My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

P20 or alternatives

32 replies

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 10/04/2016 10:47

Hi, it's April so time for me and my ginger family to start covering ourselves head to toe in factor 50 Wink

Last year we discovered p20 which is brilliant - easy to apply to a wriggly toddler, lasts all day etc. However it is quite £££. Has anyone seen it on offer or know of any cheaper alternatives?

Thanks

OP posts:
Report
MrsHerculePoirot · 10/04/2016 10:53

We use the piz buin all day (8 hour) one - no idea if cheaper but usually I stock up when they have buy one get one free around now sometime for the summer.

Report
MrsT2007 · 10/04/2016 12:21

P20 is evil stuff please don't use it.

My dermatologist reckons it should be banned.

It put me in hospital and as a result I'm now allergic to 99% of sunscreens, so in sensitive skins it's just a no no.

Report
chipsandpeas · 10/04/2016 12:24

i like calypso once a day sun cream, i use this on holidays can get it in home bargains

have used ultrasun as well but its pricey as wel

Report
Ktay · 10/04/2016 12:26

Are you near a waitrose? They are doing 3 for 2 on beauty products, which I think includes sunscreens.

Report
Ktay · 10/04/2016 12:27

They have ultrasun and I think P20 (notwithstanding comment above)

Report
Madbengalmum · 10/04/2016 12:28

P20 is full of pretty nasty stuff isn' t it?
Was told that the reason they didnt sell it in Boots for years was due to the harmful ingredients.
Ladvial is a viable alternative.

Report
Ifonlyiweretaller · 10/04/2016 12:30

I'm interested to know why P20 is evil.I have used it for years to prevent sunburn, as have my (now grown up) children.
What is so bad about it please Mrs T?

Report
Madbengalmum · 10/04/2016 12:32

I believe it is some sort of binding ingredient, but i stand corrected.

Report
MarvellousCake · 10/04/2016 14:49

Ultrasun is the best. Wouldn't use anything else now. Pricey, mind. Last bottle I got was from M&S with a 20% off code.

Report
member · 10/04/2016 14:54

We had no issues with P20 re skin/protection but it did create a very yellowy oil slick in the pool Blush

Report
Madbengalmum · 10/04/2016 15:00

It is not about whether p20 gives any issues,more about the nasty things it contains that you are adding to your skin.
It stains clothes yellow also.

Report
SingToMeInFrench · 10/04/2016 15:11

Ultrasun! It's great. Pricey but you can get good deals on QVC or online

Report
scrappydappydoo · 10/04/2016 15:14

We use ultrasun. We did use the boots all day one but it was horrid really thick and wouldn't rub in. We then switched to piz buin which was OK but stained clothes we then discovered ultrasun and haven't brought anything else since. Me and dc use the lotion and dh uses the sport version as he's v hairy and it doesn't get all in a mess like the lotion (sorry for that image). It's on offer with ocado at the moment.

Report
Kirriemuir · 10/04/2016 15:57

Ultrasun.

Report
MrsT2007 · 10/04/2016 17:03

I used p20 for a week no issues. So before a school field trip I bought more for exactly those 'won't need to reapply' reasons.

I used it & I had a HUGE reaction where it's been applied and sun exposed. The treatment involved A&E in the end, taking steroid tablets and massive antihistamine doses. Five days in, steroid dose reduced, & it flared up massively again.

This continues for a month as p20 chemically binds to your skin. So your skin cannot get rid of what it's trying to react to and your body keeps on reacting more and more.

I basically had chemical burns as the reaction is photosensitive and any daylight made it worse and worse.

Dermatologist tests revealed I am now spectacularly allergic to all chemical sunscreens. This is mainly because my body produced more and more reaction to a chemical it couldn't get rid of.

My arms are permanently marked where I had the reaction, as is my neck. In the summer it comes up redder than other areas.

So yes, I reckon it's pretty vile stuff.

Ultra sun I can't use but it is good. I use SunSense sensitive. Great on reactive skins and kids, and no chemical sunscreens. Also like the green people organic kids one.

Report
notapizzaeater · 10/04/2016 17:07

We use ultrasun or p20 - whichever is on offer when I buy it. A bottle last DS a year.

Your reaction sounds horrid MrsT :-(

Report
hollinhurst84 · 10/04/2016 17:12

It's not a one a day but I like the banana boat spray. Comes in different variations of waterproof, sensitive and different factors
It's an aerosol spray so no rubbing in and I've never burnt with it (redhead, faint shade of blue)
I don't have DC but recommended it to a friend who likes the fact you can spray it on a toddler that's legging it from you

Report
hollinhurst84 · 10/04/2016 17:14
Report
CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 10/04/2016 19:11

Thanks all

That sounds awful MrsT

I don't have a Waitrose nearby but I could do an ocado online shop and get some ultrasun. I really need the once a day stuff because I always forget to reapply Blush

OP posts:
Report
Hulababy · 10/04/2016 19:23

Me and DH use P20 with no problems at all. Never reacted to it in the slightest and never burned with it either.

DD uses UltraSun as she doesn't like the oil formula of P20.

She doesn't use many other forms as she reacts to many other brands, including other brand once a days.

So yes, they are expensive - but for us it is worth it as they have worked for us.

Report
Hulababy · 10/04/2016 19:25

The newer formula of P20 doesn't stain in the same way - they changed the formula. I wore a new white dress a couple of times on my recent holiday, after using P20 - no staining on it at all.

Report
Hulababy · 10/04/2016 19:27

Your reaction to the suncream sounds really horrid MrsT.

DD reacts to a lot of suncreams but luckily never as bad as that. We have now eliminated any that she reacts too as I read that reactions can become worse with time.

Ultra sun, and many once a days, bind to the skin I believe. Must be the way some of them work I guess. DD much prefers UltraSun though.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 10/04/2016 19:35

Wow the ultrasun is pricey, even on offer. I don't think I can afford that on maternity leave. I will try the Calypso instead as it is cheaper, they have some on Amazon for £6 if anyone else is looking

OP posts:
Report
SuckingEggs · 10/04/2016 19:41

Does Ultrasun go on clear or leave a white tinge?

Report
Hulababy · 10/04/2016 19:44

It goes on white iirr - but again, if you leave it a good 15 min to dry before dressing it doesn't seem to stain.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.