Sun cream

[Mummycat]

Hi everyone I'm working through all the little bits and pieces of the organising at the moment hence the title!
I've considered the once a day creams-ultrasun, p20 and boots once and after reading some on line reviews I've decided that ultrasun is the one for us (good UVA and UVB and minimal staining). The thing that's holding me back at the moment is the cost-potentially £100 for suncream for 3 weeks for 2 adults and 2 kids!!
I'm after a cream that doesn't stain too badly and is good for sensitive skin.
My other option is Garnier Ambre Solaire but this will need to be reapplied regularly as is a normal suncream.
So please has anyone used ultrasun that can recommend it and help me justify the cost?
Thank you it seems the smaller decisions are now the trickier ones

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

If its possible why don't you look at getting your sunscreen when your in Florida, its a lot cheaper and just as good as the ones here

 

[Dimplenose]

I've used Boots Once SPF 30. Worked well in WDW - no sunburn or skin irritation to DS with eczema. But it did stain round the necks of our t-shirts. It was 4 years ago so the product might have improved.

DS was also able to use Piz Buin 1 day long again SPF 30. It's quite dear but is often on 2 for 1 at Tesco or Boots.

DS has also used Ambre Solaire spray without irritation, but they do an "invisible" version that did irritate.

Even using a once a day sun cream we needed to top up during the afternoon as we sweated it off by then! (ugh!)

 

[gavvy]

Personally I would not buy suncream in USA- there is no legal requirement to display the UVA rating there like it is here, so you wont know if your getting the full protection. If Ultra sun is too expensive how about the Piz Buin all day long cream? I have rather sensitive skin but have used it no problem. You can but big jars of Ultrasun on the internet too, maybe save you a few £££

 

[Ruttangel]

We used boots once a day sun lotion last year. Was great, nobody got burnt and no marks on clothing. Definitely going to buy it again this year

 

[flortlebap]

I would HUGELY recommend the aerosol sun creams. We got HOOKED last year and it was by far the most convenient for the kids!

I think we paid about $14 a bottle in WDW, but I found them here BOGOF at 5.99, so £3 per can...

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/malibu-continuous-lotion-spf30-aerosol-spray_1_186869.html#186869

I bought 4 bottles. They have had some use today in the hot sun!!

I don't know anything about ultra sun but personally I couldn't justify the cost when there's a cheap product that works so well.

 

[chmurf]

we always buy sun spray from Super Target (up&up = target brand) SPF30 when we get to florida
they say it compares to Coppertone

never had any issue with it. We use it for us and for DS.
The wife and the son have a very light and delicate skin (lots of redheads in the family), you get the picture, red as a lobster at the first ray of sun ... none of us ever had a problem with that spray in the florida sun even at the pool/water parks (it's waterproof)

it's currently at $9.95 for a pack of 2 (but honestly it runs out pretty fast). We empty a canister every day between the 3 of us.

the coppertone comes in SPF50 and is $13.49 for a twin pack (6 fl oz.)
still a lot cheaper than anything we find at home (especially when the exchange rate is in our favor)

 

[Tony Toon]

Our personal favourite is ultrasun and we now wouldn't consider anything else. Once a day application, great for sensitive skins and quite simply just never lets us down. The P20 and Piz Buin have to be reapplied in our experience and I know there have been some press reports recently of skin reactions with the Piz Buin. I'm another one who is wary about the lack of UVA/UVB information on suncreams in the USA and so we bulk buy the large 500ml pump sizes of Ultrasun before we go. We have found http://www.multipharmacy.com/shop/customer/search.php?substring=ultrasun to be competitive and delivery is free. Means we have extra space in the suitcase on the return journey for shopping

Mrs TT

 

[chocolateMinnie]

I swear by Ultrasun. Try the big bottles on either timetospa or qvc - works out much cheaper.

 

[Elise79]

We always buy our sunscreen in Florida - I love the aerosol ones that require no rubbing in

Never burnt with them even DH who is fair skinned

I could bring myself to spend £100 on Suncreen

 

[2Tiggies]

We always buy our sunscreen in Florida - I love the aerosol ones that require no rubbing in

Never burnt with them even DH who is fair skinned

I could bring myself to spend £100 on Suncreen

Same! I only use Australian Gold now. DD has a fairly sensitive skin - not so much in terms of burning easily, as she doesn't - but she does react to some ingredients in creams on her skin. We have never burnt at all with the Australian Gold and it smells lovely. It costs the same in $$ there as it does in ££ here so I get mine on that side. We go through a bottle each in about 8-10 days as a rough guide.

Like Tracy, I also prefer the sprays as I can't stand having cream or cream residue on my hands

I got a bargain on them last year and managed to get 6 bottles at $6.95 each with free shipping

 

[tinkerpea]

Just wanted to add that we have been using the sun screen from the US for years " like 25 since I was a child" and NEVER had a problem with it!

