The sun is out, WHICH guide to suntan lotions, thought I would share

[KezzaG]

I used to think that paying for expensive suntan lotions was a bit of a rip off and the cheaper ones would be ok, but I checked on Which and it seems it is worth the extra. I thought I should share it with anyone who diesnt have Which.

They tested that the protection offered on the label was correct, and used those advertised as factor 12 as a sample. These are the 2006 results.

Best Buys:
Garnier Ambre Solaire Moisturising Protection Milk
Lancome Soleil Soft-Touch Moisturising Sun Lotion
L'Oreal Solar Expertise Advanced Protection Lotion
Piz Buin In Sun

Others that passed:
Nivea SUN Moisturising Sun Lotion
Superdrug Solait Suncare Sunshine Defence
The Body Shop Protect It! Sun Lotion for Body

Dont Buys:
Malibu High Protection Lotion
Boots Soltan Sun Lotion
Wilkinsons Wilko Sun Protection System
Asda SUN SYSTEM Lotion

did they say anything about the effectiveness of those long acting lotions?

i thought boots slotan was best ever according to some other consumer mag!!!!

I burnt last year using Superdrug suncream.

Didn't with Boots or Wilkinsons (and I used Boots while living in Africa for 2 1/2yrs).

i used soltan in eygpt last year and i never burned once spf 15 as well

booby, Soltan is rubbish - there were loads of threads about this last summer aswell.
Frightening eh ?

well I'm blonde haired, blue eyed and pale skin and have never burned when using Soltan - and that's my most regularly used suncream.

i used soem on dd last yr that was in woolioes, it was good, but a bit sticky.

I shall be wiating for the bogof ambre solaire offers, i think its very good.

i used P45 a bit last, but just didnt trust it on dd4. It made her have a sweat rash. My mates from usa use it all the time, they r fair skinned, and it works for them, but maybe their skin is more used to hot sun??

alsdo like to add i always use factor 30 or more, my skin is olive but it does burn easily to start.

they only checked the SPF 12's by the look of it friendlyedjit.

Im really suprised at Soltan too.

I will keep an eye out and isee if they change any of their recommendations for 2007.

Use soltan all the time and on holiday kids never burn i never burn in another mag last year it was voted one of the best. Used to use nivea but it was Rubbish. Don't think i would change

Thanks for sharing that KezzaG.

Last year I used Bergaderm Kids on DS, but didn't really put it to the test properly. Will be using it again this year.

How about P20? You apparently only have to put it on once.

have always bought a mixture of soltan and nivea, especially their children's products, never had problems with burning

Don't think P20 has UVA protection, only UVB. UVA are the cancer causing rays I think.(?)

I use Soltan because if the high UVA protection and it's the only one that seems to help lessen my sunlight allergy.

ah well dd1 is v. allergic to all the best buys
wish they'd tested bergaderm or banana boat, we use those lots (without any problems I should add)

thanks for posting it, kezza

in my post below i meant P20 not p45!

interesting this - we use soltan all the time and havent burnt ( we use factor 30 or 40). am also really surprised that they tested on factor 12 - i thought they were trying to get people to use no less than 15? didnt actually think they made less than this anymore.
better get myself to the shops this week and get something else! thanks for that info kezza!

asdA have nivea for a fiver at the moment

I've just come back for 4 weeks in Jamaica I used Asda lotion factor 15 with no problems whatsoever.

Glad to read that the one I bought today is a good one Bought the garnier factor 50 milk for the kids, it's bogof at Tesco at the moment.

I think it was £9.99 each.

I use the Ambre Solaire.. was allergic to Soltan, although don't think my skin really appreciates any form of sun cream to be honest, groan, but Ambre Solaire doesn't seem to irritate it that much.

I'm allergic to everything - have to wear gloves to apply it and try to avoid touching the monkeys when they have cream on. Babymonkey is ginger, can anyone recommend a high, high, super high factor that is friendly for my skin and that I can be less wary of touching him in the summer (he burns so easily and is 18 mths old so rips off clothes/hats/etc despite me putting them back on constantly). The only thing that seems to be ok are Hawaiian tropic oils (but obviously they are low factor). I'm dreading the summer and in particular our hols.

Maybe try Bergaderm kids? Geekgrrl said she uses it for DD1 who has allergies (see below). You don't have to apply it so often either, so you wouldn't have the whole gloves drama as any times a day. It's a mousse and goes on really micely. It isn't too sticky. Not cheap though - around £12 I think, and not easy to find. Mine came from Waitrose, but I bought it right near end of summer, when shops were running short.

Hope that helps

Very surpriosed at oltan being a "don't buy". We used it in Antigua last year and no one burnt, used both the regular stuff and the once-a-day stuff. I didn't think they did a factor 12 though TBH.