Ultrasun 30 - failed Which testing

[darenotpeekovertheparapet]

Hi We've used Ultrasun 30 for the past couple of years. My youngest daughter is allergic to Soltan and almost every other suncream we have tried. Ultrasun , we thought, has been brilliant. No reddening and no allergic reactions. News out today is that it has failed the latest round of Which testing Money blog: £28 sunscreen and supermarket own brand fail standard safety tests, consumer group finds | Money News | Sky News (Sky news link less sensationalist than the Mail/Mirror etc).
We also have Altruist which is good but needs frequent reapplication - school insist they have an 8hr one for school days i.e. no reapplications in the course of the day. We do of course use hats/cover up etc.
What would people recommend instead? For context I had a BCC removed from face last year so acutely aware of the risks of inadequate sun protection!

No sunscreen lasts 8 hours

The sports Ultrasun 50 is ok but the cream based ultra sun 50 is amazing. I never burn despite having delicate skin

I always check UVA is 5 stars - some are only 3.
Sainsbury's own label and Cien ( Lidl) are both 5 stars.

I burned once using ultra sun years ago. Never used it since

From the Which article:

“Once-a-day sun creams

Some products claim to provide sun protection for up to 10 hours after a single application.
However, in 2016 we conducted our own tests on several once-a-day sun creams, testing their sun protection claims after initial application and again after a day's wear.
We saw an average 74% decrease in SPF protectionat the end of the tests. We shared our concerns with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). Both advise against relying on any sun cream for extended periods in the sun.
At Which?, we don’t think ‘once-a-day,’ ‘eight-hour’ or similar single-use claims should be made on sun creams in the UK (these claims are banned in other countries, such as Australia). They may give a false sense of security, and normal daily or holiday activities such as swimming, sweating and clothes rubbing can cause these products to rub off and reduce protection.
Even with our test subjects just sitting on a chair in a T-shirt, we saw substantial reductions in the level of sun protection, so we don't think you can rely on once-a-day sun cream to keep you protected all day.
Since 2018, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) has brought out guidance encouraging a shift from once-a-day claims to 'durable' sun cream, with more guidance given on when reapplication is necessary, but we're still seeing plenty of claims that are similar to 'once-a-day'.”

Think you should send the article to the school. It’s been known for years that 8 hr sun creams don’t work. Children need to be reapplying unfortunately.

DH mainly uses the family 30, I only use it on my hands and feet in sandals as I completely cover up in the sun, had a couple of BCCs and have some actinic keratosis, I use the 50 face on my face and neck. DH is not that bothered about cream but wears Ultrasun 30 as he likes the texture and I can use a bit for my hands and feet, if he didn't use that he probably wouldn't bother, I am wondering if it will go cheaper so I can stock up for him if it's unpopular.

I did a deep dive (still in the middle of it) today after getting burned using Ultrasun for the third time in 8 weeks.

I got a couple of bottles of the Anti-Aging Face SPF50 around November. It started to separate into yellow oil and curdled cream. I contacted Ultrasun about it who said the formula had been changed recently, but based on customer feedback, they had re-formulated "almost exactly as it was before" and offered to send me a bottle of the latest formula. I said yes. I received and started using in in late April. On three different occasions I was out in the evening (after 5pm so not peak sun) I ended up sunburnt on my face, where I never sunburn, partially because I am religious about applying SPF and have always used Ultrasun because it was reliable. Checked the UV index and it was only around 5 during the peak part of the day.

Seems they have been having issues with reformulations, lots of bad reviews and complaints.

I've changed my mind. After seeing this, that's confirmed it for me. I've been buying it for about 10years and I don't trust it anymore. It used to be the gold standard but I'm switching back to P20 or Eucerin.

@confusedcrane thank you for sharing this, very worrying. I haven't finished my current bottle which has been very reliable so far this year but I will not be re-purchasing. Like you, I have been very pleased with the visible face protection and it also helps that it doesn't sting my eyes. Considering it is in the higher price range as well, I'm not prepared to gamble. Back to testing other brands soon ...

I've been using Ultrasun face spf 30 this year on occasions where I had to be in full sun in the early afternoon and didnt burn. I did buy the bottle a few months ago, possibly even at the end of last year (edited to add I actually I might have bought it towards the end of last summer) so maybe I have an older formulation than people who have burnt using it? I am now a bit worried though about whether to get the same again when it runs out, or to try to find something else for my face.

I use Soltan 8 hours on any of the rest of me that's exposed and have never burnt. I reapply probably every 5 or 6 hours, rather than leaving it for 8.