‘Do not buy' warning to parents over 3 major suncream brands that won't properly protect children this summer

The Sun

23-06-2025

PARENTS have been warned against three major suncream brands ahead of the summer holidays.
These products were found to not offer significant protection to children in the hot weather.
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Which? carried out a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of popular suncream brands ahead of the peak summer season.
The independent lab exams tested sun creams that pass British Standard tests for UVA and UVB sun protection.
However, the tests uncovered three suncreams which failed either the UVA or UVB tests or both.
According to the outlet, this means they don't provide the protection they claim.
First on the list is the Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30, available for £3.75.
Which? claimed this suncream failed SPF tests, which verify if the product can provide the claimed levels of protection from UVB rays.
The outlet said it tested the suncream twice to confirm the result and it failed both times.
However, the product did pass the UVA test carried out independently by Which?.
"We work closely with our supplier and conduct extensive efficacy and safety testing during product development," said a Morrisons representative.
"As such all our sun care products are tested to the relevant industry test standards and are not approved for launch until they meet these standards.
"During development and production all tested variants consistently achieved an SPF of 30."
In direct response to the Which? report, the spokesperson told The Sun: "We have retested the SPF against the British and International Standard and can confirm the product has achieved an SPF value of 34.5 and can therefore be labelled as SPF 30."
The second suncream on the Which? no-go list is the Ultrasun Family SPF30, available for £22.40 from Boots.
The outlet said the product failed a UVA test by not meeting the minimum required level in a first and second test.
However, Which? reported that the suncream did pass SPF tests, but said it couldn't recommend it due to failing one of the required tests.
The importance of sun cream in your skincare routine
Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez - known as Dr Dray - revealed why you should wear suncream.
The one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference - and this matters for all ages - is protecting your skin from the sun, Andrea stressed.
"The vast majority of external aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation," she continued, not because you're "not using some jazzy serum or layering 90 different things on your face everyday".
"If you're not doing in your 20s, get on that now."
But she said the use of sun cream alone doesn't go far enough. Andrea urged that you also wear sun-protective clothing like broad-brimmed hats and long sleeves, on top of not staying out too long in the sun.
Doing this over your lifetime - and all year, not just during the summer or on sunny days - "will reduce the visible signs of photoageing", Andrea said.
Those are wrinkles, muddled pigmentation and sagging skin.
Ultrasun disputed the findings, telling the publication: "Ultrasun is fully confident in our testing protocols.
"As an independent brand delivering very high UVB and UVA protection options for over 30 years, our detailed testing processes continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards.
"Our chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available, and our UVB and UVA filters are tested both in-vitro and in-vivo.
"We conclusively support the results of our independent tests which found the Ultrasun Family SPF30 reached a UVB-SPF in vivo of 31.4 and a UVA-PF in vitro of 13.1, which equates to a 92% UVA absorbance."
Finally, Which? claimed the Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High, £2.66, also failed to deliver when tested.
According to the outlet, tests did not confrim the product's claimed SPF30 in both an initial test or a retest.
When contacted by The Sun, a spokesperson for Asda offered an update.
"We recently had our Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High re-tested by a leading external provider using internationally recognised testing methods," they said.
"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 also passed their SPF test.
"The product formulation has not changed since then, so we would question the validity of their test.'