LloydsPharmacy Solero sun cream feedback thread. Non tester - Skin care hamper to be won! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 250 Mumsnetters who tested LloydsPharmacy Solero sun creams.

Here’s what LloydsPharmacy has to say: “April 2016 sees the launch of our reformulated and re-packaged own brand of suncare range, Solero. We understand that our customers’ skin is as unique as they are, which is why we have introduced a range of suncream that is perfect for every type of skin – an ultra-sensitive range for skin prone to eczema (atopic dermatitis) and psoriasis, which has been dermatologically tested and approved, and a triple defence range that protects from 3 types of harmful rays, UV-A, UV-B and Infrared-A”

Non-tester? For a chance to win a LloydsPharmacy skin care hamper worth over £75 answer the below question:

• What are your favourite holiday destinations for taking the kids away?
  
  Testers, please ensure that you have completed this survey and left feedback below to be entered into the £300 voucher prize draw.
  
  Below are some questions, but please feel free to add any other comments you have regarding your testing of LloydsPharmacy Solero sun cream:
  
  Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?
  Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?
  
  Thanks, and good luck!
  
  MNHQ
  
  Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[ILoveDexter]

We received the sun lotions just in time for the return of the great weather and a trip to the seaside. The Solero triple defence IRA was nice to put on but then left me with sticky bits, didnt like that at all. Its absolutely amazing stuff though, there were a few spots I forgot to apply cream to and unfortunately those bits got badly burned. Despite it only being a factor 30 my arms, face and neck did not burn one bit. Love thats its a 5 UVA too. Solero Kids, again amazing, no burnt bits at all. Wish it was 5 UVA but its only a 3* , think this should be more seeing as its for kids. Spray is pointless, as it just blobs onto skin, if we're lucky enough that is, as some ends up spraying partly across the room, or hits the sofa. Maybe I do it wrong? It also becomes hard to press after multiple uses with lotioned hands. DS1 aged 6 didnt like the smell?? despite it saying its fragrance free. DS3 aged 2 didnt like it to be 'sprayed' on, although found it funny when some hit his arm and the other bit hit his brothers foot. Also beware that it stains school tshirts.

[miaow123]

We used over the weekend when very hot. The spray didn't give my daughter a rash which others often do.
I liked the application and it soaked in well. I used on my face too and I liked the sheen it gave. Neutral smell which is good compared to others.

I think the products are good and would consider buying in future.

[OhHolyFuck]

Tested them at an outdoor music/food event in the next big city over at the weekend and yesterday/today at school
Normally use the Nivea kids but thought these were a good alternative, caused no rashes and rubbed in well, both kids (and me!) had no 'pinkness' after a long day out in the nice weather so I'd say they were a good product

[ginauk84]

I tested the sun cream on Sunday when my daughter (3yr old) spent most of the day in the garden.

The spray (ultra sensitive) didn't absorb very well, it left a greasy feeling to her skin and also on my hands which I couldn't wash off. My daughter didn't like the spray on her skin, we normally have a Nivea spray which doesn't bother her but she really did not like this. I prefer lotions as well as sprays can be difficult to spray when you have greasy fingers and I also feel there is a lot of wastage at the end of the bottle. I also missed the smell of sun tan cream as it was odourless.

The cream (solero triple defence 30f) smelt nice, absorbed well and if they did a factor 50 which was really good in water rather than just claiming 'water resistant' then I would buy it.

However the survey is flawed as it asks questions on each of the types but when it comes to absorption, smell etc it has lumped them all together. My answers for the one are quite different to the other so for me the survey isn't effective.

[isithotinhereorisitjustme]

We tested the suncream in the garden and park on DS4 who has eczema and DS5.

The smell was fine, neutral and inoffensive. I found the cream spread well, but took quite a while to absorb and the skin felt tacky, for want of a better word for some time after application.

Neither DS reacted badly to it skin wise and neither of them got sunburn, so it did the job, but for the price and for ease of application I prefer the one I currently use.

[4isplenty]

Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?
We tested the sun cream over the weekend. Open farm day, so alot of time spent outdoors, and a garden day. My 8 month old, 2 1/2 year old and myself. We were given to test the kids spf50 spray and the sensitive spf50 lotion.

Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?
I was happy with the lotion, easy to use, spread on the skin well and no reaction to it. The spray was a different story, first, the spray would not work, so I just opened it and poured into my hands to rub in. It was quite thick, so thick that it remained quite sticky for most of the time. Having said that I would be very happy to try and buy from this range.

