Latest news with #suncream
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers are racing to nab ‘best sun cream ever' that's now FREE – it's ‘great for school days' & takes seconds to apply
WITH temperatures continuing to soar, if you're in search of sun cream that's great for little ones, you've come to the right place. And if your purse is feeling the pinch more than ever before, fear not, as now, the 'best sun cream ever' is totally free - yes, you heard that correctly. 4 4 4 But you'll need to move quickly if you want to nab this epic freebie, as it's only available whilst stocks last. One savvy shopper was left beaming after browsing the shelves in her local Boots store, when she noticed the brilliant summer deal. Thrilled with her freebie, Carrie Webster took to social media to alert others, leaving many totally stunned. Posting on Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, a private Facebook group with 2.6 million members, Carrie uploaded a snap of her haul, alongside a picture of her receipt. Alongside the post, Carrie beamed: 'Bargain in Boots for sun cream! 'Buy two Soltan [bottles and] get the 8hr protect one for free!' While Boots Advantage card members will normally pay £4.95 a bottle for the Soltan Kids Once 8hr Protect & Play Suncare Lotion SPF50+ 200ml, with this limited-time cracking offer, shoppers can now get it totally free when they buy two selected Soltan products. Clearly overjoyed with her freebie which she nabbed from her local store in Gravesend, Carrie then added: 'The 8hr protect one is great for school days!' According to the product listing, this 'advanced sun protection' product has 'UVA and UVB filters to help protect skin against short and long term skin damage and premature skin ageing.' It takes just seconds to apply and has been hailed as 'perfect for outdoor adventures and on holiday." Kelsey Parker mum-shamed for admitting she doesn't put suncream on her kids The Boots buy is said to deliver 'eight hours of sun protection from a single application,' provided you follow the instructions. For best protection, generously apply the sun cream 15 minutes before going into the sun and rub in well. It is "water resistant, dermatologically tested and vegan-friendly". But parents should note that you should reapply if more time is spent in the water. Not only this, but it's also suitable for sensitive skin too. Alongside this, Carrie also bought two bottles of Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion, in factors 30 and 50+. This jaw-dropping offer is subject to stock availability, with your free gift being added to your basket on qualifying purchases while stocks last. Bargain hunters beam Facebook users were left beaming with the freebie, as one person said: 'Need to get these.' Whilst another added: 'I got this offer today, definitely a bargain.' Meanwhile, other bargain hunters eagerly raced to the comments to share their rave reviews on the high-street sun cream. One user simply beamed: 'Best sun cream ever.' The importance of sun cream in your skincare routine Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez - known as Dr Dray - revealed why you should wear suncream. The one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference - and this matters for all ages - is protecting your skin from the sun, Andrea stressed. "The vast majority of external aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation," she continued, not because you're "not using some jazzy serum or layering 90 different things on your face everyday". "If you're not doing in your 20s, get on that now." But she said the use of sun cream alone doesn't go far enough. Andrea urged that you also wear sun-protective clothing like broad-brimmed hats and long sleeves, on top of not staying out too long in the sun. Doing this over your lifetime - and all year, not just during the summer or on sunny days - "will reduce the visible signs of photoageing", Andrea said. Those are wrinkles, muddled pigmentation and sagging skin. A second chimed in and wrote: 'I use the 8 hour one for my boys for school! No issues, also used it on previous abroad holidays and they never burnt even going in the pool! I stand by this sun cream for my older kids.' Someone else claimed: 'My kids NEVER burn with any of the baby or kids Soltan sun creams!' Whilst another Boots shopper explained: 'I swear by these Soltan once ones and we holiday in summer in Egypt and Turkey and Cape Verde (all very hot). All of my children are fair and they have never burnt with it and I only use the 30 for them most of the time.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
Morrisons own-brand sun cream FAILS safety test – while another supermarket version triumphs, and it's cheaper too
