Which? says popular sunscreens failed safety tests - including £28 brand
The consumer champion tested 15 sunscreens and found some of the cheapest were the 'most effective'
Which? said shoppers should avoid their 'don't buys'
A £28 family sunscreen has failed an annual Which? safety test while a £2.99 supermarket alternative passed with 'flying colours', the watchdog said. Ultrasun Family SPF30, which costs £28 for 150ml and is marketed as being 'perfect for the whole family' and 'especially suitable for children and those with sensitive skin', failed to meet minimum UVA protection levels in two separate tests by Which?.
But the manufacturers have questioned the results and say their brands have been providing protection for years.
Ultrasun passed the UVB SPF part of the test but failed on UVA testing, scoring 9.1 and then 9.5 in a retest. Which? required a score of 10 or more for a pass. Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 also failed to meet minimum SPF protection levels in two tests.
The product passed UVA tests but failed the UVB/SPF tests with scores of 25.7 and then 20.7 – short of the 30 or more needed to pass. UVA and UVB rays both cause different types of damage, and not all sun creams protect against them in the same way.
UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB to cause long-term damage, including all types of skin cancer, and play a role in the ageing process, such as causing wrinkles, sun spots and leathery skin. UVB rays are mostly responsible for sunburn and skin reddening. They do not penetrate as deeply as UVA rays but they are just as damaging, and can play a large part in the development of skin cancers including melanoma.
SPF stands for 'sun protection factor', and indicates the level of protection a sun cream provides against burning rays. SPFs range from 2 to 50+, with 50+ offering the most protection against UVB. Which? tested 15 popular sun creams this year, including Boots, Garnier and Nivea as well as supermarket own-brand products.
Article continues below
Aldi's Lacura Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+, which costs £2.99 for 200ml, was found to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Cien Sun Spray 30 SPF High (£3.79/200ml), from fellow discounter Lidl, also passed all SPF and UVA testing, with Which? describing it as a 'solid option for affordable and reliable sun protection'.
Some 11 other products, including Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Spray SPF30 (£5.50 for 200ml), Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lotion SPF30 (£7.90 for 200ml) and Sainsbury's Sun Protect Moisturising Lotion SPF30 (£5.50 for 200ml) passed SPF and UVA safety tests.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: 'It's really concerning that widely available sunscreens could be putting families at risk by failing to offer the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging. While shoppers should avoid buying our 'don't buys', our results prove that there's no need to splash out to keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun as we've found cheap reliable options at Aldi and Lidl.'
A spokeswoman for Ultrasun said: '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, independent and peer reviewed, continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards.
'Our chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available. Further detail and clarification from Which? on their testing protocols would also be helpful, particularly on how these resulted in two different results from the same sample.'
Morrisons told Which? that it was looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing.
Article continues below
A Morrisons spokeswoman added: 'We work closely with our supplier and conduct extensive efficacy and safety testing during product development. 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 this report from Which? we have retested the SPF against the British and International Standard BS EN ISO 24444:2020 and can confirm the product has achieved an SPF value of 34.5 and can therefore be labelled as SPF 30.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
7 hours ago
- North Wales Live
'Miracle' summer gadget that shoppers 'wouldn't leave home without' now less than £20
There is nothing worse than an itchy and aggravating insect bite in the middle of your summer fun. Now, there's a handy gadget that provides natural relief from itching and swelling and is a summer essential. The Beurer BR60 insect bite healer pen is now just £19.99 on Amazon, which is a 29% price drop down from £27.99. The quick-warming ceramic plate of the certified medical device accelerates the healing process following an insect bite or sting. The BR60 applies heat to the affected area, which provides relief from itching and swelling without the use of medicines or chemicals. It is suitable for children, adults, and can be used in pregnancy. The BR60 can be used up to 300 times with one pair of AAA batteries, and the device comes with batteries. Another option is the Beurer Insect Bite Healer with light for £34.99 from Boots. The BR60 from Beurer offers you a quick and effective alternative to conventional remedies such as medicines or creams containing chemicals. Using heat alone, the insect bite healer helps reduce itching and swelling and accelerates the healing process. For full effectiveness, the BR60 should be used immediately after a bite or sting occurs. Or Argos is selling the Heat It Smart Bite and Sting Relief usb c healer for £29.95. Shoppers have had their say on the BR60 product, one said: "This really is a miracle device for me!" Another said: "A definite 'must have' especially when abroad. Simple & easy to use & takes the itch out of stings/bites straight away 2 heat settings so fine to use on children too. Wouldn't leave home without mine." And: "Effective beyond belief. I've been struggling with mosquito bites for years and no cream ever helped, but this device stops itching instantly." One person said the machine didn't work for them, they said: "Does absolutely nothing for me." For an old school, non-gadget insect-bite remedy, Lloyds Pharmacy is selling the Eurax cream for £7.97.
