Three major sunscreen brands fail annual safety tests

Three popular sunscreen products have failed an annual safety test to measure their actual SPF and UVA protection.

Sun cream sold by Asda, Calypso and Bondi Sands were among the items considered to be below the required standards, according to Which? consumer group.

Tests carried out by the watchdog found that the products did not match the level of protection advertised on the bottle.

The products which failed the tests were:

• Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High
• Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30 
• Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Face Sunscreen Lotion

Asda’s lotion failed in both rounds of testing, Which? found, however Asda said it did not recognise the results.

Meanwhile, the consumer experts said Calypso’s product, which costs £8 for 200ml, ‘barely mustered’ two-thirds of its claimed SPF30 in both tests.

Calypso also denied its lotion was unsafe and said it passed EU standards and regulations in independent testing.

The Bondi Sands cream costing £7.99 ‘did not come close’ to the claimed SPF, nor did it reach the minimum required UVA protection, after Which? tested face-specific sunscreen for the first time this year.

‘Incredibly concerning’

‘It is incredibly concerning that some big brands failed our tests and did not offer the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging,’ said Natalie Hitchins, the head of Which? home products and services.

‘However, it is great to see cheaper top quality sunscreen options 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 of the supermarket own-brand products can do a good job.’

The budget sunscreen products which did pass the tests include items sold by Lidl and Aldi.

Lidl’s £3.29 Cien Sun Spray SPF30, ‘triumphed’ in the testing and did an ‘all-round excellent job’ of protecting skin.

Aldi’s Lacura SPF30 Sun Lotion, which costs just £2.49 for 200ml, also passed the SPF and UVA tests.

Lidl’s Cien Kids Sensitive Sunscreen Spray 50+ (£3.29 for 200ml) also proved to meet its SPF and UVA protection claims.

An Asda spokesman 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.’

Calypso Sun said: ‘All products are carefully and independently tested and have passed EU standards and regulations.’

Bondi Sands did not respond to a request for comment.

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