MORRISONS' own-brand sun cream has failed a safety test conducted by experts. Consumer site Which? carried out a series of tests on 15 popular sun creams to make sure they met minimum sun protection levels. While most passed with flying colours, the Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 failed to meet the minimum levels for SPF protection. Which? has labelled it as a "Don't Buy" and said it could be "putting families at risk". The sun cream costs £3.75 for 200ml. It was tested twice and failed to meet minimum protection levels on both occasions. The only other product to fail the test was the Ultrasun Family SPF30, which costs a whopping £28 for 150ml. The expensive sun cream failed to meet minimum UVA protection levels in two tests. It's recommended that you use a sun cream with a minimum SPF of 15, along with a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars. SPF stands for 'sun protection factor' and it mostly measures how well a sun cream protects you against UVB rays, which cause sunburn and are linked to particular types of skin cancer. The higher the SPF, the greater protection it offers. Meanwhile a sun cream's UVA rating refers to how well it protects against UVA rays. Map reveals where temps will hit glorious 33C this weekend – as revellers soak up the sun in parks, beaches & festivals UVA rays are associated with skin ageing and pigmentation, as well as skin cancer. Which? said it used industry-recognised test methods at independent labs. If a product failed on the first test, Which? repeated the test. The sun creams needed a score of at least 10 to pass the UVA test. But Ultrasun's UVA score was 9.1 and 9.5 in a retest. The SPF test required a score of 30 or more for a pass. However the Morrisons sun cream only scored 25.7 and then 20.7 in a retest. The products that failed to protect properly from SPF or UVA were labelled "Don't Buys". What does the UVA star rating mean? THE star rating for sun cream bottles was developed to illustrate the balanced protection that a product offers against both UVA and UVB rays. The index ranges from 0 to 5 stars. These indicate the percentage of UVA radiation absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to UVB. The higher number of stars means the more balanced that protection is. You may also see the letters 'UVA' in a circle, which means the product has been approved by the EU. It is another way of saying that the product provides good balanced protection against UVA and UVB. Why should people care about choosing a sunscreen with high SPF and high UV protection? Extended exposure to the sun can lead to skin damage, experts say. There are four types of skin damage: skin ageing, hyperpigmentation, sunburns, and skin cancer. "By protecting yourself from the sun, you reduce the likelihood of damaging your skin," the British Association of Dermatologists says. "Make use of the shade during the hours of high intensity (11am and 3pm in the UK typically), wear clothing that will shade your skin, and use sunscreen with at least SPF30 and either the UVA logo or 4 to 5 stars, making sure you're applying it well and re-applying it regularly." Source: British Association of Dermatologists Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: "It's really concerning that widely available sunscreens could be putting families at risk by failing to offer the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging. "While shoppers should avoid buying our Don't Buys, our results prove that there's no need to splash out to keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun as we've found cheap reliable options at Aldi and Lidl." A spokesperson from Ultrasun told Which? it is fully confident in its testing protocols and that its detailed testing processes continue to not only meet, but surpass industry standards. It said its chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available. Morrisons told Which? that it's looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing. A spokesperson said: "We work closely with our supplier and conduct extensive efficacy and safety testing during product development. "As such, all our sun care products are tested to the relevant industry test standards and are not approved for launch until they meet these standards. During development and production all tested variants consistently achieved an SPF of 30. 