The exceptionally hot and sunny weather of late has made wearing sunscreen especially important, to protect our bodies from the harmful rays which can cause sunburn and increase our risks of skin cancer - but it's also expensive, and in the middle of a cost of living crisis, when every penny counts, it's left families with a tough choice.
Some of the best known brands of sunscreen you'll find in supermarkets and pharmacies can cost as much as £10 per 100ml, although there are many cheaper and just as good alternatives.
For families with very tight budgets, however, wanting to enjoy the sunshine, even the cheaper brands can still punch a hole in a household budget, especially during the school holidays and periods of good weather, when they can get through bottles of the stuff topping up after dips in the sea and extended periods in the sun's rays.
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One venue in Swansea has realised what a strain it can be, and won praise for providing members of the public with free sunscreen. The Secret Beach Bar and Kitchen in Mumbles Road, Swansea, has installed a factor 50 sunscreen dispenser outside the entrance to the bar, which backs onto Swansea beach. You can keep up to date with the latest Swansea news by signing up to the local newsletter here.
Management at the bar confirmed they had also installed similar dispensers at two other venues they run in the city - Castellamare, an Italian restaurant overlooking Bracelet Bay near Mumbles, and The Green Room Bar and Kitchen next to the new Swansea Arena. They said they were offering the sunscreen to protect people against increasing cases of skin cancer in the UK.
The bar said: “Due to this current heatwave, we have decided to help protect our community as much as possible. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and rates continue to rise. At least 100,000 new cases are now diagnosed each year, and the disease kills over 2,500 people each year in the UK. Our SPF 50 dispenser can be found outside our entrance on the right hand side of The Secret Beach Bar and Kitchen. It is free for anyone to use. We want to help keep you safe this summer.”
The move has been very warmly received on social media, with one poster saying: “This is one of the best community contributions I’ve heard of. My husband is a postie, and they’re not even provided with suntan lotion”. Another said: "What an absolutely fantastic thing to do”, while another wrote: "Brilliant - more places need to do this, especially for the young and the elderly”.
Wales and the UK as a whole has just endured record breaking temperatures which saw previous highs surpassed. Temperatures soared above 37°C in Wales on Monday, while in England it was even hotter as 40.2C was measured at Heathrow Airport. With that in mind, one Welsh MP has called for VAT to be scrapped on sunscreen products in order to make them more affordable and accessible to all.
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, who himself had skin cancer in 2019, raised important points in the House of Commons earlier this week, relating to the availability of sunscreen. He said: “Exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Skin cancer, especially melanoma, can kill and the number of incidences in the UK has grown quite significantly over the last 15 to 20 years.
“First of all can we get rid of VAT on good quality sunscreen so that it’s cheaper and more available to more people? And can we make sure that anybody who works in our emergency services, including all the police and the police officers working here outside the building, have free sunscreen?”
Cutting VAT on sunscreen would be a decision for the UK Treasury to make, but it was suggested that it could provide a solution moving forward.
So, how much do you actually have to spend currently on sunscreen. The cost of different products varies wildly, depending on the brand and type of protection offered. A quick search on the Boots website reveals that you can buy sun cream for £2.50 but also for £39.
The cheapest and best sunscreen products you can buy
According to a recent article by Which?, these are some of the best value products around right now:
Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 - £2.80
This 200ml suncream is ‘easily absorbed and contains vitamin E to help protect against skin cell damage’, according to Asda’s website. It also ‘leaves skin hydrated, supple and soft’ and is said to offer ‘24-hour moisturise’ and ‘protects against premature skin ageing’.
Morrisons Sun Spray SPF30 - £3.50
Morrisons says this dermatologically tested and approved 200ml suncream is good ‘for skin which is not acclimatised to the sun’. It is SPF30 so should provide high protection against UV sunburn. The supermarket also says it is ‘a water resistant, non-greasy and fast-absorbing spray.’
Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30 - £6.49 from Amazon
Bodycare Online says this 200ml sun lotion ‘offers UVA/UVB protection and helps prevent premature ageing. It is a light, non-greasy and water resistant formula with gentle moisturisers that replenish the natural oils lost by exposure to the sun, wind and water.’
