Alex Trelinski
THREE sunscreens claiming to offer factor 50 protection don’t come up to scratch according to a study compiled by Spain’s OCU consumer association.
The group has passed on the results of its lab reports to the Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and has asked it to carry out its own tests.
The OCU looked at 21 body creams with SPF 50 and 50+ protection factors on sale in supermarkets, perfumeries, and pharmacies.
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The products failing OCU standards are:
Ecran Denenes Protective milk for sensitive and atopic skin SPF 50+, 270 ml spray gun which does not meet the stated SPF or UVA protection levels.
Nivea Sun Kids Ultra protects & cares for SPF 50+, 150 ml tube which also does not reach the claimed SPF figure.
Lidl’s One Hundred Sun children’s sunscreen SPF 50, 100 ml tube for falling short of the stated SPF number.
The OCU looked at 21 body creams with SPF 50 and 50+ protection factors on sale in supermarkets, perfumeries, and pharmacies.
The analysis was carried out in collaboration with other ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing) organisations in a certified, expert and independent laboratory.
It used the HDRS (Hybrid Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy) method, which combines ‘in vivo’ and ‘in vitro’ measurements and is recognised by the cosmetics industry.
The AEMPS has already planning to tighten up measurements for working out the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of products to boost the confidence of consumers buying sunscreens.
The OCU said it was a positive move and called for the initiative to be accelerated as quickly as possible so that purchasers can be guaranteed of getting the SPF promised on packaging,
