Four leading 'once-a-day' sunscreens do not live up to their claims, a new report warns
Four leading "once-a-day" sunscreens do not live up to their claims, a watchdog has warned.
Which? found that the protection of the following products decreased by an average of 74% after six to eight hours:
Soltan Once Invisible 8hr Sun Protection SPF30 (200ml)
Piz Buin 1 Day Long Lotion SPF30 (150ml)
Riemann P20 Once a Day Sun Protection SPF30 (200ml)
UltraSun Family SPF30 (100ml)
The consumer group said this meant that over the course of a day, a Sun Protection Factor 30 "once-a-day" sunscreen could drop to offer as little protection as SPF8.
Which? said it used British Standard testing on the four products as well as a second test in which the sunscreens were applied to the backs of volunteers who spent a day in a laboratory before the SPF was tested again after six to eight hours depending on each brand's claim.
Which? director of policy and campaigns Alex Neill said: "Our testing shows that these sunscreens just don't live up to their 'once-a-day' claims so people should re-apply sunscreens regularly to ensure they have protection from the sun.
"With more than 100,000 people diagnosed with skin cancer in the UK each year, some manufacturers need to do more to ensure their sunscreens live up to the claims on the packaging."
Which? also tested 11 widely available regular sunscreens to see if they offered the SPF30 they claimed. Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Lotion (180ml) failed twice after it was found to provide "significantly less" protection than it claimed.
The study found that even the cheapest sunscreens can provide good protection, with own-brand products from Asda, Lidl and Wilko all passing testing.
The cheapest sunscreen that passed the SPF test was the £2.79 Aldi Lacura Suncare Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 200ml.
Dr Chris Flower, director-general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association, questioned the methodology of the Which? report.
"Which? has set up its test for extended wear products very strangely - manufacturers test products in circumstances related to normal or expected use," he said.
How should you stay safe in the sun
While everyone knows that getting sunburnt is not good for you, we are a nation of sunseekers, with millions of us heading abroad in search of a tan this summer.
So what can you do to minimise the risks?
Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen will not stop you getting burnt. The best way to do this is to seek shade and cover up. However, if applied correctly, it can offer additional protection.
Make sure it is not past its expiry date.
Apply it liberally - an average adult should use 35ml or six to eight teaspoons for the body.
Reapply after swimming, even if your sunscreen says it is waterproof.
Ensure it gives at least four-star UVA protection - this will be noted on the bottle.
Use a minimum of SPF15 to protect against UVB.
Sunglasses
Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Ensure that they have wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and European Standard EN 1836:2005.