What sun cream is working well abroad this year for kids? Boots caused burns last year!

[LuannaSue]

As title- last year we used the usual sultan once (applying every 2 hours at least and they burnt on their shoulders and ended up with red cheeks.

Want to avoid this happening- what does everyone recommend?

Pricey but works: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Uvmune 400 Dermo-Pediatric Hydrating Lotion SPF50+ 250ml

But I would agree change to habits will be most effective.

More sun cream, rash vests and a hat!

P20. Mine never even change colour with that. It stays in really well in the water too.

we always use the Aldi one. And we all survived with no sunburn in 45c sun in Turkey.

P20 - we use the child version. Pricey but a bottle lasts us all summer.

Agree with this. We have minimum 1 bottle per person per week. Family of 3 I normally take 4 bottles and we pretty much run out at the end of the holiday. None of us have ever burnt but I’m so strict in making sure we all put it on.

Never had a problem with Soltan but we apply liberally, kids will wear rash vests and we always have a couple of hours out of the sun around midday. We also mainly use factor 50 and don’t go lower than 30. Well DH goes lower but he’s a darker tone to the rest of us.

Soltan instructions-
Apply 15 minutes before going into the sun. Reapply when in the sun and then every 1-2 hours and always after swimming or towelling. Apply generously using 2-3 tablespoons full of product for the entire body. Rub in well. One bottle contains 6 applications for the average body size. Shake well before use.

id suspect that most people don’t apply every 1-2 hours nor use enough. One bottle won’t last one person a week. Will obviously last kids longer. Actually if you’re reapplying every 1-2 hours you need a bottle a day! I don’t use that much. But I also stay in the shade!

I don't know how any family could possibly begin to manage with a single bottle. My husband's back alone uses vast quantities before anyone else has had a look in. Even if you only suncreamed everyone's legs ones a day that would use up a bottle in a week!

Nivea kids 50+, neither of my kids burnt during a week in Greece, one of which is very fair

Have always used regular Boots Soltan 50 on DC and ourselves and no one has ever burned. As PP have said, you have to apply a lot more than you think, and a lot more regularly than you think. Nothing lasts all day if they’re in a pool. We take 4 of the big bottles plus also Garnier sprays for quick top ups in between.

If playing in the pool solidly then I think the uv swim tops are better. We go to water parks on most sunny holidays and we all wear them there.

Saves a lot of worry (and sunscreen!)

People smear the tiniest amount in!

Ultrasun is giidz they give you visual guides/tables . Like pictures in two fingers with cream on them for an arm etc

Sun cream alone won’t be enough of a barrier on skin that’s barely been exposed to sunshine (assuming UK based) and then switching to all day strong sunshine. Use rash vests as well as sunscreen.

Yes, we have those too. DD swears a long sleeve UV swimming costume.

The legs/face/neck/hands get topped up after around 2 hrs max, usually out of water by then anyway.. The sunscreen we use is very good.

I have two ginger children and use la Roche posay or Eucerine.
I found they started to go pink with pretty much everything else. Although Aldi was ok but I only used it about 2/3 weeks into the holiday so they had been in the sun quite a bit.

Sorry and yes to swim tops especially at hottest part of the day if they are out.

As others have said, rash vests (which I read you do OP), but also ideally out of the sun in the early afternoon.

Boots Soltan do a suncream that is supposed to be effective for 3 hours of water play as part of their ‘Once’ range. We used that last summer, but applied much more frequently and always after being in the water and it seemed to work well. I’m red-headed and very fair so I’m very vigilant about suncream! DH & DD a bit more fortunate in that regard but I insist on them using it too.

www.boots.com/soltan-once-kids-3hr-protect-swim-spray-spf50-200ml-10245670

Altruist does a really good spray that is excellent for regular top ups on the beach, but I wouldn't be out in the sun from 11/11.30ish - 3... beach first thing, then back for a cool drink/lunch/siesta for anyone who needs it, books/games/ screen time for anyone else. Then back to swimming at 3, restaurants/shops/bimbling around town in the evening. Local families are out late because they have a midday rest

Best one we've found is The Altruist

P20. Worked for us in so many places. in a convertible driving all day or hiking in full sun in California and is water resistant so lasted a full half day in full sun in Greece before reapplication.

If Soltan hasn’t worked I would say it was more the application than the product itself. I’m very pale, burn in February sort, and I use Soltan a lot of the time. So long as I am reapplying, especially after water, I’ve never had issues.

I use the malibu once a day spf 50, clear liquid in a pump spray. It's very similar to p20.

I don't use it once a day though! I reapply through the day like I would with normal cream.

Boots soltan once - water resistant in factor 50. Never failed.

But then my kids aren't allowed in the pool without a rashie - both wear swimsuits with arms at the very least and hats are non-negotiable.

No sunscreen is going to last an hour in the pool in the middle of the day.

Is everyone on this thread honestly paying all that money to go abroad and then sitting indoors every day for four hours over lunchtime. Come off it.

I’m stringent about sun protection and my kids never get burned. And it’s perfectly fine to be outdoors. No wonder we are all chronically vitamin D deficient.

P20 once a day. Use more than once a day. Hats. Whilst more expensive, it’s the best brand out there for longer lasting and better sun protection.