Suncreams - what do you recommend?

[jodee]

After 2 glorious days in London I thought I'd better start thinking about getting some more suncream for my toddler. Last year in France I was using Ambre Solaire Kids factor 35 sunblock milk, but found it took ages to rub in and the sand stuck to it like glue which was a real pain to get off without dunking ds in the sea. What can you recommend?

PS, I'm sure it will be sheeting with rain and blowing a gale next week, but I'm for ever the optimist!

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Jodee - I recommend Avon suncream for kids. They do some that are NOT water-resistant (VERY rare), so they wash off easily, and don't clog the pores, therefore better for sensitive skin. BUT need to be re-applied regularly, and don't offer high protection.

hi jodee i found the amber solaire in a spray brillent and they do it up to factor 20 it was realy good and seamed to soak in realy easly and i found that it was not greasey oh it is on buy one get one free at boots now so it does not seam so expencive i share it with a friend we get it for abour a fiver each i am not going to use any thing else can any body answer can you use the bottle left from last year or does it go off and you need to get a fresh one each year i love to know

Jodee - have you tried the Sunnies Wipes? Basically like a baby wipe, impregnated with suncream. High factor, but not sure how high. I think they are quite expensive, around £5 - £6 a packet, but last well. I got some on offer recently and plan to use them this summer

P20! Its brilliant, we all use it. But you're right, maryz, it stains terribly - it even dyed the marble bath surrond yellow when we were on holiday!

What do you recommend for babies ? I bought Boots own Factor 40 but wasn't sure if anyone has better recommendations ?

Thanks to everyone for all this info.

Enid/Maryz, P20 sounds really good but how easily do the stains come off, and where can you buy it?

Same Q to you please, Leese (I'm guessing Boots or Superdrug?).

KMG, where can I get Avon products if I don't know anyone personally who sells it?

Does anyone know the answer to Anoushka's Q about how long to keep suncream for? I was always told to throw makeup after 6 months, do you think the same applies?

the stains wash out and I've only ever bought it at duty free, its German I think.

You can buy it in John Lewis's. Its about £20 for a reasonably sized pot. We used it on us (ie me and dh) and as long as you don't put it on over any other moisturisers it works a treat. Definitely needed reapplying though, IMO, once a day wasn't enough for caribbean sunshine. Made the mistake of moisturising the night before with Body shop body butter (olive-divine!) which contains silicone, a no-no for P20 and did fortunately notice that I was beginning to burn. So watch out for this, especially if like me you have to slap on the Epaderm for eczema preventon on ds. Not sure how it would work on more sensitive skin, but I guess do as they suggest, a test patch!

Anoushka - use of old cream depends on how it has been stored.

If cream is kept in cool conditions (fridge is great) and NOT left out in the sun (lol) then it can used upto the manufacturers expiry date with no problem. When taking to the beach etc try to keep it in a coolbag if possible, or at the very least in the shade.

The main thing is to ensure that you apply it a good 15-30 minutes BEFORE going in to the sun and reapply regularly regardless of if it is supposed to be water-resistant or not.

Last summer you could get P20 in Superdrug too.

I discovered Proderm in Boots last Summer, and would definately not use anything else. Its quite pricey, but lasted all summer with lots of use. Its a mousse, and really easy to apply. I'm pretty sure its water resistant too.

I went to buy sun cream this week(in the hope for more sun!) and I couldn't believe how expensive it was. I ended buying nivea sun cream - protection 30 and a spray version - at a reduced and reasonable price at Sainsbury. My son liked it aswell as it comes out a green colour.

I've read that the Cancer Research shops sell suncreams at a reasonable price.

Jodee - the wipes are available anywhere - Sainsburys etc do them!

Does anybody know if P20 prevents prickly heat as well as sunburn? I was given it in a pharmacy in Geneva 10 years ago - I went in and waved my red lumpy arms at them and they gave me P20 and an antihistamine cream (well, when I say "gave"...!) but I definitely didn't use it properly - ie putting it on an hour before going out - and it didn't help.
Would it help if I did do it right?

Has anyone used the Boots own factor 40 cream ?

janh - both my dh and I find that if we use waterproof lotion we get prickly heat. Basically, as well as keeping water off, it stops it getting out as it stops you sweating properly. Your skin can't breathe and so you get a rash. Don't know if it will work for you, but it has definitely made a diference in our cases. Only problem is finding the stuff, nearly all the brands are waterproof now, although I think Boots soltan might be ok.

Willow2, thanks for that although since they all seem to be waterproof now it's going to be hard to avoid...
Some of them say "water resistant". I wonder what the difference is.
But in any case, since I get it worse if I use nothing, I'll have to try something!

Yesterday I bought, what I hope will be a really convenient effective suncream for all the family from Superdrug (must be available elsewhere) it has a dial on the bottle and you set it to the required factor from 2 to 30 it comes with 2 cartridges and you can buy the refils, saves all those bottles of 8, 15, 25 ... It's called Variosun.

Thanks, maryz, I will give P20 another try - some of my children get rashy bits too so I'll try it on them as well. I can see it'll be making sure to put it on in plenty of time that will be the hardest thing.