Sun Screen needs

[the macs]

Hi, I'm a newbie so I hope I have put this in the right place.

My hubby, 5 year old son and I are staying at the Coronardo Springs from 24th September for seven nights. I'm starting to think about my Sunscreen needs and read that Riemann p20 is a good sunscreen. Has anyone had experience of it and would they recommend it over something I could buy at Boots. Any feedback would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tinks1984]

Hey - welcome to the boards

Brilliant that you're thinking about sunscreen for your trip and I'll back up the recommendation that P20 is VERY good! My and my DBF used it on our last trip and we thought it was fantastic! It goes on as an oil and within 10 minutes it's dried in and feels great - no stickyness or unpleasant feeling We did only apply it once per day too, unless we hit the water parks. On those days, we re-applied once we'd finished up in there

I'd check about the internet to see what price you can get it at too though. I've seen it priced in shops at around £18-£20 per bottle I get ours from Costco for around £13-£14, but obv. you'll need to be a card-holder or know someone who can shop there for you. Other than that, I'd try on-line to see what prices you can get it at. Although it is an expensive buy, I'd say there's not much better you can get!

P.S. We took two bottles of P20 for two weeks in Florida

 

[Melcatfish]

Just jumping in on this - I used this stuff back in 2004 I think and it was great. I would get it again but since then I have developed a skin condition that means I need a higher factor protection (30 minimum but preferably 50 on my face) does anyone know if there is a similar product with a higher factor? I am sure I looked and the 20 was the only factor they did.

Thanks in advance
Mel
x

 

[rpbert1]

I am not a fan of P20, for various reasons, but DW used it once and burnt in different areas, even though she had done everything it says.
Over the last lot of years we have been using Parasol 25+, it is a once a day ,although we would use it after lunch as well just for added protection, it was formulated by the same person that formulated the P20.
We use the Kids 25+ on our DD as well, and never had any problems. I have found it difficult to get and bought it on the Internet for about £22.50 for 200mls delivered. before we came away our sil said they where selling it where she lives outside Belfast, so went and got some extra bottles price was £16.50 for 200mls so excellent value.

 

[jen_uk]

We just use the Boots Soltan range and have always found that good, I have to use factor 50 as I burn very easily

 

[fairytale]

We purchased 4 bottles of P20 last year for our October trip. Put it on my DS the first day, and had to immediate put him in the shower, he said it was really burning his skin.

IMO it has a really potent smell to it, and thought as I was putting it on him, "gosh this smells strong".

Never used it again after that first day incident.

Just to add, my DS does have slightly sensitive skin, but I didnt want to risk it with any of our other children either.

We now just put our children in UV outfits and take Johnsons, Baby sun screen for all the areas on show.

Next have some really great suits at the minute for older kids

 

[Pegasus928]

We generally tend to wait untill we get to Florida before going to either Walmart or Publix and buying some of the ones available there. (as we do with most of our toiletries as it cuts down on luggage )
Panama Jack has always been a favourite. It too comes in spray or cream, has no noticeable odour and is quick and easy to apply.
I think another we one regularly use is Banana Boat (??) and this has also been good. Both of these products also come with lip protection - sometimes free with the cream or lotion - so we normally get a few of these and we have one each.
Prices seem to be more reasonable than Boots as well as I remember.

 

[tracipierce]

I am not a fan of P20, for various reasons, but DW used it once and burnt in different areas, even though she had done everything it says.

Same here, we used it on our first trip to Disney a few years ago, did everything it said to do on the bottle, but all of us got burnt. My DD (15 at the time) burnt so badly she got a huge blister on her shoulder and was in a lot of pain. (I had reapplied it midday when we felt the sun burn coming but it didn't help) I had to go to the pharmacy at Walmart and got her some ointment to put on, I also got some Ocean Potion after sun which is fab as it contains lidocaine and numbs sunburn. I had to buy some different sunblock too, which although we had to reapply during the day, was much more effective than the P20

Last time we went I bought some Tinkerbell sunblock spray from disneyshopping.com it's factor 30 and its the kind which is a fine mist that you don't need to rub in. Luckily I got a few cans of it when it was on offer so I have enough for this year's trip,, its great stuff and smells gorgeous

 

[joolz1910]

I buy Nivea 'light feeling' factor 50 and can highly recommend it. It is not greasy (unlike some factor 50's) and it was half price in Tesco's last week!!!

 

[chocomochamouse]

I swear by Asda's own brand. We have used it for the last couple of years and had no probs at all with it. We have had factor 50 and 30 for DS12 and DS6 and various others for me and DH. We have used it all over - WDW, Spain, France - always been fine. Aftersun lovely, too. Tried to get some more yesterday but they had sold out, AND it was on 2 for £5!

 

[syko]

I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with Helioplex® and I still get a tan!!!!
Walmart, Super target and publix all sell it.

 

[Lizzybear]

My mum burnt badly using P20 in 2005, IMO factor 20 isn't high enough in Florida for many of us Brits, at least for the first week or so. I've used various brands but always factor 40 minimum, preferably 50, and have never burnt but usually got a light tan. I don't have *very* pale skin anyway but my bf does and he never burns with factor 50 either

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We use Australian Gold, it's very very good, reasonably priced at Publix, smells nice and is ideal for the Florida heat.
The after sun product is the best we have used.

 

[Tony Toon]

I'm afraid we're another family who have had a bad experience with P20,despite already having base tans, following the instructions to the letter and being in Europe at the time rather than the fiercer sun of the USA. We now use Ultrasun once a day Factor 28 and never have a problem - including family members who have ultra sensitive, fair skin. The best advice is to build up exposure gradually and avoid the hottest part of the day. About to put my order in to multipharm for our trip next week

Mrs TT

 

[Tinks1984]

Wow...I wasn't expecting so many bad reviews about P20! As I mentioned above, myself and DBF used it for the full two weeks we were there last year and it was great! Never burned at all...and I'm very fair skinned!

 

[buzz for boys]

We used P20 on our first trip and on the first day we all got burnt so since then we always go into walmart the first day and buy whatever is on offer - it works out much cheaper than buying here!! We bought the kids a spray that was fantastic and we could reapply whilst queing really easy also bought panama jack for me and dh and we all came back with a nice tan but noone got burnt !!

 

[steve76]

I've been using P20 for ~5 years after my doctor recommended it to me. I usually burn very easily (blonde hair, fair skin) but have never been burned using P20 (Europe, America, Far East, Australia). I swear by the stuff.

I find that it is much less greasy than other sun creams and so you feel less yucky when you are wearing it. I usually apply it after having a shower and wait 10-15 minutes for to dry before getting fully dressed otherwise you might rub it off. I've never noticed any particular smell or sensation on the skin.

Although it is quite expensive for a bottle, as it is once-a-day stuff it goes a lot, lot further than normal stuff so I think works out at a similar cost (possibly lower cost).

Perhaps ask your doctor?

 

[the macs]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, lots of things to think about.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I absolutely swear by P20 - have used it for about 20 years now with rare burning. I tend to use a cream on my face as I find it drying on my face but would not hesitate to recommend.

Another great one that is more or less the same product is ultrasun (Google it), fantastic!

 

[Cinderella2006]

My son has acute eczema and is under a dermatologist at a specialist hospital. I explained that we were going to Florida and were worried about what sun cream we could use on our son. He is only 1yr and i didn't want to risk using anything on his skin that would cause a reaction.

Well you wouldn't believe what she told me to buy ... Avon suncream! Not the coloured ones as they have lots of extra chemicals. I have yet to try it but i will let you know how he gets on