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
'Miracle' summer gadget that shoppers 'wouldn't leave home without' now less than £20
'Miracle' summer gadget that shoppers 'wouldn't leave home without' now less than £20 This summer gadget is a must for This nifty summer gadget is a must have (Image: Amazon) There is nothing worse than an itchy and aggravating insect bite in the middle of your summer fun. Now, there's a handy gadget that provides natural relief from itching and swelling and is a summer essential. The Beurer BR60 insect bite healer pen is now just £19.99 on Amazon, which is a 29% price drop down from £27.99. The quick-warming ceramic plate of the certified medical device accelerates the healing process following an insect bite or sting. The BR60 applies heat to the affected area, which provides relief from itching and swelling without the use of medicines or chemicals. It is suitable for children, adults, and can be used in pregnancy. COOLING SUMMER BLANKET: Cooling summer blanket shoppers 'wish they'd bought more of' drops by £10 CUTE LEGO SET: 'So cute' Lego set with 15% off that won't break the bank this summer holiday The BR60 can be used up to 300 times with one pair of AAA batteries, and the device comes with batteries. Another option is the Beurer Insect Bite Healer with light for £34.99 from Boots. The BR60 from Beurer offers you a quick and effective alternative to conventional remedies such as medicines or creams containing chemicals. Using heat alone, the insect bite healer helps reduce itching and swelling and accelerates the healing process. For full effectiveness, the BR60 should be used immediately after a bite or sting occurs. Or Argos is selling the Heat It Smart Bite and Sting Relief usb c healer for £29.95. Shoppers have had their say on the BR60 product, one said: "This really is a miracle device for me!" Another said: "A definite 'must have' especially when abroad. Simple & easy to use & takes the itch out of stings/bites straight away 2 heat settings so fine to use on children too. Wouldn't leave home without mine." And: "Effective beyond belief. I've been struggling with mosquito bites for years and no cream ever helped, but this device stops itching instantly." One person said the machine didn't work for them, they said: "Does absolutely nothing for me." Article continues below For an old school, non-gadget insect-bite remedy, Lloyds Pharmacy is selling the Eurax cream for £7.97.
North Wales Live
8 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Anti-ageing saviour 'worth every penny' that creates a 'significant improvement' now 52% off
Enthusiasts of L'Oreal's Cell Renew Midnight Serum are celebrating as the anti-ageing skincare treatment has been slashed at Amazon, now available for more than half the original price. Priced at £15.39, reduced from £31.99, beating what shoppers will discover for the identical serum at Boots, where it's available for £26.25. The highly-rated serum is designed to leave skin appearing tighter, more youthful, brighter and firmer by dawn. Consumers should use several drops of the treatment each morning and evening, with the manufacturer claiming they'll awaken to more youthful-looking skin. Purchasers who have trialled the serum are validating these claims, with one individual observing it required just seven days of application before witnessing wrinkle-diminishing effects, reports the Express. Their assessment states: "I'm over 40 and felt my skin was looking lacklustre so needed a boost. This serum is lovely and I felt I could see results in just 7 days. The results keep coming as every week I feel more of a glow and even complexion. I do feel some of my finer wrinkles have really smoothed. The serum has a lovely smooth texture and isn't sticky or greasy. It dries in perfectly and feels so light on my face." Another said: "I love everything about this product. It's worth every penny. The texture, consistency, it absorbs beautifully and It's effective. I have seen a significant improvement of my my boyfriend noticed!" One customer discovered that L'Oreal's Midnight Serum bore a striking resemblance to a pricier alternative. They said: "really nice oil for your face your face feels really refreshed in morning when you put in on ar night sleep in it - a dupe for Estée Lauder night oil." The Estée Lauder counterpart is currently discounted at LookFantastic, available for £54.95, reduced from £65, and despite its higher price tag, users have noted its suitability for 'sensitive skin'. However, some customers have expressed frustration with the serum's packaging, which they feel leads to wastage. A user voiced their concern, saying: "My only qualm is the bottle. There is only 30mls of serum in the bottle, it is really annoying when you can't get the last few mls out. I end up turning the bottle upside down and bashing it to try and remove the serum. I would hate to pay full price and waste some of the product. As I said I love the product but wish L'Oréal would change the bottle." For those who favour a pump applicator over a pipette, the Paula's Choice Anti-ageing Antioxidant Serum comes highly recommended. Priced at £45, customers rave that it 'blends into your skin like a dream' and is a product they 'never let it run out'. Another shopper expressed their fondness for L'Oreal's product, stating: "The L'Oreal Paris Midnight Serum Cell Renew is a staple in my skincare routine - I buy it again and again! I absolutely love the light, silky texture that absorbs beautifully into the skin without feeling greasy. The subtle, luxurious scent makes the experience even more enjoyable. Over time, I've noticed my skin looking smoother, more radiant, and well-hydrated. It feels like a high-end product at a much more affordable price."
