Families warned over buying £10 Avon sun cream after test finds it FAILS to provide enough protection (but a £2.79 budget rival from Aldi does make the grade)
- Consumer watchdog Which? carried out annual SPF test on 14 sun creams
- Avon Sun+Multi Protection Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 was the only fail
- Researchers found it did not offer the SPF 30 advertised on the £10 bottle
- All 13 other products, including a £2.79 bottle from Aldi, passed the test
Falling short: Avon's Sun+Multi Protection Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30, pictured, did not offer the protection it claimed
Families have been warned over buying a £10 Avon sun cream after experts found it failed to offer the claimed level of protection.
The brand's Sun+Multi Protection Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 was the only product to fail the annual sun protection factor (SPF) test by consumer watchdog Which?.
At £10, it was also the most expensive of the 14 sun creams tested. It was named to a 'don't buy' list and shoppers were advised to avoid the lotion.
Products from international brands including Hawaiian Tropic and Nivea passed the test, as did ones from high street own brands like Morrisons and Superdrug.
The cheapest sunscreen to pass the testing was Aldi's £2.79 Lacura Suncare Spray SPF30 200ml.
The sunscreens tested are designed to protect against two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB. The Avon sun cream passed the UVA test.
Both types can raise the risk of skin cancer, although UVB is the main cause of sunburn and UVA has been linked to premature ageing of the skin.
Share this article
Which? also repeated a warning to consumers to avoid once-a-day products after tests on four last year found the average drop in SPF after six to eight hours was 74 per cent - meaning a hypothetical SPF30 product would drop to SPF8.
It raised concerns that use-by dates are not compulsory on sunscreen products in the UK, where a 'period after opening' logo is often used instead.
Safe choices: Thirteen other products, including Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Spray SPF30, left, and Aldi's £2.79 Lacura Suncare Spray SPF30, right, passed the test
Richard Headland, editor of Which? magazine, said: 'Sunscreens are a key part of sun safety so it's important to pick a product you can rely on.
'It's disappointing to see that, although most sunscreens passed our test, one didn't provide the claimed level of protection.'
A spokesperson from Avon said: 'We have full confidence in our SPF (Sun Protection Factor) testing, which is performed according to internationally recognized, regulatory approved protocols by external laboratories with specific expertise in conducting these kinds of tests.
'We stand by the results of our testing which is performed in accordance with these requirements and shows Avon Sun+ Multi Protection Moisturising Sun Lotion to have SPF30.'
Most watched News videos
- Wills' rockstar reception! Prince of Wales greeted with huge cheers
- Drag Queen reads to kids during a Pro-Palestine children's event
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- Terrorism suspect admits murder motivated by Gaza conflict
- Russia: Nuclear weapons in Poland would become targets in wider war
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Sweet moment Wills meets baby Harry during visit to skills centre
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Shocking moment British woman is punched by Thai security guard
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
- Shocking moment pandas attack zookeeper in front of onlookers
- All the moments King's Guard horses haven't kept their composure
