![]() Both advise against relying on any sun cream for extended periods in the sun.Īt Which?, we don’t think ‘once-a-day,’ ‘eight-hour’ or similar single-use claims should be made on sun creams in the UK (they are banned in other countries, such as Australia), as they may give a false sense of security, and normal daily or holiday activities such as swimming, sweating and clothes rubbing can cause these products to rub off and reduce protection.Įven with our test subjects just sitting on a chair in a T-shirt, we saw substantial reductions in the level of sun protection, so we don't think you can rely on once-a-day sun cream to keep you protected all day. We shared our concerns with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). We saw an average 74% decrease in SPF protection at the end of the tests. If the index is three or greater, it's worth considering using sunscreen – particularly if you burn easily. The index ranges from low (a rating of one or two), to very high (eight and over). The UV index gives a good indication of whether you need to apply sunscreen on any given day. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles, which are much smaller, are used in some formulations to avoid this issue, as they scatter visible light rather than reflect it, making them transparent. They reflect visible light as well as UV, which can make the formulations opaque and leave a visible white residue - known as a white cast - on the skin. These create a barrier on the skin that acts like a mirror, reflecting and scattering the UV light. Physical or mineral sun creams use inorganic minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, instead. While chemical and physical UV filters have the same purpose (to block UV rays) they achieve it in different ways.Ĭhemical sun creams are composed of organic compounds such as octocrylene and homosalate, which are absorbed into the skin and provide protection by absorbing UV rays, either releasing the energy as heat or changing the 3D shape of the chemical, which then breaks down. Sun creams may use either, or a combination of the two types. Sun cream provides protection from sunlight using UV filters, which are classified into two types: chemical or physical, also known as mineral sun creams. How does sun cream work? The difference between chemical and physical (mineral) sun screen These are our top picks from our tests of adults SPF 30 sunscreens and kids SPF 50+ sun cream: Products that meet all these criteria are named Best Buys. Our independent sun cream reviews identify the products that pass British Standard tests for UVA and UVB sun protection and are easy and pleasant to apply. To see how popular branded sun creams fared in our tests, including the cheap supermarket versions that passed with flying colours, see our top picks below or find the full selection in our sun cream reviews. We explain what you need to know about 'once a day' sun creams, water-resistant sun creams, sensitive sun screen and the best kids sun cream too. Picking the right type of sunscreen for you is also important. In our expert guide, we explain how sun creams work and how often you need to apply them to be fully protected, plus which ones you can really rely on. Protecting your skin with an effective sun cream will reduce your exposure to UV rays and ultimately lower the risk of skin cancer and sun damage, but many people don't use enough, and some products don't protect in the way they claim to.
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