Which? Rates Popular Sun Creams 'Don't Buys' After Failing SPF Tests

If you’re in the market for a new sun cream, listen up.

Consumer research company Which? has branded three popular sun creams ‘Don’t Buys’ after they FAILED their stringent sun protection tests.

Using strict British Standard tests, they looked at 15 different sun creams from major brands and retailers with an SPF of 30.

Which? measured their SPF and UVA ultraviolet rays protection – with three sun creams not living up to their claims and failing the tests.

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion, £13.99 and Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid, £16.99, both tested lower than an SPF 25 level despite claiming to be SPF 30.

They failed the SPF performance test not once but TWICE and were both given ‘Don’t Buy’ Rating.

Worse still, Malibu Protective Lotion, £5.99, failed BOTH the SPF performance test and the UVA performance test.

According to EU recommendations, sun creams should offer a UVA protection factor that’s a third of their SPF value.

But the Malibu lotion recorded a result below 10 – less than a third of its SPF value, so steer way clear of that one!

However the good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to protect yourself from the sun.

ALDI Lacura Suncare Moisturising Sun Lotion, £2.79, CALYPSO Sun Lotion, £2.99 and ASDA Protect Sun Lotion, £3.50 are just some of the sun creams to pass both British Standard tests and are priced less than a fiver.

Alongside the two tests, points were awarded for application (how the sun creams felt, looked and smelled) and seven of them were awarded Best Buy status for scoring highly in these areas.

“With thousands of cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year, it’s vital you can trust a sun cream to provide the protection it claims,” said Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd

We’ve found three products that failed the strict British Standard tests and we want to see manufacturers doing much more to make sure their sun creams live up to the claims on the packaging.”

Which? Sun Creams You Can Trust (SPF 30) From Price Low-High:

Aldi Lacura Suncare Moisturising Sun Lotion, £2.79
Calypso Sun Lotion, £2.99
Asda Protect Sun Lotion, £3.50
Morrisons Protect & Nourish Sun Lotion, £3.50
Sainsbury’s Sun Protect Lotion, £4.00
Superdrug Solait Moisturising Sun Lotion,  £7.99
M&S Formula Sun Care Lotion, £9.50
Nivea Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion, £10.49
Boots Soltan Dry Touch Suncare Lotion, £11.00
Avon Sun Clear Spray, £16.00
Garnier Ambre Solaire Dry Mist, £15.99
Garnier Ambre Solaire Moisturising Milk, £15.99

Which? Sun Creams Given Don’t Buy Rating (SPF 30) From Price Low-High:

Malibu Protective Lotion, £5.99
Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion, £13.99
Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid, £16.99

Find out more about the results on Which? and on tanning safety at the British Association of Dermatologists.

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