Sun lotions ‘do not present claimed safety’

If you’re making the most of the warmer weather, be careful which sun cream you slap on.

Three popular products have failed an annual safety test by consumer group Which?.

Products from Asda, Calypso and Bondi Sands all failed the watchdog’s tests to assess their SPF (sun protection factor) and UVA protection.

The Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion, costing £8 for 200ml, ‘barely mustered’ two-thirds of its claimed SPF 30 in both tests.

Asda’s Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High (£2.80 for 200ml) failed both rounds of testing. 

Products from Asda , Calypso and Bondi Sands all failed the watchdog’s tests to assess their SPF (sun protection factor) and UVA protection

And the Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Face Sunscreen Lotion (£7.99 for 75ml) ‘did not come close’ to the claimed SPF or minimum required UVA protection.

However, Lidl’s Cien Sun Spray SPF 30, costing £3.29 for 200ml, ‘triumphed’ in the testing and did an ‘all-round excellent job’. Aldi’s Lacura SPF 30 Sun Lotion (£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.

Natalie Hitchins, of Which?, said: ‘It is incredibly concerning that some big brands failed our tests and did not offer the level of sun protection claimed. However, it is great to see cheaper top quality sunscreen options available.’

Calypso said that its product passed EU standards and regulations in independent testing.

An Asda spokesman commented: ‘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 results confirmed this product has a sun protection factor of 31.5, and therefore we do not recognise the test results Which? has published.’

Bondi Sands did not respond to a request for comment.