’t be able to use a children’s sunscreen — and vice versa. In fact, adults with sensitive skin may benefit from kids’ sunscreen since there’s a lower risk of it being a chemical sunscreen. While mineral sunscreens reflect UV rays, chemical sunscreens absorb them. When it comes to deciding between mineral vs. chemical sunscreens, try out the former first, since your skin likely won’t react negatively to it.