The summer sun has been here in full swing this week, so it's no wonder we are scrambling for a good suncream range to get us through the next couple of months.
Sun cream is already flying off the shelves, but which is most affordable while also feeling like it 'has you covered' for the foreseeable? There's even more risk of being burnt to a crisp and us Brits are known to struggle with the sunshine, so we put to the test these top supermarkets' own ranges and one came out on top.
As well as keeping hydrated and trying to stay out as the sun as much as possible, it's so important to ensure that you're protected with a high factor sun lotion. Of course, it all depends on our skin type, but it's important to make sure your chosen SPF suits your skin.
With the cost of everything going up, staple items such as sun cream can cost up to a whopping £6 for 200ml depending on the brand, like one by drugstore favourite, Nivea. We decided to test out 'value' supermarket sun creams to see if they're just as good as the branded products.
Tesco's Soleil Fragrance Free Sun Protection Lotion
Tesco's Soleil Fragrance Free Sun Protection Lotion (Image: Liverpool Echo)
At £3.20, Tesco's own brand sun cream certainly isn't as cheap as the likes of Aldi but how did it measure up? Well, given the size of the bottle and the sheer amount of options Tesco offers, it definitely had me thinking it would be a winner.
Luckily, I was right. The 200ml was among the last bottles on the shelf thanks to our recent heatwave, but Tesco clearly had a huge range of options on offer if the signs on the shelf are anything to go by.
The product is easy to apply, though you need to be careful about squeezing the bottle to ensure you get the right amount. The first thing I noticed was that the product was light and fast-absorbing.
A little goes a long way and you really don't need to use too much of it to get a good amount of coverage. This product left the skin feeling smooth and moisturised and it lasted well, too.
I'd definitely purchase this product again and would choose it over the more costly branded options.
Price: £3.20
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Your local Tesco store or online here.
Aldi Lacura Moisturising Sun Lotion
I wasn't blessed with skin that tans - I burn incredibly easily and sadly, erratically. I've spent many unfortunate summer holidays with random red blobs and blotches all over my arms and legs. With such sensitive skin, I feel pretty clued up on sun lotions and potions and their importance.
The sun's powerful rays can cause damage even on a cloudy day, so wearing SPF products has become part of my daily skincare routine. I've found my favourites over the years but have never tried Aldi's Lacura sun range.
My local Aldi's shelves were pretty bare, which left me having to buy something I've never bought before - SPF 15. I'm strictly a factor 30 or above kind of girl and in recent years, have stuck with factor 50. Though teenage me would have been mortified by the deathly pale shade of my pins, 31-year-old me is embracing it.
Aldi's Lacura sun lotion (Image: Jess Flaherty)
I only tried this on my forearms because, quite frankly, I'm not prepared to burn myself for my job, and I was impressed with the delightfully nostalgic scent. It instantly transported me to long, hot summer days as a child, without being too overpowering.
It's a thick consistency, though it's absorbed relatively easily into the skin. It doesn't leave the skin feeling overly tacky like some products and I love that it's rated five stars for UVA protection. A 200ml bottle cost £2.39 which I thought was excellent value.
Aldi's own products are also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free - the gold standard - which is very important to me. I will definitely try other products in Aldi's Lacura sun lotion range, I just hope I can get my hands on some SPF 50.
Price: £2.39
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Your local Aldi store or online
Lidl
Unfortunately, this cream smells like Aldi's but a bit more beachy!
But on the positive side, it is fast absorbing, water-resistant (but still reapply regularly after swimming), and it's ideal for sports. It's cheap and dried super quickly too!
The only negative thing I can say is it not as great value for money as Aldi, but they may have a wider selection of sizes in other Lidl stores. Unclear what star rating it has, but still meets UVA EU standards
Price: £2.19 for 75ml
Score: 4/5
Where to Buy: Your local Lidl store
Morrisons Protect and Nourish Moisturising Sun Lotion
I was impressed with the Morrisons own brand sun cream (Image: Charlotte Roszko)
As someone with pale skin, I always make sure to stock up on sun cream during the summer and usually opt for a bottle of SPF 50. I'd never tried Morrisons' own version before but was pleasantly surprised. Coming in at £3 for a 200ml bottle of SPF 50, I thought it was reasonably priced, especially when compared to some of the more expensive brands.
One of the things I loved about this sun cream was its appealing smell, which lasts well on the skin. The product is non-greasy and has a nice moisturising feel to it too, meaning it blended in smoothly and didn't leave me feeling sticky.
With the sun cream not having a spray applicator, it does mean you have to be cautious not to apply too much at once, and you don't need to use too much to get a good coverage of product either. The product is vegan friendly and cruelty free too, which is an added bonus.
Overall, I was impressed with this sun cream and would definitely buy it again.
Price: £3
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Your local Morrisons store
Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion Medium SPF 15
Admittedly, I'm always very lazy when it comes to sun cream, which I know is very dangerous. I'm keen to wear it on holiday, but quite often forget to pop it on during summer in the UK.
I think it's because I forget the UK sun can be just as strong as when you're abroad, especially recently with the heatwave. After using plenty of tan enhancing oils during trips abroad, I was after something that was safer and cheaper.
A bottle of 200ml Nivea sun cream will set shoppers back a whopping £6 for SPF50, and although the Asda own brand lotion was lower at SPF15, it was still considerably more affordable at £2.80 for 200ml.
It smelt amazing (Image: Emily Sleight/ Liverpool ECHO)
The bottle of the Asda Protect Moisturising sun lotion was fairly simple looking, but didn't look cheap at all. Once I put it onto my skin I was really surprised at the thickness of the lotion.
It was the smell that really impressed me though, it was incredibly refreshing and smelt amazing - a rarity for often clinical smelling sun lotions. It smoothed onto my skin really easily, but it did feel slightly drying too.
I tested the lotion while sat outside on my lunchbreak and, for an affordable lotion in the middle of a crazy heatwave, it worked pretty well. Although, it's important to note that the SPF15 was the only factor they had available in my local Asda at the time, but stronger SPFs are available.
Price: £2.80
Rating: 4/5