'In direct response to this report from Which? we have retested the SPF against the British and International Standard BS EN ISO 24444:2020 and can confirm the product has achieved an SPF value of 34.5 and can therefore be labelled as SPF 30.' Which sun creams passed the testing? Most of the sun creams tested passed - including bargain buys from Lidl and Aldi. The cheapest was Aldi's Lacura Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+, which is only £2.99 for a 200ml bottle. It offers very high SPF protection and costs six times less than the Ultrasun version. The product earned a Which? Great Value badge as a result. Another bargain option was Lidl's Cien Sun Spray 30 SPF High, which costs £3.79 for a 200ml bottle. Which? testers found it was a solid option for affordable and reliable sun protection, and also gave it a Great Value endorsement. These are the other products that passed the testing: Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion, £5.50/200ml Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Spray SPF30, £5.50/200ml Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lotion SPF30, £7.90/200ml Sainsbury's Sun Protect Moisturising Lotion SPF30, £5.50/200ml Superdrug Solait Sun Spray SPF30, £5.50/200ml Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Sun Spray SPF 50+, £11/150ml Sainsbury's Sun ProtectMoisturising Spray Lotion SPF50+, £5.75/200ml Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion SPF50+, £5.50/200ml Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Spray SPF50+, £7.90/200ml And these are the ones specifically made for children that passed too: Childs Farm Sun Cream Fragrance-Free SPF50+, £12/200ml Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF50+, £5.50/200ml Which? ran a similar test last year with 26 sun creams. The vast majority passed but the failures were Asda's Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High, Calypso's Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30 and Bondi Sands' SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Face Sunscreen Lotion. Asda said it did not recognise the results, while Calypso said its product passed EU standards and regulations in independent testing. Bondi Sands insisted all of its products undergo "rigorous testing" to ensure they meet industry standards.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
The £2.99 sun cream that's been awarded the ‘greatest value' Which? award – and it's £28 cheaper than a pricey rival
WITH the hot weather showing no sign of disappearing anytime soon, sun cream is a must. But it can be on the pricey side - with the much-loved Ultrasun Family SPF30 coming in at a whopping £28 a bottle. So it's no wonder shoppers are racing to their nearest Aldi to scour the beauty aisles for the Lacura SPF50+ Sensitive Sun Lotion, which has been awarded a coveted 'Great Value' accreditation by consumer champion Which?. According to the Which? judges, the £2.99 Lacura sun cream is easily applied and offers effective protection from the sun - while coming in at under £3. Which? judges praised Aldi's Lacura product for its easy application and effective protection, all while maintaining an accessible price point under £3. And thanks to being fragrance free and non-greasy, it's suitable for sensitive skin and "designed to ensure maximum protection without irritation". Like all of Aldi's sun creams, the 50+ Sensitive Sun Lotion has a 5-star UVA/UVB rating - meaning it offers the highest barrier against UVA rays. "This recognition is a powerful testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional quality and performance at great prices for our shoppers," Julia Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said. "To offer such effective sun protection for under £3 truly embodies our promise of accessible excellence. "It means our shoppers can enjoy the summer safely, knowing they're getting first-rate protection without breaking the bank." In addition, Aldi has released two new additions to its suncare range - the Lacura SPF50+ Shine Control Face Sun Lotion and the Lacura SPF50+ Moisturising Sun Lotion. The former has a smooth matte finish that works well as a primer under make-up, and comes in at £2.19 - meaning you save 84% compared to Nivea. I'm a skin pro & here's 5 sunscreen mistakes you make - you need my 13 dot hack While the latter lotion offer 24-hour hydration, meaning the skin is left feeling soft and nourished, as well as being protected from the sun. There are also several effective options for kids - the £2.99 Lacura SPF50+ Baby & Kids Sensitive Lotion. Or for a cool twist, try the Coloured Roll On, which also comes in at £2.29. The green-coloured formula is fun for kids, while also highlighting any areas that may have been missed during application. The importance of sun cream in your skincare routine Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez - known as Dr Dray - revealed why you should wear suncream. The one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference - and this matters for all ages - is protecting your skin from the sun, Andrea stressed. "The vast majority of external aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation," she continued, not because you're "not using some jazzy serum or layering 90 different things on your face everyday". "If you're not doing in your 20s, get on that now." But she said the use of sun cream alone doesn't go far enough. Andrea urged that you also wear sun-protective clothing like broad-brimmed hats and long sleeves, on top of not staying out too long in the sun. Doing this over your lifetime - and all year, not just during the summer or on sunny days - "will reduce the visible signs of photoageing", Andrea said. Those are wrinkles, muddled pigmentation and sagging skin. It's also suitable for sensitive kids' skin. And if you get burnt in the sun - unlikely with Aldi's range - there's also the Lacura Moisturising After Sun Lotion. The £2.39 cream is "formulated with Glycerin and Aloe Vera to calm and refresh sun-stressed skin". 4
