If you are jetting off to a sunny destination on your holiday the chances are you will be buying sun cream to protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Until now the general consensus has been the more you pay for a sun cream and the more established the brand is the better quality you are going to get. However, according to a recent study by Which? Consumer group this is complete nonsense.
The survey tested 15 sun creams all with an SPF of 30. However, some of the most expensive creams such as Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch (£11.30 per 100ml) failed the SPF test whilst the cheapest lotion- Calypso Sun Lotion priced at £1.20 per 100ml passed the test with flying colours. So what does all this mean?
This survey means bad news for manufacturers like Piz Buin who claim to offer superior protection for a start. Consumers have now wised up to the fact that they can buy good quality, own brand sun cream from high street supermarkets like Aldi, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s which all passed the tests and provide better protection than more expensive competitors. Some of the well-known sun cream brands such as Garnier Ambre Solaire and Nivea also passed but their prices are generally dearer than supermarket brands so this could see them having to drive their prices down to compete too.
Of course choosing your sun cream is not just all about the SPF protection. Some creams suit certain skin types better or fare better in the water. The luxury brands such as Clarins, Lancome and Estee Lauder will also still attract those with more money or a greater concern in the anti-aging properties these creams claim to have! Parents of young children may prefer the one-time application of brands like P20 so that they don’t have to keep rubbing cream in as well.
Generally this study is good news for holidaymakers. It’s now possible to get quality sun creams at low prices and that can only be a good thing. Whatever brand you go for make sure you reapply regularly and always put more cream on after you have been in the water. Cases of skin cancer in UK residents are now 4 times higher than they were in the 70s and this is largely thought to be a result of people taking holidays in Europe and not applying sun protection. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Always use an SPF of 15 or above, whatever you skin type.
Find out more about the Which? SPF Tests.
One Last Thing…
The First Drinkable SPF
The face of sun cream could be changing even more significantly with the launch of the world’s first drinkable SPF.
Harmonised H2O claims to provide an SPF of 30 simply by drinking 2ml of the liquid every 4 hours. So soon we could all be gulping down our sun protection rather than rubbing it in!
