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Top sunscreens fail

protection tests, Which?
says

GETTY IMAGES

Smitha Mundasad
Health reporter
@smithamundasad

6 hours ago

Three popular sunscreen lotions offer less

protection than they claim, according to consumer
organisation Which?

In spot checks on 26 sunscreens - including some

cheaper options from supermarkets Aldi and Lidl -
lotions from Calypso Sun, Bondi Sands and Asda
failed to pass all the tests.

Asda questioned the validity of the Which? tests,

saying independent tests of the same batch had
confirmed the lotion provided the level of protection
on the label.

Calypso Sun said all products were carefully tested

and passed European Union standards.

Which? says these products failed some of its checks:

Calypso Sun Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30

Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High

Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Face Sunscreen Lotion

Lotions that passed the tests included:

Lidl Cien Sun Spray SPF 30

Aldi Lacura SP 30 Sun Lotion

Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lotion SP 30

Boots Soltan Protect & Moisture spray SPF30

Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Water Resistant Sun

Cream Spray SPF50

Natalie Hitchins, at Which?, said: “It is incredibly

concerning that some big brands failed our tests and
did not offer the level of sun protection claimed on
the packaging.

“However, it is great to see cheaper top-quality

sunscreen options available on the High Street and in
supermarkets at a time where shoppers need
affordable options.

"Our results prove that there’s no need to splash out

to keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun this
summer and that many of the supermarket own-
brand products can do a good job.”

How does sunscreen work?

8 June 2023

Which? tested how much energy it took to redden the

backs of volunteers exposed to rays from ultraviolet
(UV) lamps, with and without sunscreen, and applied
the lotions to glass plates to measure the amount of
light they filtered.

It carried out some tests in 2023 and some in 2024.

An Asda spokesperson told BBC News: “We recently

had ourAsda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30
High retested by a leading external provider using
internationally recognised testing methods.

"These test results confirmed that this product has a

sun-protection factor of 31.5 - and therefore, we do
not recognise the test results Which? has published.

“When Which? reviewed this same product in 2022,

they awarded it 'great value' at that time and it
passed their SPF test.

"The product formulation has not changed since

then, so we would question the validity of their test.”

A spokesperson from Calypso Sun told BBC News:

"We would like to thank Which? for sharing their
2024 study results - however, all our products are
carefully and independently tested and have passed,
in accordance with EU standards and regulations.

"Calypso Sun will continue its proud commitment in

providing safe-sun protection products for all the
family, a promise we have consistently kept over
several decades."

Are you applying sun

cream properly?
3 August 2018

BBC News has tried to contact Bondi Sands.

Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association director

Dr Emma Meredith said: “An incredible amount of
research goes into developing and testing sunscreens
to make sure we can trust the protection that they
offer.

"Companies use supportive data and scientists with

expert sun-care knowledge to check their results and
should only sell the product when the whole package
of development test data and the final sun-
protection test results match.”

Prof Dorothy Bennet said UV light enabled people to

produce essential vitamin D but also increased the
risk of skin cancer - so controlling exposure was key.

"It is important that we can depend on suncreams to

provide the protection they claim," she said.

"We may be able to realise if protection is lower by

getting sunburn - but then it’s too late.

"It is good that so many suncreams passed Which’s

testing but disturbing that several creams failed to
protect as advertised."

Suitable clothing
Prof Bennet said there could be a number of reasons
for the differing results stated by Which? and some of
the companies involved, including how thickly the
sunscreen was applied, on which part of the body and
the exact waveband of UVB or UVA light used.

According to NHS advice:

Do not rely on sunscreen alone - wear suitable

clothing and spend time in the shade when the
sun is at its hottest

When buying sunscreen, the label should show, at

least, an SPF of 30, to protect against UVB, and
four-star UVA protection - the letters "UVA" in a
circle indicates it meets the EU standard

Make sure sunscreen is not past its expiry date

Do not spend any longer in the sun than you

would without sunscreen

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