[MsAtomicBomb]

We used the suncreams over the weekend and again today.

We normally use Soltan dry touch and compared to that, I found the Solero suncream incredibly greasy. It didn't soak in and left my children with a sheen to their skin. My eldest (4) complained about the greasy feeling and did end up with a heat rash under her neck after wearing this. My youngest (1) had no reaction however. Both needed a good bath to get rid of any residue from the cream. I'm not personally a fan of spray creams as I find them very messy but my daughter does like that type better. I can't fault them for protection as the creams did the job in very hot sun, however I do prefer to buy suncream products that are rated 4 or 5 stars for protection and this offered only 3. The star rating and the greasiness would put me off purchasing again.

[PennyPinwheel]

1. I tried the kids spray on my 8 month old and my 4 year old. I tried the ultra sensitive on me. I tried both in the garden and out at a park on very sunny days over the last week.
   
2. It didn't stain as much as my usual brand for the baby (boots baby factor 50) which was good, but it was harder to apply thickly enough as it's a thin spray not a cream. I do appreciate that it's meant for kids rather than babies though. When applied to the baby and the 4 year old, both stayed sort of shiny and sticky until washed off in the bath. It didn't irritate my psoriasis which was good, but then neither does my usual brand (calypso once a day factor 20 for me or 50 for my 4 year old). I prefer the once a day creams really as this wouldn't be suitable for nursery as it needs to be reapplied so often. I'd use it if the children were going to be with me all day though.

[SleepsAMyth]

Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?
Used past few days at home in the UK garden/out and about and at school/work.

Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?
I usually use Boots sun cream because it's 5 star UVA protection, but the Solero is too. I like that it doesn't really have much of a smell as some can be unpleasant. I liked the kids one being a spray, found it easy to apply but needed a lot of rubbing in. My 4yo liked being able to apply it himself because of it being a spray. The IR-A one was easy to apply, gentle fragrance but left skin feeling a bit sticky. Would probably use both though, (especially if on an offer that made them cheaper than my usual one)

[MarjoryStewartBaxter]

Q1: I tested the kids spray on nearly 4 year old DS and the ultra sensitive on 9 month old DD and me in the garden over the weekend.

Q2: We usually use nivea kids spray. Both solero products didn't sink into the skin anywhere near as well as nivea. The spray on the kids solero blasted suncream all over the place, not had that problem with nivea. Both were pretty comparable on protection and solero is cheaper.

Thanks for the opportunity to test but I don't think we'd buy these products. They're fine protection wise but just too greasy after application.

[imposteracademic]

Just checking in to reply properly later. Ours arrived today.

[Bek85]

Used at home for playing outside, playgroup and to go to a festival at the weekend.

I don't have a usual brand yet, still looking for one but I don't think it will be this one. It is very sticky, doesn't sink in and leaves your skin looking all sweaty (both the kids and the ttriple defence). The kids spray goes all over the place and is hard to use with slippery hands. Also, it only has a 3 star UVA rating.

I would probably choose a lotion for kids with 5 star UVA rating and something that feels less sticky for myself.

[Bek85]

Got my own name wrong on the survey...said it was Bex85 rather than Bek.

[Cerealchanger]

Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?

We tested it on a day out to the park, a long country walk and a day at school.

Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?

I liked the smell, it smells much less than ultra sun which I usually use. It didn't really absorb that well and left the skin sticky. My son looked really scruffy as dust stuck to it.
It coped well with my son's eczema and didn't irritate at all. My daughter looked red very soon after I applied it, as if she was burning. I reapplied so she didn't burn but I don't know what that was about. It lasted all day.

Overall the cream and the spray were fine, particularly for the price. It is very good value for money and functions perfectly well. If I was feeling flush though I would opt for another brand.

[tensionsheet]

We tested the suncream in the garden, making the most of the heatwave.

I tested the factor 50 spray on my toddler and the cream on myself. They both rubbed in well. We had no skin irritation. Neither of us suffered any sunburn even though I did not reapply mine. My toddler was in and out of his paddling pool and I did reapply his multiple times. Overall I liked the products but they do seem to stain.

[AtSea1979]

I used the kids sensitive on DD who has eczema and the adults sensitive on me who requires daily anti-histamines to tackle skin reactions.

Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?

