Asda was left red-faced by the Which? study - and says it doesn't recognise the test results
Some of the UK's most popular sunscreens have failed safety tests - but cheaper alternatives from Aldi and Lidl passed with flying colours.
Which? examined the SPF and UVA protection offered by products on supermarket shelves, and warned three in particular fell short:
• Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High
• Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF 30
• Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Face Sunscreen Lotion
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 mustered" offering two-thirds of the protection it claims to offer on the bottle.
And the Bondi Sands product, at £7.99 for 75ml, "did not come close" to the claimed SPF, with the research suggesting it also lacked the minimum UVA protection that's required.
By contrast, Lidl's Cien Sun Spray SPF 30 - which costs £3.29 for 200ml - "triumphed" in both tests and did an "all-round excellent job" protecting skin.
Aldi's Lacura SPF 30 Sun Lotion, priced at just £2.49 for 200ml, also passed.
Which? head of home products Natalie Hitchins said it is "incredibly concerning that some big brands failed our tests" - but it is encouraging to see affordable options on the high street.
"Our results prove 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," she added.
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 6:28 pm