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Heatwaves hit different when you're a redhead
Heatwave, anyone? As another warm weekend beckons, the Met Office has revealed that we experienced the hottest spring on record. But not everyone is cock-a-hoop at the nice weather. Spare a thought for Britain's gingers, who are usually well-prepped for the rigours of a British summer, but who now must stretch out our dependency on SPF50 and large, hideous hats through spring and autumn, with only the end of Strictly and the duration of The Traitors providing a guaranteed period of respite. By 'gingers' (a ghastly word, by the way, takes me straight back to being bullied at school), I do of course mean any redheads like me, blessed with a pallor that allows excellent camouflage in areas of Scotland and Ireland during high winter, and which is absolutely useless at any other time. But I also include anyone else who struggles with the heat – spiritual gingers, if you will, like my friend Sonal, a former criminal barrister, who has established a cutting-edge skincare brand, This is Silk, inspired by how she treated her rare allergy to sunlight. I have been awash with suncream pretty much every day since 2005. Thankfully, the quality has risen dramatically since I was a baby, when my fair mother – partly raised in Singapore, where she and her sisters coated themselves in oil like so many jacket potatoes – would swipe me with factor two. This was considered unimaginably high in the early 1980s and quite akin to staying indoors and hiding under the bed til the clocks went back. The only problem today is that cheap sunscreen tends to be horrendous on sensitive skin or leaves a very obvious cast, and the good stuff is wildly expensive and comes in tubes the size of a fun-size Snickers. To keep covered in the stuff to the level that I need costs me a fortune – and I do need it, as the alternative is to rapidly become lightheaded and wobbly. My solution is usually to stay inside for the majority of daylight hours and go out covered in hats, sunglasses and long sleeves where needed. Australia's long-running awareness campaign, 'Slip, Slap, Slop' remains very relevant, even if I spent much of my UK childhood wondering which one referred to 'having an ice lolly'. It's simply not worth doing otherwise, either to get burned (which I can do in under a minute on high UV days) or to use a cheap and cheerful suncream and have the inevitable breakout or rash from trying to get my sensitive skin playing ball. My dad (equally redhead, but less pallid due to a love of sailing) has become a devotee of the excellent Altruist sun cream, which I keep forgetting to stock up on online. He and the rest of my family can tan really beautifully. I gave up even trying in my early twenties, and have concluded that a neat trick to appear less ghostly is to wear a screamingly-white bathing suit instead. Conversely, my favourite hobby is very ginger-friendly. When I go horse riding, I relish the opportunity to cover up in gloves, a hat, boots, a long-sleeved summer base layer etc, all technically for protection should I fall into a tree. I went on a horsey travel assignment to India a few years ago and have never been more comfortable than riding through the Thar desert, swathed in layers. Since I got my retriever, Sybil, I've had a companion slash excuse to hide away from the sunlight – it's simply cruel to walk a dog when the pavement can be used to sizzle bacon, especially when said dog resembles a sheepskin rug from Ikea. When, in the record-breakingly hot summer of 2022, we both had serious operations within weeks of each other, it was something of a relief to be able to hide indoors to recover. It also gives me time to pray, pray, pray that someone with money and influence will turn their laser focus to sorting out the climate. Rather naively, I thought this conversation had already been settled during the greenhouse gas debate of the 1990s. If only this were something Blue Peter could rectify now through a campaign. Perhaps we could organise a Bring 'n' Buy Sale. I've got loads of sun cream I can bring along to keep everyone covered.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I only wear black clothing because I have huge sweat marks under my armpits and it's affecting my confidence – help!