We got hooked on the coppertone spray one about 5 years ago and now the kids don't like anything else lol
So imagine my delight when I went into family bargains and they are selling the exact coppertone make for £1.59!!!! I stocked up on the water resistant factor 30 plus the bronzing one for myself! I couldn't believe it when I seem it at that price!!! We normally pay around $14 a can at Disney or $8 at Walmart so I was beyond thrilled

 

[tinks_1989]

I bought DD a roll on from SuperDrug. It's so handy to have in the bag when ever we are out and it smells AMAZING!

 

[flortlebap]

Just wanted to add that we have been using the sun screen from the US for years " like 25 since I was a child" and NEVER had a problem with it!

We got hooked on the coppertone spray one about 5 years ago and now the kids don't like anything else lol
So imagine my delight when I went into family bargains and they are selling the exact coppertone make for £1.59!!!! I stocked up on the water resistant factor 30 plus the bronzing one for myself! I couldn't believe it when I seem it at that price!!! We normally pay around $14 a can at Disney or $8 at Walmart so I was beyond thrilled

Ooh is that still available? That's a great bargain. The copper tone stuff is also really good (although I like the Malibu coconut smell better lol!)

 

[chocolateMinnie]

It's just one of those things for us - daughter with multiple allergies (even allergic to the Benadryl they gave her for one of the allergies). Thank goodness we are not in the situation where the allergies are life threatening but we have had her severe enough for Disney to call an ambulance. Ultrasun is one of only two suncreams she can use and it's amazing. Especially a nice factor 50 put on once. If you do need this sort of cream then the huge pumps (500ml I think) are the way to go. And HUGE envy of all those able to use cheaper products - would probably pay for me to fly business class if I could buy any old stuff

 

[epcot.girl]

It's a personal choice, but I would never rely on US sunscreens. They're about 20 years behind ours in terms of ingredients. The EU has the most advanced sunscreens in the world, especially when it comes to UVA protection. UVA rays are the ones linked to melanoma and aging (rather than sunburn, caused by UVB). If you're only concerned about burning, US sunscreens are adequate. I don't burn but I am concerned about cancer/aging, so I buy here.

 

[scoobydooby]

It's a personal choice, but I would never rely on US sunscreens. They're about 20 years behind ours in terms of ingredients. The EU has the most advanced sunscreens in the world, especially when it comes to UVA protection. UVA rays are the ones linked to melanoma and aging (rather than sunburn, caused by UVB). If you're only concerned about burning, US sunscreens are adequate. I don't burn but I am concerned about cancer/aging, so I buy here.

^ this. I have just spent £70 on sun cream in Boots recently but it was all on my cards points which I have been saving since last August! Me and DD go factor 50 all the way and don't go very brown. DS and DH do the same and always go brown as berries. Tell me how that happens?!!!!

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

It's a personal choice, but I would never rely on US sunscreens. They're about 20 years behind ours in terms of ingredients. The EU has the most advanced sunscreens in the world, especially when it comes to UVA protection. UVA rays are the ones linked to melanoma and aging (rather than sunburn, caused by UVB). If you're only concerned about burning, US sunscreens are adequate. I don't burn but I am concerned about cancer/aging, so I buy here.

I think the US is slowly coming into the 21st century,they have changed the rules and regulations regarding UVA & UVB.This is a bit of the new rulings.

Products that pass the broad spectrum test will provide protection against both ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) and ultraviolet A radiation (UVA).

Sunburn is primarily caused by UVB. Both UVB and UVA can cause sunburn, skin cancer, and premature skin aging. A certain percentage of a broad spectrum product’s total protection is against UVA.

Under the new regulations, sunscreen products that protect against all types of sun-induced skin damage will be labeled "Broad Spectrum" and “SPF 15” (or higher) on the front.

This is the link if anyone wants to read in full http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm258416.htm

 

[epcot.girl]

'Broad spectrum' is too general a term for me, unfortunately. I need a more specific rating system comparable to SPF, so I prefer to go with the star ratings on EU sunscreens rather than taking my luck with US sunscreens. On top of that I currently only use sunscreens containing both drometrizole trisiloxane and ecamsule (Mexoryl XL and Mexoryl SX respectively). Despite being in use for around two decades in Europe, only the latter has been approved by the FDA (in 2006), so I have to by my sunscreen here.

Honestly, in terms of ingredients, European sunscreens put even the best US sunscreens to shame. There's a reason many American dermatologists order their sunscreens in from outside the US.

Personal choice.

 

[tinkerpea]

Ooh is that still available? That's a great bargain. The copper tone stuff is also really good (although I like the Malibu coconut smell better lol!)

Yep I went in and brought some more today