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The branded sun creams labelled ‘don’t buy’ after failing safety tests

The branded sun creams labelled ‘don’t buy’ after failing safety tests
Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Posted:
26/06/2024
Updated:
26/06/2024

With the UK in the midst of a heatwave, sun cream is an essential part of keeping safe. But three products have failed a consumer champion’s protection tests.

Three sun creams have been slapped with ‘don’t buy’ warnings for failing to provide enough protection during Which? tests.

Its independent lab tests to British and international standards check how effectively sun creams will protect you from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, as well as application tests – that is, how easy and “pleasant” each cream is to apply.

The three below are those labelled as ‘don’t buy’:

Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High (£2.80/200ml)

Which? said this product passed its sun safety tests in 2022, but this time round, it failed to deliver the claimed SPF 30 in both initial and retests.

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However, Asda said it had the lotion re-tested by a leading external provider that confirmed a sun protection factor of 31.5, so it “does not recognise” the Which? test results. It added that it has not changed its formulation since 2022.

Bondi Sands SPF 50+ face sunscreen lotion (£7.99/75ml)

The consumer champion said this product failed its tests twice and “didn’t come close to the claimed SPF” and “didn’t reach the minimum required UVA protection”.

But Bondi Sands said the assessment “does not reflect our own testing, which is in line with strict UK cosmetic laws and EU regulations”. It added it is conducting its own internal testing to reconfirm its existing results.

Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF 30 (£8/200ml)

In Which? testing the pump-action sun cream “barely mustered two-thirds of its claimed SPF”, according to Which?. Again, Calypso disagreed with the Which? results and said “all products are carefully and independently tested and have passed EU standards and regulations”.

Sun cream protection pleasers

Which? said it uncovered some “great-value options” for those plumping for more affordable products that they can count on in the sunshine.

To be a ‘best buy’, sun creams need to score five stars for application overall and pass the SPF and UVA tests.

Here, it noted products from budget German retailers Aldi and Lidl with prices “notably cheaper than rivals”, costing less than £3.50 per 200ml bottle.

Here, Aldi’s Lacura SPF 30 sun lotion and Lidl’s SPF 30 Cien sun spray and its SPF 50+ Cien kids’ sun spray received glowing results, passing the sun protection and UVA tests.

It also rated Piz Buin in Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 (£6.50/200ml), while for kids, it gave a thumbs up to Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Water Resistant Sun Cream Spray SPF 50+ (£8/£150ml) and Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care Coloured Spray SPF 50+ (£7/200ml).

Related: Aldi pulls away from rivals as cheapest UK supermarket