NOW the sun is out, your SPF should be too. Did you know we are recommended to use two shot glasses worth of suncream to cover our body? It might seem excessive, but no patch should be left uncovered. In fact, it's the little areas – the tops of the ears, back of the hands, tip of the nose – that are high-risk spots for skin cancer. Melanoma skin cancer has been increasing in frequency. Cancer Research UK analysis shows rates rose by almost a third between 2009 and 2019. But 86 per cent of cases are preventable by protecting skin from UV rays. You can reduce risk by applying suncream but also wearing a hat and staying in the shade . . . in the UK as well as holiday hotspots. Reapply suncream every few hours to protect your skin. Five or more sunburns more than doubles your risk of developing potentially deadly melanoma, warns the Skin Cancer Foundation. Here's what readers have been asking me this week . . . SWEAT MARKS THE PITS Q: FOR years, I've had huge sweat marks under my armpits. It's affecting my confidence because I mainly wear black clothing that shows it up less, when I would love to wear different colours. I have tried everything and nothing seems to work. Please help. A: The medical word for excessive sweating is hyperhidrosis and it affects at least one per cent of people. It can be an embarrassing condition but is not an illness – rather it's the extreme end of the spectrum of normal sweating. Armpits are a common place for it to occur, as well as on the hands, feet or face. The symptoms tend to be prominent in the daytime most days but absent at night. More rarely there can be an underlying cause or disease causing the sweating. But this would normally be obvious because there would be other symptoms, or an unusual pattern of sweating more at night. While it is not dangerous to health, hyperhidrosis can terribly affect a person's life. Aluminium chloride (20 per cent) is advised as a first treatment. It is available from the pharmacy without prescription. The correct way to use it is by applying it at night just before sleep, then washing it off in the morning. Apply every one to two days, until symptoms improve. Following this, use as required, which may be up to every six weeks. A major downside of aluminium chloride is that it can cause irritation. To reduce risk of this, use an emollient to moisturise the skin, and gentle soap for washing (or use emollient as a soap substitute). If irritation does happen you can reduce the frequency to maybe just twice a week, and use a one-per-cent hydrocortisone steroid cream, which again can be bought directly from the pharmacy. By day, use an antiperspirant rather than a deodorant. The former reduces sweat, but the latter masks odour. Other treatments include iontophoresis, which uses a low-voltage electric current to calm the sweat glands; it is a little impractical for armpits but can work when using specially designed pads. And Botox injections into the armpit skin can give relief from excessive sweating for six to nine months, but this can be expensive and may lead to compensatory sweating elsewhere. The International Hyperhidrosis Society ( can be a useful resource. Q: I AM a woman who is 74 years young. I had a hysterectomy at age 47 and since then have suffered with ongoing UTI s. 4 I had my bladder stretched ten years ago which did help for two years, but the problem is back. Three years ago I got referred to another consultant and had a bladder camera check, plus a scan, which didn't find anything. I was put on Hiprex, 1g, for six months but it didn't work. Then I was put on nitrofurantoin, 50mg, for six months. One every night did work but apparently I cannot stay on them as they could make my stomach bleed. I read that there is a uromone vaccine I could possibly try, but how do I get it? In the past I've had numerous antibiotics, and have started to have a probiotic every morning to help my gut. Please help. A: There are various types of UTI vaccine being developed to treat recurrent UTIs. They include ones that can be swallowed, injected, applied to the vagina and sprayed under the tongue. All work by training the body's natural immune system to fight off a UTI before it can take hold. In the UK, UTI vaccines are not currently licensed for routine use but the hope is they may provide a potential alternative to antibiotics for recurrent UTIs in the near future. I find it interesting that your symptoms started when you had the hysterectomy. Were your ovaries removed as well as the womb? If so this would have put you into immediate menopause and I do wonder how much your symptoms may be helped by using topical oestrogen. This means using a tablet, pessary, cream, gel or ring that you insert into your vagina, which can help with urinary symptoms (including recurrent UTIs) linked to lack of oestrogen. Whilst this is a type of HRT, it does not have any of the risks associated with systemic HRT, so there