Avon Sun Body Cream SPF30 - £5
Avon says this 150ml suncream is a ‘moisturising, water-resistant formula to help protect skin against sunburn. Fragrance and oil-free to leave skin soft, supple and non-greasy’. It does warn that the product ‘may stain clothing.
Solero Moisturising Lotion SPF30 - £5, reduced from £7, at Lloyds Pharmacy
Lloyds Pharmacy says this dermatologically tested 200ml lotion offers ‘ triple defence protection with UVA, UVB & IR-A rays and is water resistant’. It is said to help ‘prevent premature skin ageing and sun-induced wrinkles when used regularly and moisturises to keep skin hydrated, soft and supple.’
Solait Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 - £5.49 from Superdrug
Which? recommended the Solait sun spray but we could only find the sun lotion available on the Superdrug website. Superdrug says this 200ml lotion is ‘specially formulated with a combination of broad spectrum sunscreens to help against UVA (Ageing) and UVB (burning) rays. It is said to be ‘enriched with antioxidant Vitamin E and Aquarich’ and is a ‘24-hour hydrating formula’ which also helps to ‘shield the skin against free radicals and keeps it feeling soft and supple during sun exposure.’
Piz Buin Allergy Sun Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF30 - £6 from Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s says this 200ml lotion offers ‘intense moisturisation, fast absorption and non-sticky’ with ‘triple resistance - contains advanced UVA/UVB filters. Helps to protect skin against aggressor elements like chlorine, sea and salt water, sweat and water resistant.’
Buying the correct sunscreen and applying it often enough is vitally important to protect skin during periods of intense sunshine. Bruce Green, a chartered chemist and founder of SOS Serum Skincare, told The Mirror that “most individuals use too little sunscreen”.
He said: “Use enough cream to cover thoroughly all exposed areas: face, nose and ears, hands, arms, and legs. Don’t forget the backs of yours and other necks. As a guide, adults should aim to apply around two teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re covering your head, arms and neck, and two tablespoons if you are covering your entire body whilst wearing a swimsuit. Re-apply sunscreen every two hours or so and after swimming or sport.
“Most individuals use too little sunscreen. If you must sunbathe, think about a double application of sun cream. Apply the first layer 15-30 minutes before the beach and then apply another layer when you hit the sun. It’s like getting a protective coat of armour. Whilst double-duty products may make steps shorter and seem more efficient, you cannot always rely on your daily moisturisers or make-up products such as a foundation to give you adequate protection. Remember, no matter how good or effective your sun protection purchase is, it will only be as good as its application and re-application.”
This is what the NHS advises:
The NHS website is packed with advice regarding staying safe in the sun. It reminds you that you can burn even when it's cloudy, but should strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.
You should spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October, and cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses when you are in the sunshine, using sunscreen on exposed skin. It says you should look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB and at least 4-star UVA protection. UVA protection can also be indicated by the letters "UVA" in a circle, which indicates that it meets the EU standard.
Sunscreen can lose its effectiveness so you should also check the expiry date. Many products may only be effective for two to three years after the purchase date.
Do not spend any longer in the sun than you would without sunscreen.
What are the SPF and star rating?
The sun protection factor, or SPF, is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) protection. SPFs are rated on a scale of 2 to 50+ based on the level of protection they offer, with 50+ offering the strongest form of UVB protection. The star rating measures the amount of ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) protection. You should see a star rating of up to 5 stars on UK sunscreens. The higher the star rating, the better.
How much should I apply?
As a guide, adults should aim to apply around:
2 teaspoons of sunscreen if you're just covering your head, arms and neck
2 tablespoons if you're covering your entire body while wearing a swimming costume
If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced.
If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice: 30 minutes before going out, and just before going out. Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair, but a wide-brimmed hat is better.
Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer's instructions. This includes applying it straight after you have been in water, even if it's "water resistant", and after towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off. It's also recommended to reapply sunscreen every two hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin.
How to cut down on sunscreen use - and save yourself money
Wear clothes and sunglasses that provide sun protection, such as:
A wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears;
A long-sleeved top;
Trousers or long skirts in close-weave fabrics that do not allow sunlight through, and;
Sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and British Standard Mark 12312-1:2013 E.
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