Big brands fail sun safety tests as cheaper supermarket versions earn Which? endorsement
Big name brands have failed Which?’s sunscreen safety tests and been beaten by a discounter supermarket version costing less than a third of the price.
Which? tested 26 popular sun creams*. Out of these products, three failed the consumer champion’s sun protection tests and were labelled a ‘Don’t Buy’ by Which?.
These tests assessed how much SPF and UVA protection is given. Which? tested for SPF and UVA protection using internationally-recognised standard tests.**
One brand that failed Which?’s tests was Calypso’s Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30 (£8/200ml). The product failed to provide the sun protection it should in the tests and barely mustered two thirds of its claimed SPF30 in both tests.
Another fail was Asda’s Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High (£2.80/200ml), which failed to deliver the claimed SPF30 twice in Which?’s testing. The product failed both rounds of Which?’s testing- with both tests showing a clear fail.
For the first time this year, Which? has tested face-specific sunscreens. One of them, Bondi Sands SPF50+ Face Sunscreen (£7.99/75ml) failed the consumer champion’s SPF tests twice. It did not come close to the claimed SPF and didn’t reach the minimum required UVA protection.
One brand that triumphed in the consumer champion’s SPF and UVA test was Lidl’s Cien Sun Spray SPF30 (£3.29/200ml), which earned a Which? Great Value endorsement. This affordable SPF30 spray did an all-round excellent job of protecting skin from the sun and provided all the SPF30 protection and UVA sun defence claimed.
Another great value product that provided all of the sun protection needed was Aldi’s Lacura SPF30 Sun Lotion (£2.49/200ml). The discounters bargain-price option passed the consumer champion’s SPF and UVA tests, providing the claimed level of protection and also earned a Great Value award.
For those looking for effective sun protection for their children, Lidl’s Cien Kids Sensitive Sunscreen Spray 50+ (£3.29/200ML) also received a Great Value award, proving to have every bit of the high SPF and UVA protection claimed.
Six products were named Best Buys by Which? this year. These passed crucial SPF and UVA tests, and were also rated well for ease of application and how well they were absorbed by the panel of testers.
Which? has launched a new 'Test Pass' endorsement. The Which? Test Pass shows when a sunscreen has provided the claimed levels of UVA and UVB protection in Which?'s internationally recognised tests. It's the consumer champion's seal of approval and provides consumers with the confidence they need to make buying decisions.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, 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.”
ENDS -
Notes to Editors
*Which? tested 26 sunscreens, 15 were tested in 2024, 11 in 2023.
How we test sunscreens
**To determine SPF protection, we use the international standard, BS EN ISO 24444:2019 Cosmetics - Sun protection test methods - in vivo determination of the sun protection factor, SPF. As part of this method sun cream is applied to the backs of volunteers and then a UV lamp is used to shine UV rays onto the skin until it turns red. SPF is determined based on the amount of energy (UVB) required to turn the skin red with and without sunscreen. To pass this test, sunscreen need to achieve their claimed SPF.
To test UVA protection, we use the standard BS EN ISO 24443:2021 Determination of sunscreen UVA photoprotection in vitro sunscreen. Sunscreen is applied to glass plates and we use a spectrophotometer to measure the amount of light that is filtered by the sunscreen. To pass our test, sunscreen needs to have at least a third of the claimed SPF, as per the EU recommendation for UVA protection.
Our testing is performed in an independent laboratory.
New Test Pass endorsement:
Which? has launched a new 'Test Pass' endorsement. The Which? Test Pass shows when a sunscreen has provided the claimed levels of UVA and UVB protection in Which?'s internationally recognised tests. It's the consumer champion's seal of approval and provides consumers with the confidence they need to make buying decisions.
The endorsement is distinct from the Which? Best Buy label which applies to products that perform excellently not just in terms of safety but in other areas too.
Great Value endorsement:
The Which? Great Value endorsement recognises those products which both stand up to the rigorous Which? testing standards and also offer excellent value for money.
Fails:
Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High, £2.80/200ml
Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30, £8/200ml
Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Sunscreen Lotion, £7.99/75ml
Passes (which are eligible for the new ‘Test Pass’ endorsement):
These products all passed key SPF and UVA tests in Which?'s 2024 sunscreen test
SPF30 passes
Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Spray SPF30, £4.50/200ml
Lidl Cien Sun Spray SPF30 High, £3.29/200ml
Aldi Lacura SPF30 Sun Lotion, £2.49/200ml
Asda Protect Refreshing Clear Sun Spray SPF30, £4/200ml
Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture SPF30 Lotion, £7.90/200ml
Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture SPF30 Spray, £7.90/200ml
Piz Buin in Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30, £6.50/200ml
Sainsbury's Sun Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30, £5.50/200ml
Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion, SPF30, £4.50/200ml
SPF50+ passes
Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Water Resistant Spray SPF50, £8/150ml
Lidl Cien Kids Sensitive Sunscreen Spray SPF50+, £3.29/200ml
Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care Coloured Spray SPF50+, £7/200ml
Aldi Lacura SPF50+ Kids Mini Lotion, £1.35/50ml
Asda Kids Sun Lotion Spray SPF50+, £4/200ml
Boots Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF50+, £4.50/200ml
Child's Farm 50+ SPF Sun Lotion Spray, £12/100ml
Child's Farm SPF50+ Kids Roll-on Sun Lotion, £10/50ml
Superdrug Kids SPF 50+ Roll-on Sun Lotion, £2.79/100ml
Ultrasun Kids SPF50+, £32/150ml
Face sunscreens - SPF50 and 50+ passes
Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Daily Invisible Face Serum SPF50+, £9.49/30ml
Boots Soltan Brightening Protect & Moisturise w/ Vitamin C SPF50, £6.50/50ml
Nivea Sun UV Face Anti-Age Q10 Cream SPF50, £10/50ml
Ultrasun Face SPF50+, £26/50ml
Right of replies
A spokesperson from Asda said: “We recently had our Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High re-tested 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.”
A spokesperson from Calypso Sun said: “All products are carefully and independently tested and have passed EU standards and regulations.”
Bondi Sands did not respond with a comment.
Useful links
11 common sunscreen mistakes to avoid
The full results for Which? members
About Which?
Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Our research gets to the heart of consumer issues, our advice is impartial, and our rigorous product tests lead to expert recommendations. We’re the independent consumer voice that influences politicians and lawmakers, investigates, holds businesses to account and makes change happen. As an organisation we’re not for profit and all for making consumers more powerful.
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