is no reason not to give it a try. Another suggestion would be D-Mannose, which is an over-the-counter treatment that can be used if the infection is caused by the bacteria. Research suggests success rates of this treatment can be as high as 45 per cent at six months, but care needs to be taken in those who have or are at risk of diabetes, as D-Mannose is a sugar. How can I relieve kneecap pain? Q: I AM an 85-year-old man and worked in the marble and granite industry all my life. I consider myself fortunate to have had no illnesses at all. 4 But three years ago I went to my GP with a painful kneecap, which caused me to fall. I was sent for physio and tried different exercises, to no avail. Finally, I asked about an injection but was told they don't always work. I also asked about an op but was told there is a two-year wait, and that by then I might not be fit enough for surgery. I was given co-codamol and a gel to apply – all of which is doing no good. I have now resorted to wearing a knee brace, which helps a little. But is there anything else I can try? A: Try to get referred back to the musculoskeletal team at the hospital for more information about these two potential treatments. If surgery could help, I'd opt to get on the list and work towards improving your fitness to prepare for the surgery. And yes, it is true that steroid injections don't always work, but sometimes they do. So I'd be saying 'let's try it' because you might be one of the ones it does work for. It could give you the relief you need to get moving more – which brings me on to what you can do for yourself, and that is exercise. This is the number one therapy for osteoarthritis. Exercise can strengthen the muscles around the knee, and alleviate symptoms, but I understand that this may seem a little counter-intuitive if a joint is painful. So use painkillers and don't be afraid to gradually increase movement. Studies have shown conclusively that improving strength can alleviate symptoms, even if you need to use painkillers. In some areas of the UK there are exercise programmes such as Escape Pain ( designed to help lessen pain and rehabilitate. Things like cycling and swimming are also beneficial for pain. Exercise can be done at home and the NHS website has some useful videos. BRUSHING WITH DANGER HALF of us go to bed without brushing our teeth at least once a week, a survey found. The Oral Health Foundation warns millions are at risk of tooth rot due to laziness. 4 One in three fail to brush 'a few times a week', with that figure rising to 43 per cent for under-25s. The OHF said it increases the chance of tooth decay as most people say they eat sugary snacks before bed. A third snack every night after dinner, of whom 68 per cent opt for sugary treats such as chocolate, sweets and biscuits. Three quarters of adults are missing at least one tooth and almost nine in ten have fillings. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, says: 'The UK is becoming a nation of late-night snackers and our teeth are paying the price. 'Snacking on sugary treats every night and then skipping brushing before bed is a recipe for disaster. 'When you don't brush, sugar and bacteria stay on your teeth all night, producing acids that eat away at the enamel. 'Over time, this can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss. 'If you do choose to snack, pick options that won't harm your teeth. 'Savoury choices such as cheese, nuts or breadsticks are much better for your oral health. ' Brushing your teeth before bed is essential. It's your last line of defence against tooth decay.' FAT LINK TO SCALY SKIN BELLY fat increases your risk of the skin condition psoriasis, a study warns. Psoriasis, which affects one in 50 people, causes scaly patches of skin usually around the scalp, knees and elbows. Researchers at King's College London analysed data from over 330,000 Brits, including more than 9,000 people with psoriasis. They found that abdominal fat was strongly linked to the likelihood of having the condition, particularly for women. Study author Dr Ravi Ramessur said: 'Our research shows that where fat is stored in the body matters when it comes to psoriasis risk. 'Central fat, especially around the waist, seems to play a key role. "This has important implications for how we identify individuals who may be more likely to develop psoriasis or experience more severe disease, and how we approach prevention and treatment strategies.' Psoriasis typically begins in a person's 20s or 50s. It is thought that a problem with the immune system causes the skin cells to replace faster than they should. Experts reckon Ozempic-style fat jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, may help people with psoriasis. Dr Joel Gelfand, from the University of Pennsylvania, said: 'The strong relationship between psoriasis and obesity, and the emerging promise of GLP-1 RAs, is a call to action for clinical trials.'
