During my holidays I spend many hours under the sun and especially during the first days, my skin needs high level of protection from the harmful UV rays. I am usually trying different brands of sunscreens to find what's best for my skin type and because I have a light form of photoallergy, I need to be extra careful when I am exposed to the direct sunlight. Also, I am spending my summer in Greece every year and the sun has high intensity during that time of the year.

This year I bought the Golden Protect Shimmering Lotion from Garnier with SPF 20 for my first days at the beach. Garnier Golden Protect Shimmering Protection Lotion SPF20 is part of the Garnier Ambre Solaire product line and it comes in 3 protection levels:

SPF 10 - low protection for tanned dark skin
SPF 20 - offers medium protection and it is suitable for fair skin that tans easily
SPF 30 - high protection for tanned fair skin

I have fair skin and it tans easily after a few days so I selected the SPF 20 for my body.


~~ The product ~~

Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect Shimmering Protection Lotion Medium SPF20 is a protection lotion enriched with nourishing Moinoi Oil and a pearl shimmer that makes the skin look golden with a tanned tone. It contains anti-ageing ingredients and two very effective ingredients in sun protection: Mexoryl SX and titanium dioxide. After a quick research on sunscreens, I found out that according to the 2012 sunscreen safety guide of the Environmental Working Group, we should look for active ingredients like zinc oxide, Mexoryl SX, titanium dioxide and avobenzone when we are buying a sunscreen.


~~ Consistency ~~

The consistency of the lotion is creamy and light. The colour is beige and the shimmering pearls are very well blended, almost not visible in the lotion (until you apply it on the skin). It's non-sticky and easily absorbed. I have used a lot of sunscreens and I prefer lotions comparing to the sprays.

Unfortunately, some lotions are very thick and they leave white marks on application. This one doesn't leave any marks and the UV filters that it contains work underwater too, because of the water-resistant formulation.


~~ Packaging and Price ~~

The sunscreen lotion comes in a traditional 200 ml bottle in dark beige/golden colour with orange and shiny gold details. The brand logo is placed on the front with the basic details of the sunscreen like the SPF and a brief list of the basic sun protection details. The ingredients are printed on the back side of the tube with some general advice on how to use the lotion to achieve the best possible protection.

The tube is wide and thin, with the lid at the top. It's comfortable to hold and you must lift the lid and squeeze the plastic bottle for the lotion to come off. The flip top lid has a safety hinge to prevent the lotion leaking in the beach bag. Unlike most sun lotion packaging, the bottle of the sunscreen is non-transparent which makes it impossible to see how much product is left inside. Also, the downside of this bottle type is that you have to shake it and keep it upside-down for a while if it doesn't have a lot of product inside.

Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect Shimmering Protection Lotion (Medium SPF20) is currently on offer and it costs £7.49 at Boots and £6.60 at Tesco.


~~ My opinion ~~

I am really pleased with this sun lotion. Even though it looks like a traditional sun protection product from Garnier, it has some special ingredients that have made it one of my favourite sunscreens for this year. First of all, my skin glows naturally from the shimmer and it looks radiant and beautiful. After application I feel hydrated and fresh with a silky sensation. Each application lasts for long enough, although it is recommended to re-apply every 2 hours. The scent is also very pleasant and it smells like summer holidays.


~~ Tanning Results ~~

SPF20 gives me sufficient protection from the sun exposure and it doesn't trigger my photoallergy reactions. I used it for 6 days on the beach and my tanning was visible without any sunburn, except from some spots that I missed like my ears and my lower back.


~~ Disadvantages ~~

- After a few applications on the same day, I noticed that the lotion had left stains on my black bikini. I probably applied the lotion quickly and it touched the fabric but I wouldn't like to see my bikini damaged so I went to the bathroom and cleaned it locally with soap and water. Fortunately I didn't see any permanent stains later.

- It only lasted for my first 6 days at the beach. I usually re-apply many times during the day and my friends used it too because of the shimmery look, therefore I can't calculate exactly for how many applications it lasted. I am guessing around 12.

Here are some facts that I found online about the ingredients of this sun lotion:
The lotion has advanced UVA and UVB protection with photostability and protects against sun-induced skin damage and the premature ageing effects of the sun. The ingredient Monoi Oil that has been used in the sunscreen is from Tahiti. It originates from the fusion of Tiare Flower and Coprah Oil and is widely recognised to nourish the skin and leave a satin touch.


~~ Conclusion ~~

I am very satisfied with the level of protection and the active ingredients that it contains based on the EWG safety guide, and of course the reduced price of this sunscreen is an extra advantage. Overall, I would recommend this lotion to women that want to be protected from the sun and look beautiful on the beach. Just remember to avoid contact with your swimsuit because it might leave stains.