Branded sun creams that cost TWICE as much as cheaper supermarket lotions FAIL to meet NHS guidelines
- Adults should use a sun cream that offers a SPF of 15 and UVA star rating of 4
- Experts say that SPF and UVA star ratings are ‘more important than the price’
- But a probe has found some branded lotions don’t offer good enough protection
Branded sun creams are failing to stick to NHS guidelines on protection – despite costing up to twice as much as cheaper lotions.
Health officials recommend adults use a sun cream that offers a minimum SPF of 15 and UVA star rating of four.
But when investigators from a TV show probed several products in different shops, they discovered expensive brands don’t always fare best.
Ambre Solaire Factor 50 for Kids and Nivea Factor 15 both have an UVA rating lower than four – but cost more than own-brand versions.
In Asda, shoppers have to fork out £4 to get their hands on a 200ml bottle of Nivea Factor 15 (left) with a three-star UVA rating. But they can get hold of the supermarket’s own-brand lotion (right) at £2.39, which is the same size and SPF but a five-star UVA
Lisa Bickerstaffe, a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, claimed that SPF and UVA star ratings are ‘more important than the price’.
She told MailOnline: ‘When choosing a sunscreen it’s important to look for a high protection SPF 30 or more to protect against UVB.’
Miss Bickerstaffe also stressed the importance of looking for the UVA circle logo to check the lotion has four or five stars.
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The probe for Channel 5 consumer programme Shop Smart Save Money delved into the different sun creams sold at three shops.
However, it did not take into account other important aspects such as absorption, scent, moisturising.
In Asda, shoppers have to fork out £4 to get their hands on a 200ml bottle of Nivea Factor 15 with a three-star UVA rating.
The problem also exists in Morrisons, where Ambre Solaire Factor 50 for Kids (left), which has a three-star rating, costs £6 for a 200ml bottle. In contrast, shoppers can pick up an own-brand bottle of lotion (right) for their children for £3, which comes with a five-star UVA
Boots stocks a 200ml bottle of Nivea Factor 50 (left) with a four-star rating for £5, but sells the same size and SPF of its own brand Soltan (right), but five-star rating, for £4
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A SUN CREAM?
Most people tend to choose their lotion based solely on its SPF. But experts stress it is important to care about the star rating on the back of bottles just as much.
Available on a scale of two to 50+, SPF measurement only shows its strength against curbing the damage of UVB – the main driver of sunburn.
Choosing the correct SPF level depends on the person and their melanin levels, as some need more protection than others.
The rule of thumb is generally the lighter the skin, the greater the SPF level needed, and darker skin calls for a lesser level.
But sun cream is designed to protect humans from both forms of UV rays, A and B, that the sun emits.
Protecting against the former, UVA, is instead displayed on the back of the bottle through a star rating of between one and five.
These rays are widely believed to contribute directly to cases of skin cancer, as they penetrate the skin much deeper.
For nearly half the price, they can get hold of the supermarket’s own-brand lotion at £2.39, which is the same size and SPF but a five-star UVA.
The problem also exists in Morrisons, where Ambre Solaire Factor 50 for Kids, which has a three-star rating, costs £6 for a 200ml bottle.
In contrast, shoppers can pick up an own-brand bottle of lotion for their children for £3, which comes with a five-star UVA.
Boots stocks a 200ml bottle of Nivea Factor 50 with a four-star rating for £5, but sells the same size and SPF of its own brand, but five-star rating, for £4.
Most people tend to choose their lotion based solely on its SPF. But experts stress it is important to care about the star rating on the back of bottles just as much.
Available on a scale of two to 50+, SPF measurement only shows its strength against curbing the damage of UVB – the main driver of sunburn.
Choosing the correct SPF level depends on the person and their melanin levels, as some need more protection than others.
The rule of thumb is generally the lighter the skin, the greater the SPF level needed, and darker skin calls for a lesser level.
But sun cream is designed to protect humans from both forms of UV rays, A and B, that the sun emits.
Protecting against the former, UVA, is instead displayed on the back of the bottle through a star rating of between one and five.
These rays are widely believed to contribute directly to cases of skin cancer, as they penetrate the skin much deeper.
The probe, hosted by Fiona Phillips and Gaby Roslin, will be shown on Shop Smart Save Money on Channel 5 tonight at 8pm.
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