We used it last week during half term whilst DD played in the garden and at school. I applied it to DD before she left for school and she took the little bottle in her school bag and applied it herself at lunchtime.

Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?

The suncream isn't very thick but it goes on well. It leaves a bit of a greasy feel afterwards.
But I would definitely buy again as neither myself or DD has any skin reactions to it and it seemed to help clear up DD eczema.
The only thing I would want to improve is, like others have said, that it needs to be longer lasting so parents can apply to their DC before school and expect it to last the school day.

[Madz1982]

I was really impressed with these sun protection products. I liked the amount of uv a and uv b protection and ira. Both absorbed really well and didn't feel greasy. They also smelled amazing!! I will definitely be buying these when my samples run out!

[Madz1982]

I tested it in the garden and my child had his spray on whilst playing in the paddling pool. He had no redness even after being out for a few hours. My normal sun cream is the aldi blue kids lacura tube. I find these much less greasy and absorb better

[Fingermoose]

We used the cream and spray this weekend in the park.

The spray was great for the kids - no-one got burnt although I'm militant about reapplying it so probably overdo it slightly. No strong smell or stickiness which was good, and didn't react with their eczema.

The cream was very thick and quite hard to spread around. I usually use powder dry sunscreen so it felt very different to have to wait for a sun cream to sink in. I have quite sensitive skin and am prone to breakouts but this cream didn't have any adverse effects for me. Again, lack of strong scent was very appealing.

[squeezed]

Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?
Tested today at home and on walks in the UK.
Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?
The cream went on easily and was absorbed well. There were no complaints from dd who can have sensitive skin and has had here skin flare up with some brands of cream.

[Buttonbean2]

Q1: When and where did you test the sun cream?

In the garden and beach last weekend. I tried the cream on my 5 year old and the spray on my 18 month.

Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?

I liked the cream, it was really thick and I definitely felt this offered better protection, I did not have to reapply as quickly as my usual brand. The spray was okay, took a while to sink in, but it provided protection and I was glad there was no strong smell.

[prettycunning]

Tested at the the weekend in the hot weather
spray was difficult to use want your hands became greasy but the coverage was good and the kids enjoyed spraying it on each other.
I agree that I am disappointed it is not as many stars as my other ones and the one I currently use comes in a green roll on which means the kids can see when they have missed us but overall I'm a by this again if the spray bottle is improved and if the stars are raised but at the moment I will be sticking with my current product

[NotAQueef]

1: When and where did you test the sun cream?

We have used the suncream for the past few days (now we finally have some sun) before nursery & school. I prefer the spray as it's a thinner consistency, but my son was not keen as it left his skin feeling 'sticky'. Also I was considering putting this in his school bag for him to reapply but he wasn't strong enough to push the nozzle down.

Q2: How did you think LloydsPharmacy Solero compared to the brand you normally use?

I prefer the smell of my usual brand (nivea) but am happy with the overall effectiveness and think for the price I would definitely consider buying in the future.
thanks for letting us test, we'll definitely continue using our samples over the next few weeks.

[DivaDroid]

Thank you for choosing us to test. We tested the Kids Spray & the ultra sensitive lotion.

1. We tested the products yesterday. I think our hottest day of the year >22C in our little part of NE Scotland!

DD(5) got the kids spray & DS(8) & I used the lotion.
DDs was reapplied at lunchtime, after preschool & DSs was reapplied after school.

1. I usually buy what's on offer in Tesco & DD gets Sunsense on prescription (that's how bad her skin gets). The kids spray is amazing - easy to apply, doesn't have a strong smell & best of all, did not react with DDs skin! I will be buying this again once our current bottle of Sunsense is finished.

The ultra sensitive lotion was just as expected really - plus point was lack of strong smell. It didn't react with our skin which was good, but DS & I often use other brands without reaction.
I would absolutely recommend these products to people with sensitive skin.

[Eyre89]

I received the kids and the IR-A

We tested them at the beach and the garden

I love the smell of the IR-A very fresh and it was very easily absorbed. The children's one was again very easily absorbed and he liked the fact that it wasn't great. He's only 28 months but he's been telling me he needs his other suncream washed off as it was very heavy and greasy. This was loads better. I'd definitely buy the child's one if on offer although I agree the bottle is very slippy, not sure if the full size bottle has grips? However the cost is off putting as it is expensive compared to normal. I'd probably not buy the adult one and would see if the child's one had any offers to buy.

Thanks