Our sunscreen tests have revealed three sun creams to steer clear of this summer, and the affordable supermarket options to plump for instead.
We've tested SPF30 sun creams, SPF50 and 50+ kids sun lotions, and face sunscreen from brands including Boots Soltan, Garnier and Nivea.
Our tests uncovered six Best Buys that protect effectively and are easy to apply. Two of these are also cheaper than average, making them Great Value options.
But three sun creams failed to provide enough protection in our tests, so we’ve named them Don’t Buys.
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Don’t buy these sun creams
These sun creams each failed a key sun protection test in our 2024 tests, so we recommend you avoid them:
Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High (£2.80/200ml)
When we tested this sun cream in 2022, it passed our sun safety tests. But when we tested it this year with fresh bottles it failed to deliver the claimed SPF30 in both the initial test and retest. That’s why we’ve labelled it a Don’t Buy.
Asda told us:‘We recently had this sun lotion re-tested by a leading external provider using internationally recognised testing methods. The results confirmed a sun protection factor of 31.5; therefore, we do not recognise the test results. Which? has published. The formulation has not changed since 2022, so we question the validity of the Which? test.’
Bondi Sands SPF50+ face sunscreen lotion (£7.99/75ml)
This sun cream failed our SPF tests twice. It didn’t come close to the claimed SPF and didn’t reach the minimum required UVA protection.
Bondi Sandsdidn't respond to our invitation to comment.
Calypso Press & Protect Sun lotion SPF30 (£8/200ml)
This pump-action sun cream from Calypso is another to avoid. In our tests, it barely mustered two-thirds of its claimed SPF - in both the initial test and the retest.
Calypso Sun told us: ‘All products are carefully and independently tested and have passed EU standards and regulations.’
Don't Buy sun creams- see all the products that we recommend steering clear of
Best-value sun cream
If you need sun protection you can rely on, but don't want to spend more than you need to, head to your nearest Aldi or Lidl.
This year, both brands put in a good showing in our tests, with Lidl's SPF30 Cien sun spray and SPF50+ Cien Kids sun spray, and Aldi's Lacura SPF30 sun lotion passing sun safety tests and gaining our Great Value award for being notably cheaper than rivals.
All cost less than £3.50 per 200ml bottle.
Which? 2024 sun cream test passes: the full list
Below, we reveal which products passed our independently run SPF and UVA tests for 2024.
Which? Best Buy sun creams, which in addition to providing excellent sun protection are also the easiest to apply, are only available to full members.
Our user panel rates each product on factors such as greasiness, how well they are absorbed, and their smell to find the products that will be a pleasure to use.
Which? members can see our six Best Buy sun creams here, as well as all any results from previous years' tests which are still valid.
SPF30 sun cream test passes
- GREAT VALUE: Aldi Lacura SPF30 Sun Lotion, £2.49/200ml - available from Aldi.
- GREAT VALUE:Lidl Cien Sun Spray SPF30, £3.29/200ml - available from Lidl.
- Piz Buin in Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30, £6.50/200ml - available from Asda, Boots, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco.
SPF 50+ kids’ sun cream test passes
- Aldi Lacura SPF50+ Kids Mini Lotion, £1.35/50ml - available from Aldi.
- Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Water Resistant Sun Cream Spray SPF50+, £8/150ml - available from Asda, Boots, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
- GREAT VALUE: Lidl Cien Kids Sensitive Sunscreen Spray SPF50+, £3.29/200ml - available from Lidl.
- Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care Coloured Spray SPF50+, £7.00/200ml - available from Asda, Boots, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco.
- Ultrasun Kids SPF50+, £32.00/150ml - available from Boots, M&S and John Lewis.
SPF50/+ face sun cream test passes
- Boots Soltan Brightening Protect & Moisturise Facial Suncare Cream with Vitamin C SPF50, £6.50/50ml - available from Boots.
- Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Daily Invisible Face Serum with SPF 50+, £9.49/30ml - available from Asda, Boots, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco.
- Nivea Sun UV Face Anti-Age Q10 Cream SPF50, £10.00/50ml - available from Asda, Boots, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco.
- Ultrasun Face SPF50+, £26.00/50ml - available from Boots, M&S and John Lewis.
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How we test sun creams
Our independent lab tests are designed to check how effectively popular brands of sun cream will protect your skin from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays so you can buy with confidence.
Shockingly, almost every year we find some products that don't live up to their claimed protection levels in our tests.
Tests are carried out to recognised British and International test standards for sun protection products, including:
SPF tests
To check if a product delivers the claimed SPF levels, we apply it to volunteers' backs. We then shine a UVB lamp on the same areas, noting the point when the skin begins to redden, and compare the smallest amount of UVB needed with and without sunscreen for that to happen.
The SPF rating is based on the difference between the two points.
UVA tests
We coat a glass plate with each sun cream and then use a spectrophotometer to record the amount of UVA absorbed by the sun cream.
Any products that fail either test are re-tested. If a product passes the second test, we'll do a third test to determine the final results.
Application tests
In addition to the core SPF and UVA tests, we also assess how easy and pleasant each sun cream is to apply.
A product is only good if you'll actually use it, so our Best Buys are the ones that get the highest scores for these measures, on top of passing key SPF and UVA tests.
We use a panel of at least 10 people to trial each sun cream and tell us how easy it was to apply, how easily it absorbs into the skin and to rate the greasiness, residue, and tackiness after applying, as well as the smell. The products are anonymised so that testers aren't influenced by the brands.
To be a Best Buy, sun creams need to score five stars for application overall and pass both our SPF and UVA tests.
See our sun cream buying guide for more tips on choosing the right product for you, proper application and marketing claims to be wary of
All prices correct as of 20 June 2024
