What is the holy grail of sun cream?

[LancreWowhawk]

I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist, but how many of these boxes is it possible to tick:

SPF50
5 star UVA protection
Super quick and easy to apply
Non-greasy/sticky
Good water resistance
Non-allergenic
Not super expensive - supermarket prices not high end pharmacy
Easy to pack for holidays

Last year, I used Nivea spray, and it was okay - it's a great price, but I don't find it very easy to apply and I don't rate the water resistance especially highly.

I've had dry oil-type sprays pre-kids and liked them, but it was impossible to reapply during the day anywhere windy. I like the idea of an aerosol for ease but I'm worried about the same thing.

Apply-Once ones sound great, but can I trust them?

What do you use? Would you recommend it?

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ 70g Sunscreen Made in Japan amzn.eu/d/1K8VYTo

Altruist from Amazon, the only thing my super allergic son can use

I would say Ultrasun. It’s one application and works on my pale blue family. It’s not super cheap though. I get an alert on camel camel camel and buy the 400ml when the price drops.

https://amzn.to/3CPEZ40

I want one that doesn't sting my eyes. My skin is fine with whatever, but inevitably it gets near my eyes either on application or from my hands and I end up with streaming eyes.

Facial sunscreen through the year my favourite is Beauty of Jeoson SPF50.

I love P20 for apply once sunscreen for holidays: https://www.ocado.com/products/p20-original-spf-50-sun-spray-607114011?gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uM3SS9U1pGQqKO-1LzGFiSzZJudD3XbnXFH5m4kz_eUV68axYldrgnxoC8hkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds. I first used it travelling and only applied once a day and never burnt at all despite being quite fair.

Altruist is great. I also like everything by Heliocare but it doesn’t use the UK star rating system.

Soltan once kids 50+ water play stuff. The squirty bottle.

it’s thin enough to spray, so goes in easily. The non-spray one is a lot thicker. It’s not an aerosol spray, so cheaper and not as wasteful.

it lasts all day. I’m very fair, and burn easily. My children burn easily too without suncream on. We’ve done 3/4 days in theme parks at 30°+ in strong, strong sun, with no-one burning, and no reapplications.

Isdin.
Available in 50 and 100.

Piz Buin Allergy. We first got it years ago on finding that my son was allergic to every other one we tried (there are non-allergy versions of it too).
Never buy anything else now. And it smells divine.

I use La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF50+ Stick on my under eye and upper eyelids.

Gruum SPF50 on the rest of my face and the back of my hands.

I've used Lancaster sunscreen for arms, legs and body for as long as I can remember and I buy different ones. I'm using the SPF30 body milk and it's lovely.

I'm old, I tan easily and don't really burn but I like to protect my skin.

I think op is asking about whole body sunscreens to apply liberally, not those tiny tubes for face.

I’m very allergic to an ingredient in some chemical sunscreens so I’m limited to the mineral (thick white) ones. It really sucks.

I second this, its a great sunscreen. Its really light and absorbs quickly too.

Altruist. It ticks all your boxes.

Tropicana powder, SPF 30. First time ever I’ve not suffered from stinging eyes. Not sure if they do a f50.

Agree. I holidayed in a hotter than hell place last year and used it on my ds who is very pale and was in the pool 8 hrs a day. No sunburn at all.

Boots Soltan Kids 8+ hours roll on. They come in 50ml bottles so within the liquid allowance for hand luggage. Roll on for easy application and 3 hours water resistant.

Wouldn't switch to anything else.

I second this.

The Telegraph published findings a couple of weeks ago on the protection claimed vs cost etc and the best protection was provided by an Asda own brand for £4 - it came way ahead of several more expensive brands.

We usually use P20, but I saw it was up to £30 a bottle and as there are 6 of us, all very fair, I may just be heading to Asda instead!

I use this as my daily body suncream and can’t rate it enough. I’ve been looking for one for years that just feels like a moisturiser instead of leaving my arms and chest sticky, and this is it. Sadly, pretty pricy, so doesn’t tick that box, but worth considering if you can’t find anything else.

https://www.spacenk.com/uk/sun-tan/suncare/body-spf/extreme-screen-hydrating-body-hand-skinscreen-spf-50-MUK200035433.html

You might be allergic to methylisothiazolinone. It's in a lot of sunscreens and other stuff. Brings me out in an awful burning rash.

I swear by p20. Put it on in the morning and protected all day. I do reapply after swimming especially midday when it's hottest.

We use Aldi sunscreen. It’s everything you ask for and we never burn when we use it. It was very popular, around the pool, when we were on holiday last year.

Boots soltan is great

I like the Calypso once a day gel, i get it homebargains but for factor 50 i think you might need Amazon.

Another vote for Altruist.

@smooththecat i have the same problem and have tried multiple sunscreens but for some reason I can happily tolerate Altruist. It’s brilliant and only £5 a bottle.

i was out for dinner recently and all the ladies there were talking about Altruist so I tried it and I’m sold too!