This post contains affiliate links.
I wrote about Aldi sunscreen several years ago, but the product lineup has changed, so it’s time to revisit what kinds of sun protection products Aldi sells.
Until just a few years ago, Aldi used to sell a fairly large selection of sunscreen lotions and sprays, with three lotion options and three spray options. Aldi is a limited-inventory grocery store, so it may not have made the most sense for them to sell six different types of sunscreen.
Aldi has now whittled that selection down to just two products: one lotion and one spray. These sunscreens have new package designs and look like completely different products from the older sunscreen lineup. Here, I’m taking a closer look at these redesigned sunscreens.
Lacura Ultra Light Sunscreen in both the lotion and spray formulations is a Seasonal Item, which means Aldi stocks it for longer than an Aldi Find, but it’s not available at Aldi all year. This sunscreen is sold during the warmer months when people are more likely to be seeking sun protection. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products not currently in stock at your local store.
The sunscreen cost $2.49 for a 3-ounce lotion bottle or $2.49 for a 5-ounce spray bottle. That comes out to about 83 cents per ounce for the lotion sunscreen and about 50 cents per ounce for the spray sunscreen.
Looking at other sunscreen lotion prices, Walmart sells an Equate SPF 100 ultra light sunscreen lotion for $1.08 per ounce at the time of publication. I also found a 32-ounce value-sized bottle of Equate SPF 50 sport sunscreen lotion for 39 cents per ounce at Walmart at the time of publication. In terms of name brands a 7-ounce bottle of Coppertone sport SPF 70 cost about $1.35 per ounce at Walmart at the time of publication. So, the Aldi lotion sunscreen looks to be a good deal compared to name brands, but whether it’s a better deal than generic brands depends on exactly what type of generic you’re comparing it to.
If you’re looking at sunscreen sprays, an 11-ounce-total twin pack of Equate sport SPF 50 cost about 72 cents per ounce at Walmart at the time of publication. A twin pack totaling 12 ounces of Banana Boat sport SPF 50 cost about $1.08 per ounce at Walmart at the time of writing. So, the Aldi spray sunscreen looks to be the better deal when compared to other generics and name brands.
The lotion sunscreen claims to be dry-touch. In addition, both sunscreen varieties offer the following:
- Broad spectrum SPF 100
- UVA/UVA protection
- Dermatologist tested
- Water resistant (80 minutes)
- Lightweight feel
- Not tested on animals
While the inactive ingredients for these products differ because one is a spray and the other is a lotion, the active ingredients for both the lotion and the spray are identical, with the same proportions:
- Avobenzone: 3%
- Homosalate: 15%
- Octisalate: 5%
- Octocrylene: 10%
- Oxybenzone: 6%
These are all common sunscreen active ingredients that you’ll find in the more popular brands on the market in other stores.
Who Makes Aldi Sunscreen?
Lacura is not a company. Instead, it’s the private label Aldi uses for its house brand lineup of personal care products that includes shampoo and conditioner, body lotion, body wash, and more. Sometimes you can tell who makes an Aldi product, and sometimes only Aldi knows who the supplier is.
In the case of these sunscreens, both the lotion and the spray bottles have phone numbers on the back labels that customers can call to ask questions or leave comments. The phone numbers are different for the lotion and spray versions. These numbers give us a clue as to who makes these sunscreens.
Lacura Ultra Light Broad Spectrum SPF 100 Lotion Sunscreen ingredients, directions for use, and a contact phone number. (Click to enlarge.)
The phone number on the lotion bottle is 1-800-925-4733. This is the number for Walgreens customer service. I can’t say for certain, but I’m guessing the Aldi lotion sunscreen is a version of a Walgreens house brand sunscreen or is manufactured by the same supplier of Walgreens brand sunscreen.
Lacura Ultra Light Body Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 100 Spray Sunscreen ingredients, directions for use, and a contact phone number. (Click to enlarge.)
The phone number on the spray bottle is 1-800-527-7731. This is the number for Fruit of the Earth, a Texas-based company that produces skin care, health care, and sun care products. This is the same company that was behind all of the older Aldi sunscreen products I reviewed several years ago.
Using Aldi Sunscreen:
The labels state to apply either of these sunscreens liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, and/or at least every two hours. For children younger than 6 months of age, consult a doctor.
To apply the lotion sunscreen, simply rub a generous amount into all exposed skin.
For the spray sunscreen, hold the can 4-6 inches away from the skin. Do not spray directly into the face; instead, spray into hands and then apply to the face. Don’t apply the spray in windy conditions. Use in a well-ventilated area.
Both labels recommend limiting time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses. Use sunscreen regularly to decrease the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging.
My family regularly uses Aldi sunscreen. We primarily use the lotions because we’re more likely to use enough to actually protect our skin, and we don’t risk inhaling the spray or having it blow away in the breeze instead of landing on our skin. If we do use the spray because we’re in a hurry or it’s all we’ve got, we make sure to rub it in.
These new Aldi sunscreens work as well as the old ones, and they work like a lot of other popular and common brands out there. The only real downside is that these are sold in small containers. My family could easily go through most of one container during one day at the pool or beach. These sunscreens are fine, but I’d like them better if they came in larger sizes.
The Verdict:
Lacura Ultra Light Sunscreen comes in lotion or spray versions. It claims to offer SPF 100 protection from broad spectrum UVA/UVB rays. It also claims it’s water resistant up to 80 minutes, has a lightweight feel, and was not tested on animals.
In terms of price, you might be able to find some other generic brand sunscreen lotions that are cheaper if you buy larger bottles. However, the Aldi spray sunscreen looks to be cheaper than other spray sunscreen brands.
These work fine, and our only complaint is that the bottles are not that big, so if you use a lot of sunscreen, these won’t last long.
