We tried Aldi’s sunscreen range to see if £3 SPF can deliver

Looking very similar to a spenny sunscreen brand, this Lacura sunscreen is one of our favourite finds. Not only does it have a sweet tropical scent that we just loved, the lightweight lotion absorbs instantly into the skin, leaving no white cast or greasy residue. Featuring SPF 30 with a five-star UVA rating, it’s sure to shield you from the sun’s rays, and is slightly sweat- and water-resistant too. Glycerin, edelweiss extract and sunflower-seed oil are also included to add a hit of hydration, which made our skin feel softer throughout the day. What more could we ask for?

For those after greater sun protection, this is definitely a sun cream worth trying. The first note we have to make is that it’s incredibly thick, but we got around this by rubbing it between our palms first, to warm it up before applying it to the body. Despite being very white, it absorbs in less than a minute with no chalky residue or sticky feel. Although this was a great option when lying around on the beach or in the garden, for on-the-go application, we probably wouldn’t reach for this one first. Why? Mainly because the squirty style bottle isn’t the most secure when rolling around at the bottom of your bag – we learnt that the hard way. But it ensured we didn’t burn, so we can’t fault it.

If applying sunscreen is one of your bugbears once the warm weather rolls around, an aerosol may be your best bet. Incredibly easy to apply, this fine mist lightly covers the body with a shield of sun protection. It’s not sticky, greasy or even drying on the skin and leaves no white marks on clothes either, so what more could we ask for? As a high factor 50 with a five-star UVA rating, it’s sure to see you through the warmer months. Just be sure to apply it thoroughly, especially when it’s windy, as it’s very easy to miss areas with this mist – trust us.

Clear sunscreens are a go-to for sun protection without the risk of chalky residue or white cast, for nothing is more annoying than a lotion that looks like it will never soak into your skin. Luckily, this handy spray bottle is here to help. The nozzle disperses the mist so finely, it requires little rubbing in, and the scent was more woody than the usual sunscreen smell, which is a definite bonus. It isn’t sticky, but it is slightly greasy (although this is minimal compared with some other sunscreens we’ve tried), so just be sure to leave it a minute to soak in properly. Our one sore point is that, although it’s invisible on the skin, it did mark white swimwear with an orangey tinge (darker colours were fine), so be sure to dress wisely when wearing it.

Similar to clear sun spray, yet a little more kid-friendly, with a light green colouring, this SPF is sure to see your little ones shielded from the sun. Slightly tinted, it’s easier to see where this lotion has been applied (although you have to move fast, as it absorbs rather quickly) than the clear version. The handy spray bottle makes application a little bit easier and an SPF of 50+ along with five-star UVA rating ensures solid sun protection for sensitive skin. Glycerin sits as one of the main ingredients, boosting moisture levels too. Just remember to re-apply regularly throughout the day and get kids to sit in the shade as much as possible.

Luckily, we didn’t have too much need for this, thanks to every sunscreen included here having protected us really well from the sun (when regularly reapplied). But, using it on some slightly pink areas that we missed – such as around the edges of a bikini – it does seem to do everything it says on the tin. The cream is very lightweight, meaning minimal rubbing is needed on any sore patches, and it does feel instantly cooling and hydrating too. It claims to moisturise for 24 hours, but we wouldn’t be confident enough in it to abandon our usual moisturiser, although we were impressed by the feel of our skin after using this product.