AN aftersun lotion that allegedly “burns like acid” and left children in floods of tears has been pulled from shelves in Boots.
The high street retailer said it had taken customer complaints seriously and immediately withdrawn its Soltan Soothe & Cool Crackling Aftersun Mousse from sale.
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The product, which “crackles on application”, is advertised as “instantly cooling and refreshing” while “delivering deep hydration and gentle nourishment, making your skin feel soft, soothed and revived”.
But it has received 65 one-star reviews online saying that it does the total opposite, with many warning others to steer clear.
The most recent says: “Do not buy this. It burns.
“I applied it to both my children thinking it would be lovely and cool and as soon as I put it on it didn’t crackle, it sizzled.
“They were both screaming that it was burning so I had to quickly wash it off.”
Another person wrote: “I bought this recently, used it today, and it was nice and cool and refreshing upon application.
“But after around 30 seconds it began to burn. Within 60 seconds I was in agony and had to use cold flannels to remove it and soothe the skin it had irritated.”
And a third said: “Omg, it’s like your skin is on fire. I thought my boyfriend was exaggerating, until I applied it to myself.”
Others described the burning as “excruciating” and “like pouring acid on your skin”, adding that their kids were also left “screaming in pain”.
It also feels like “putting TCP in an open wound” and “spraying chilli on the cheeks”, according to separate reviews.
Many bought the product alone, but some received it as part of a Love Island beauty box.
Boots has now removed the mousse, which costs £5 and comes in 150ml bottles, from sale online and in stores.
A spokesperson said: “We continually listen to our customers and take their feedback very seriously.
“For this reason, we have decided to withdraw the Soltan Soothe & Cool Crackling Aftersun Mousse from sale.
“Whilst we have the utmost confidence in the rigorous safety assessments that have been conducted on the product, we are concerned by some of the feedback we have received.
2We’d like to thank customers for taking the time to share their views with us and we are sorry to those people who have been disappointed.”
How to care for sunburn safely
WE should all avoid getting burnt in the sun as it can cause skin cancer.
But if you do get burnt this summer, it’s important to take care of your skin safely.
Your skin will likely feel hot to the touch, be sore and painful, and flake or peel after a few days. If your burn is severe, your skin may also blister.
According to the NHS, the best ways to ease sunburn yourself are to:
- Get out of the sun as soon as possible
- Cool your skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel (take care not to let a baby or young child get too cold)
- Apply aftersun cream or spray
- Drink plenty of water to cool down and prevent dehydration
- Take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain
- Cover sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until skin has fully healed
You should also avoid using petroleum jelly, putting ice or ice packs directly on sunburnt skin, popping blisters, scratching or trying to remove peeling skin and tight-fitting clothing.
Most of the time, sunburn can be treated at home. But you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if you’ve been out in the sun and:
- Your skin is blistered or swollen
- Your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
- You feel very tired, dizzy and sick
- You have a headache and muscle cramps
- Your baby or young child has sunburn
Severe sunburn can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be very serious and in some cases fatal.
Source: NHS
