Some of the UK’s most popular sunscreens have failed safety tests – but cheaper alternatives from Aldi and Lidl have passed with flying colors.
Which? examined the SPF and UVA protection offered by products on supermarket shelves and warned that three in particular fell short:
• Asda Protect Moisturizing Sun Lotion SPF 30 High
• Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF 30
• Bondi Sands Fragrance-Free Facial Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+
The consumer watchdog tested face-specific sunscreens for the first time this year, and Asda’s lotion failed both rounds of testing.
Calypso’s sunscreen – which costs £8 for 200ml – “barely made it”, offering two-thirds of the protection it claims to offer in the bottle.
And the Bondi Sands product, at £7.99 for 75ml, “didn’t come close” to its claimed SPF, with research suggesting it also lacked the minimum UVA protection required.
On the other hand, Lidl’s Cien Sun Spray SPF 30 – which costs £3.29 for 200ml – “triumphed” in both tests and did a “great overall job” of protecting the skin.
Aldi’s Lacura SPF 30 Sun Lotion, priced at just £2.49 for 200ml, has also been approved.
Lidl and Aldi sunscreens fared much better. Photo: Which one?
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Which? head of home products Natalie Hitchins said it was “incredibly worrying that some big brands failed our tests” – but it was encouraging to see affordable options on the high street.
“Our results prove that there is no need to spend a lot to keep you and your loved ones safe from the sun this summer and that many of the supermarkets’ own brand products can do a good job,” she added.
Asda said it does not recognize these results – and recent tests carried out by an external supplier confirmed its product had a sun protection factor of 31.5.
“When Which? reviewed this same product in 2022, they considered it ‘great value’ at the time and it passed the SPF test,” a spokesperson added.
Calypso Sun said: “All products are carefully and independently tested and have passed EU standards and regulations.”
Bondi Sands did not respond to Which? request for comment.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
