Wanna see my Pink Bits? Well you can't - I haven't got any! (Hawaiian Tropic Pink Bits SPF50)

Member Name: Teteenlair

Product:	Hawaiian Tropic Pink Bits SPF50
Date:	14/09/09 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing smell, high protection

Disadvantages: Expensive, difficult to rub in

Hawaiian Tropic are probably most well known for making little-to-no-protection tanning oils, but a few years ago when links between sun damage and skin cancer became widely recognised, they were criticised for offering nothing which gave higher protection against the sun, and added several higher factor sun protection creams to their popular tanning range.

Pink Bits is their highest protection sun lotion for adults at SPF 50+; it gives both UVA and UVB protection (so protects against burning as well as ageing effects on skin) and bears the approval of the International Skin Cancer Foundation on the front of the bottle.

Pink Bits stands out on the shelves, even amongst other Hawaiian Tropic products, as it comes in a bright pink 200 ml bottle with silver text (as illustrated). It has a flip lid with a narrow nozzle so it's easy to open and close, particularly in a beach-front reapplication scenario, and has a narrow nozzle so you don't end up squirting out too much at once. It does also unscrew perhaps so that you can entice the last few dregs out when you come to the end of the bottle.

The thing that really sets Hawaiian Tropic apart from other lotions for me is the amazing smell - it transports you straight to the beach. It's not overly coconutty like other sun lotions - it's fruitier, with a hint of banana, but I can't quite put my finger on anything else. The smell really lasts on the skin too, especially if you reapply frequently like you're supposed to!

The lotion itself is a very thick white cream. When you begin to rub it into your skin it spreads a little bit and the consistency actually really reminded me of emulsion paint. It really, really takes a lot of rubbing in and to be honest I was sweating each morning on holiday by the time I'd covered myself top to bottom. It's so thick in fact that it got me wondering whether it provides protection in the form of an actual physical barrier! I found that the combination of the thick lotion and a bit of sweat left me feeling sticky and clammy all day, but I don't think it was any worse than with other high protection lotions. I did need to wash my hands after applying, but this obviously wasn't possible when reapplying on the go, annoyingly.

As for sun protection, I can't fault it. I'm a natural blonde with very fair freckly skin and I used it in Cuba in July last year and Ibiza in July this year and the only sunburn I got was little bits that I'd missed: a tiny patch of skin under my arm near my bikini top, my parting, my ears when I didn't think to put any on them (OUCH, won't do that again!!) I even spent a couple of days worrying that I'd not reapplied enough, on day trips when you don't get much chance to, but the most I've come away with is an even, very pale pink colouring which had disappeared the next day.

The only way you will burn whilst using this product is if you are really reckless in the sun - applying too little and not reapplying and sitting in the sun all day. However, I can see how people could become complacent using a product like this with an SPF of over 50. (I think in Australia they aren't allowed to see factors higher than about 35 in order to make people more vigilant about reapplying and I think that's a really good idea.) You will not tan whilst using this product!

Hawaiian Tropic is a top-end brand and you will pay around £12 for this product in Boots. You may be lucky and get a BOGOF deal, or you may be even luckier and find it stocked in a Home Bargains type store for £4 - it's worth looking.

Overall I think Pink Bits is brilliant for my needs - it smells fab and gives reliable, long lasting protection from the sun. I'm knocking a star off because it IS a chore to apply, but this is a trade-off I'm happy to make in return for not burning!

Summary: Sun cream of choice for my pale skin