According to consumer organization Which? three popular sunscreen lotions offer less protection than they claim.
In samples of 26 sunscreens – including some cheaper variants from supermarkets Aldi and Lidl – lotions from Calypso Sun, Bondi Sands and Asda failed all tests.
Asda withdrew the validity of the Which? tests, saying that independent tests of the same batch had confirmed that the lotion provided the level of protection stated on the label.
Calypso Sun said all products have been carefully tested and meet European Union standards.
Which? says these products have failed some checks:
- Calypso Sun Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30
- Asda Protect Moisturizing Sun Lotion SPF 30 High
- Bondi Sands SPF 50+ sunscreen for face
Lotions that passed the tests include:
- Lidl Cien Sun Spray SPF 30
- Aldi Lacura SP 30 Sunscreen
- Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lotion SP 30
- Boots Soltan Protect & Moisture Spray SPF30
- Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Water-resistant sunscreen spray SPF50
Natalie Hitchins, at Which?, said: “It is incredibly worrying that some major brands have failed our tests and do not provide the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging.
“However, it is great to see cheaper, top quality sunscreens available on the high street and in supermarkets, at a time when 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 supermarket own-brand products can do the job well.”
Which? tested how much energy it took to redden the backs of volunteers exposed to the radiation of ultraviolet (UV) lamps, with and without sunscreen, and applied the lotions to glass plates to measure the amount of light they filtered.
It conducted some tests in 2023 and some in 2024.
An Asda spokesperson told BBC News: “We recently had our Asda Protect Moisturizing Sun Lotion SPF 30 High retested by a leading third party supplier using internationally recognized testing methods.
“These test results confirmed that this product has a sun protection factor of 31.5 – and therefore we do not recognize the test results published by Which?.
“When which one? reviewed the same product in 2022, they gave it ‘great value’ at the time and it passed their SPF test.
“The product formulation has not changed since then, so we question the validity of their test.”
A spokesperson for Calypso Sun told BBC News: “We want Which? thank you for sharing their 2024 research results, but all our products have been carefully and independently tested and passed, in accordance with EU standards and regulations.
“Calypso Sun will continue its proud commitment to providing safe sun protection products for the entire family, a promise we have consistently kept for decades.”
BBC News has attempted to contact Bondi Sands.
Director of the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association Dr. Emma Meredith said: “An incredible amount of research goes into developing and testing sunscreens to make sure we can trust the protection they provide.
“Companies use supporting data and scientists with expert sun protection knowledge to verify their results and may only sell the product if the entire suite of development test data and final sun protection test results match.”
Dorothy Bennet said UV light allows people to produce essential vitamin D, but also increases the risk of skin cancer. So controlling exposure was crucial.
“It is important that we can trust that sunscreens provide the protection they claim,” she said.
“We may realize that the protection is lower due to sunscreen, but then it is too late.
“It is good that so many sunscreens passed the tests, but worrying that several creams did not provide the protection advertised.”
Suitable clothing
Prof Bennet said there could be a number of reasons for the different results from Which? and some of the companies involved, including how thickly the sunscreen was applied, on what part of the body and the exact waveband of UVB or UVA light.
- Don’t rely solely on sunscreen: wear appropriate clothing and spend time in the shade when the sun is at its hottest
- When purchasing sunscreen, the label should state at least SPF 30 for UVB protection, and four-star UVA protection. The letters “UVA” in a circle indicate that it complies with the EU standard
- Make sure sunscreen is not past its expiration date
- Do not spend longer in the sun without sunscreen