Top sunscreens fail protection tests

It is worrying that three popular sun creams failed a consumer watchdog skin protection test, the Irish Cancer Society has said.

Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid SPF30 150ml; Malibu Protective Lotion SPF30 200ml; and Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion SPF30 200ml; all had results lower than sun protection factor 25, despite claiming an SPF of 30, consumer group Which? said.

It has branded the creams as “don’t buys” in its investigation, which used British Standard tests to check 15 products with an SPF of 30. A second round of testing produced the same results, it said.

The sunscreens tested are designed to protect against two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB. Both have been linked to skin cancer.

Rosemary Scott, the Irish Cancer Society’s health promotion officer, said the findings were worrying as manufacturers were trusted to provide a reliable product.

“The society has always advised the public to follow the four parts of the SunSmart code to best protect their skin and not to rely completely on sunscreen. In light of these findings this message is more important than ever,” she said.

The four steps of the SunSmart code are:

Get some shade;

Cover up;

Wear sunglasses;

Use sunscreen.

EU recommendations say sun creams should offer a UVA protection factor that is a third of their SPF value.

Which? said Malibu Protective Lotion SPF30 200ml was the only cream that also failed the UVA protection tests.

Malibu said they were standing by their testing and were willing to have their formula tested again.

Hawaiian Tropic said it only marketed products that met the label SPF claim, and all its products were rigorously tested. Piz Buin said all of its products were assessed for safety and efficacy in compliance with EU regulations.

cancer.ie/sunsmart